I really don’t dread this question – well not yet anyway. Since the girls turned one we have always had a neighborhood party. It’s fun to see everyone before school starts and the cold sets in, a sorta last hurrah. Also I ask that guests do not bring gifts. One because my girls do not need more toys. Two because I do not want to torture anyone with having to buy two birthday gifts. Three because who needs the junk or the birthday gift overload. And four because I want to use their birthday as an opportunity to show them how to give back to their community.
Ok, yes, this does smell a little of Joan Crawford. Please do not tell me you are too young to remember the movie Mommie Dearest when she makes her daughter Christina pick one birthday gift to keep and must give the rest away to the orphanage. I don’t do that, but I do ask guests to bring a donation of school supplies for the local public schools in lieu of a gift. Then the three of us deliver the booty and I answer the same question over and over again “why can’t we keep the paper mommy?”
I do know that someday I am going to have to throw a strictly kids birthday party – some sorta themed gig. I will still hold to the no gift rule (seriously if one more stuffed animal walks into my house the established ones had better be prepared for some weeding out from mom). So, when I see a really cool idea I write it down somewhere (not sure where that list is). I ran across this incredibly unique idea from Dinner: A love story. A Japanese themed party complete with Candy Sushi!
Photo credit - Dinner: A love story
Candy Sushi! Is that not the coolest idea you have seen since they put marshmallows in a jar? I cannot wait for the girls to be old enough to do this! The post title Sayonara Seven has a bunch more ideas for this type of party – plus the blog has other great party ideas.
Some other ideas:
Obstacle Course Birthday Party from Martha Stewart - this might be fun to work into our annual neighborhood birthday party this year.
pbs.org has some great advice about planning a kids birthday party (namely “It’s your childs birthday party, not yours” – found under Five Party Principles)
Send me your creative and unique ideas!