My older daughter is turning three next month and I want to have a little party but I need something SUPER easy and cheap. We have 4 week old twins also and I just don't have any time to plan, shop or organize anything. We did it at an indoor playground last year but it was SO expensive ($350+) and with the new arrivals we just can't afford anything like that this year. Any thoughts?
If you have family in the area, why not just do a family b-day dinner? Order in from Stone Fire Grill - fresh food, reasonable budget and should have something to please all, they bring gifts and keep it low key - plus at home so the twins have everything you need there.
She's 3 yrs old and will have fun with people coming to see her and bringing her a some gifts. Hope you have a fun and stress reduced time!! =-)
At that age, they do not need a 'party' party.
MANY of my friends, do not have 'parties' for their kids, until they are in school or 5 or so years old.
At that age, they will enjoy it regardless... and in fact, the smaller the group... the better. Less chances of the child getting over-stimulated and fussy/tired.
At that age, its fine to just have family... and decorate your home with balloons and streamers... and get her a cake. And her favorite food item.
that is what we did for our kids as well, at that age. Our kids LOVED their Birthday. And of course, opening presents. Which we hid around the living room like an Easter Egg Hunt. It was just me, Hubby, our kids and Grandma and an Aunty. And our kids LOVED it and felt special.
That is all you need to do.
Plus with 4 week old babies... well, I wouldn't want to take them out amongst tons of people, yet.
all the best,
Susan
When my twins were small I had 1 child turning 9 & 1 turning 6 that year...I was overwhelmed as it was & needed simple that year...
We kept it family and best friend (neighbor kids works easy as well) only & made it a pot luck dinner...everyone bringing something keeps the cost down...
3 year olds care more about opening the gifts than what is inside them & love balloons...so keep it simple get noise makers and just let her play...
Then next year when you are not so inundated with little babbies, you can plan something a little more exciting & she will enjoy it better a year later...
I did a princess party for age 3. Everyone wore a princess costume. The goody bags contained Disney Princess fruit snacks, plastic bracelets and candy lipsticks, super cheap stuff from party stores.
Don't waste your money on special plates or decorations. No one cares. Use the plain stuff.
Activities: Cookie decorating. Buy the easy premade sugar cookies and some frosting on sale, and variety pack of sprinkles. Let the kids decorate their own cookies. Do this outside if you can!
You can also play "Pin the tiara on the princess", "Frog, frog, Princess!" (like duck, duck, goose).
I had some older kids at my party, so I played a really goofy game to get them involved - and crazy as this will sound, they ALL played! I had kids aged 3-12, boys and girls, they were all competing as much as possible. Yes, my giant 12 year old nephew was chugging his bottle! lol (I've also done this game at baby showers, super fun.) You take all of your baby bottles that you already have, and fill them each with about 2-4oz of Kool-Aid (or something similar) and they race to see who can drink the bottle fastest. My 10yo stepdaughter begs me every year to do this for her parties. :)
If it makes you feel better - remember- she wont really remember this birthday, except for pictures.
You want it to be fun for her but that is easy. She will want cake, balloons, and presents. Invite grandparents or aunts(if not from out of town) or your best friend who will be helpful with the babies so she'll have Mom and Dad's attention. Invite one or two friends and spend the money on a new game or games (Elephun, Lucky Ducks, Cooties or a Pre School ACTIVE video game like Konami Kids Playground) they can play together and take lots of pictures!
Later in the week, eek out the time to make a birthday scrap book with pics of her with Mom and Dad of the cake, balloons and the fun she had with her new game(s)
I just had my son's birthday at a local park. It cost $25 to rent the space. We did Buzz LIght Year theme and didn't do much decorating except the pinata (got all the candy at the dollar store) and put up streamers around some of the poles. We had chips & fruit for snack, and juice and water to drink. We had pizza for lunch. I spent a total of $150 on the whole thing and it was so much fun. The kids loved playing at the park and beating up the pinata. :)
If she goes to daycare/preschool, just take cupcakes and drinks into the classroom.
I had a 2 1/2 week old when my son turned three. It was tough with just one, so I can only imagine how worn out you must be. We read a book about Franklin's (that little turtle character) birthday and planned the party around that. It just was a backyard party. I got out the sprinkler and wading pool and we have a sandbox in the yard. The gift bags were bucket, squirt toys, sidewalk chalk, and bubbles from the dollar store (about $3 each "bag"), which they could have played with if they needed more entertainment. I did hot dogs (boiled so I didn't have to mess with the girl), corn on the cob, watermelon and chips. I did buy a cake, which was a little expensive, but I got popsicles, which was so much easier than ice cream. It was pretty easy. The biggest thing I'm glad I did was put an end time on the invitations. Good luck.
What about doing it at a McDonald's or Chick-fil-A...they both have indoor playgrounds and will supply the food and the cake. It's certainly not fancy, and I don't know how many kids are on the guest list, but I'm sure a few 3 yera olds would have a fabulous time!
I'm not really sure what else is in your area, but you're right...you need easy! You'll have to find something that does it all. If you have a bunch of people on the guest list then I would say do it at a park and just supply snacks, cake and drinks. Play for an hour and then go. You can send everyone home with a helium filled balloon that you just have to pick up at the shop on the way there (you can usually order online or over the phone at party supply stores)
Good luck and congrats! YOu have your hadns full!
She's only 3... All you really need are 3 or 4 other guests. I assume she's into princesses? They can all come in princess dresses. Do you have a plastic tea set? They can do a tea party. Grab some nail polish and paint their fingers and toes. You can also go to Michael's and get some crown cut outs for them to decorate with sparkley stickers and sticker beads. I saw a color your own plate (where they child colors paper and you send it away; in a few weeks the picture is made into a plate). Make some cupcakes and let each decorate their own with various sprinkles.
Do you have a backyard? We did my son's 3rd bday party in our backyard a few months ago and it was great. So easy and there wasn't even too much to clean up. We did the party from 10-12 and served only small snacks (veggie tray, fruit & chips) plus cake/cupcakes. I had my maid come the day before so the whole house was clean and I didn't have to worry about it.
Oh, for entertainment, we set up a couple of kid-sized tables in the yard with playdoh and cookie cutters. We also brought his train table outside. We have a swingset, but I think even without it, the kids would have been really happy.
happy birthday to your little girl!
K.
http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/karenchao - looking for great gifts? Check out my fun and educational products!
