MakingBirthdaysMagical A

child’s birthday is the most magical day of the year. An entire 24 hours dedicated just to them. Balloons, friends, presents and, of course, cake and ice cream. And though the magic of a birthday party is easy to imagine, the reality for a parent hosting that day often conjures a little less magic and a lot more mayhem.

Relax. We’ve got the tips and tricks to keep you super zen, the kids uber happy and the memories beautiful on this especially important day.

Pick a theme; keep the theme

Kids are fickle. One minute they want to be Buzz Lightyear for Halloween and the next they want to be a Lego character. It’s for this reason that children absolutely cannot be trusted with the theme for their own birthday party. So what’s a parent to do? Provide two options for them to choose from that meet the following criteria: available and accessible. Your daughter may adore some obscure show on Netflix, but if those party favors aren’t at Costco? Well, you’re the one left scouring the internet at 2:00 a.m. looking for a tablecloth that costs $40 and may or may not arrive in time.

Hard no.

Two options will give your child some autonomy and you a lot of sanity. Once decided, lock it in. No changes. No deviations. You’ll thank me later.

Skip the cake

Not to be gross, but have you ever watched a child blow out candles on their birthday cake? And then you want to pass that cake around to other children? Nahhhh.

Consider taking the easier—and more sanitary—route and go with cupcakes. Cupcakes are kid-sized, individually wrapped, and they don’t require a sharp object to distribute. Win, win, win.

Afraid your child won’t feel special without their own cake? Fair enough. Consider having a small, family-sized cake for after everyone goes home. You’ll save some dough and get better pictures of your kiddo blowing out the candles.

Save present opening for later

It’s a hard truth, but opening presents during the birthday party stresses out every single person there. You’re worried your child won’t seem grateful enough. The other parents can’t get their kid off the bounce house to come and watch your kid open the presents. There’s jealousy and wrapping paper and tears and temper tantrums. Enough. Let the other parents know to place their gift on the table and your child will be opening the presents after everyone has gone home. Their relief will be observable. Just remember that your child does need to send a thank you note for the presents they receive. It might be 2023, but manners and thankfulness never get old.

If the idea of helping your child write 23 thank you notes is overwhelming … see the next tip.

Don’t invite so many people

Let’s be real; how many true, close friends does your kid have? My son can’t even remember his best friend’s name sometimes. No, I am not kidding.

It is not being rude or taking any joy from your child by keeping their party small. Consider keeping the guest list of friends to less than five. Bear in mind this means you can’t send a bunch of invites in your child’s school backpack to be distributed. It’s best to locate the emails or phone numbers of your guests’ parents and invite them individually. That might be a little more work on the front end, but the amount of time, money and energy you will get back is well worth it. Take it away … far away

It’s tempting to have a big blowout at home. You don’t have to go anywhere; everyone comes to you. Super easy, right?

Wrong.

Kids will find their way into every room in your house, especially the ones you block off with a big sign that says “DO NOT ENTER.” They will flush toys down the toilet. They might draw on your walls. They will raid your fridge. And guess who gets to clean all that up later? It’s you.

A birthday party at a park, a bounce house, a skating rink or just about anywhere that doesn’t have your address on it is a much better deal for everyone. And it doesn’t have to be expensive. Parks are as close to free as you can possibly get. A pizza party at a local movie theater is surprisingly affordable.

If your child has a friend with a similar birthday, consider a double party and split the cost down the middle.

There are a lot of ways to save or splurge with a birthday party, but if you can splurge on the location and have it outside the home, you’ve made a great choice.

Gift bags are a no

Maybe I’ll get heat for this, but it’s the absolute truth. You don’t need to hand out gift bags. No sane guest that attends a birthday party should ever expect a present for themselves.

Teach this lesson to your children early and often: The guest of honor receives the presents, and the guests get treats and the honor of being invited. Done and done.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re being stingy or tacky for not having a gift bag. Half the time the items in those gift bags get instantly donated or end up in a landfill. Spend the extra money you save on better snacks or a fun game.

Designate a photographer

Trust me on this. You will not remember to take photographs of the day. Ask your good friend or spouse to take pictures throughout the day. You want to remember these moments, but you’re also hosting and need to focus on guests. Take the photos task off your plate and enjoy the day.

Birthday parties are inherently a lot to handle. Don’t beat yourself up if a few things go awry during the day. It’s best to use your child as a barometer. Are they laughing? Smiling? Excited? If those criteria are met, it’s a win. Your child won’t remember if the cupcakes were dry or the décor didn’t match. They’ll remember you made their day amazing, and that’s all that matters.

All parents want their child’s birthday to be special, but the costs of throwing a party can really add up, especially if you have multiple children. Is it really possible to cut party costs without losing the fun and excitement that parents and kids alike have come to love? One way to cut down on costs is by purchasing birthday supplies that can be reused or repurposed year after year.

The easiest way to start saving on party decor is to stock up on items when they are on sale or clearance. Choose items that are not theme specific and select a variety of colors that are gender neutral. Basic birthday signs, party lanterns and photo backdrops can be reused again and again. You even can make your own decor out of stronger materials like cardstock or cardboard or hit up the dollar store for streamers and signs that can be used repeatedly. As you collect a stash of items, store it someplace organized and easily accessible for when the next birthday arrives.

When purchasing items for the special day, you may find it wise to spend a little extra money on birthday items you know can be used many times over several years. Purchase games that can be used every year, like bingo, bean bag toss or yard games such as badminton. These games are fun for any party, and you’ll see a return on your investment quickly. Chalkboards for birthday signs, cake stands and punch bowls also can be purchased once and used for many parties.

Another fun way to get mileage from your money is buying dress-up items that can be used for a photo booth year after year, such as hats, silly glasses, feather boas or masks. Kids of any age will have a great time posing in different costumes. Many of these items can be purchased at a dollar store, garage sales or may be lying around your house. Choose a basic birthday backdrop for your photo booth or use a plain sheet or tablecloth to keep things simple and affordable for your photo backdrop. A number of fun apps allow you to put in different backdrops if you use a green background. Photos taken in the photo booth can double as thank you cards for your guests.

Saving money on tableware is possible in a few different ways. Cloth tablecloths and plastic plates can be washed and used again. They will last for years after a onetime investment. If the thought of extra cleanup doesn’t appeal to you, try buying a giant roll of white butcher paper and unrolling it on the table as a tablecloth. Allow kids to color right on the tablecloth during the party. When the festivities are over, simply roll up the paper and toss it. One roll of paper will last for years, and because of the neutral color, it can be used for many holidays and birthdays.

Another way to save on birthday expenses is to replace balloons with party lanterns. You can purchase these for about the same price as balloons, but instead of getting a one-time use, you can utilize them over and over again. By choosing a variety of neutral colors, you will save money and enjoy a very festive look.

Once the party’s over, theme-specific party decorations can be repurposed in many ways. Cards and invitations can be made into wall art, ornaments, gift tags or garland. Crepe paper and napkins can be made into confetti or garland. Old ribbons and balloons can be used to make a festive wreath. Possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

Olathe mom of six Sarah Lyons loves saving money on birthdays!