A birthday party should be a happy occasion for a child but they can often end up with tears and tantrums. Toddlers and younger children can become overwhelmed with too many people, too much activity and even too many presents. Many just cannot cope with having to share themselves around and the excitement gets too much for them.
Here are some basic tips on how to avoid your toddler’s party ending in tears.
Birthday celebrations can go on for a number of days as you try to involve as many people as you can to ensure nobody is left out. Many parents feel bad if a grandparent or close friend cannot make the party so they have another party to include those who could not attend the other one. This can lead to a child becoming over stimulated and over stretched as they become the center of attention for so many well-wishers. It is no surprise then, that young children can become emotional and tearful.
My first tip is to throw a party for your toddler’s friends where they can have fun and enjoy themselves. Then have a lower key tea party for family only, where they can interact with those closest to them and those family members who really matter.
Great Expectations
When organising a kid’s birthday party we often have big expectations of what will happen, who will be there and how many people you have to please. But who is the party for? Remember it is your little one who needs to feel special for their birthday and you should try to organise something that meets their needs. If a big party with lots of people there is something you genuinely believe is what’s best, go for it. However, a smaller party with a maximum of 10 carefully selected friends could be better and could make for a happier birthday all round.
Simple is Best
A party with fewer guests will be easier to manage and it will be cheaper too. With fewer guests your child will get more meaningful interaction with them, instead of charging round barely speaking to each other. Think about your child’s personality and what actually suits them, as that will allow you to organise the most appropriate party for them. Go with what you think is best instead of what others feel you should do.
Less Presents
OK, this sounds worse that it is. All I mean is that you should think about reducing the number of presents your child receives or spread them out over a longer time. If a child has a lot of presents to open they may not be able to cope and feel pressure upon them, especially if opening them in front of other people.
Those present may also lose interest and have little patience when having to watch someone else opening a lot of presents. Have your child open some presents but save the rest for later so they get them in stages. This will help them enjoy the moment more and not put them under any form of pressure or make them feel uncomfortable when they’re the center of attention. It may be a good idea to discuss with planned guests and family the present situation so you can limit how many are received.
Involve the Children
The best entertainment for children is something that gets them involved and engaged. Kids won’t want to sit still for long and watch someone performing to them. Most magicians or clowns at kids parties will get kids up to assist in their tricks, they will get kids calling things out and really get them into it. Something else to consider is an organised party at a venue such as a kid’s farm, where they can pet animals and have pony rides.
Let Your Child Help
As parents we are keen to surprise our little ones and do special things for them when it comes to parties. Most of the time this means they will not know what is coming but be aware that they may have expectations. If you cannot live up to these you may fail in your task as party organiser.
By involving your child in arranging their own party they know something about what to expect. They will look forward to it and not be disappointed when they don’t get what they thought they would.
If you have a party to arrange for your child remember these simple tips:
- Don’t organise a big party that you cannot afford just to meet the expectations of others.
- Involve your child in the organising of their party to learn what they want and so they know what to look forward to.
- Keep it simple with fewer guests; your child can engage with them much better this way.
- Provide entertainment that gets the children involved and keeps them captivated.
- If they get a large number of presents keep some back for later or even the next day, so your child doesn’t get overwhelmed or over excited.
Whatever you do I am sure it will be a great day. There will inevitable be some tears and upset; they are small children after all. Just bear in mind the pointers above as they may help you out. Good luck!