MOMS SPEAK
Birthday Party Tips & Tricks
BY WF STAFF
W e asked our readers to share their
best birthday party planning tips
along with the best parties they’ve
either thrown or attended. Check out what
they had to say for some instant birthday
party inspiration!
“Parties are great
and all, but let’s
stop impressing
people with who
did it best and
start celebrating
the child.”
— LYSSA P.

3 TIPS
“For my daughter’s fifth birthday, she has
a huge soft spot for homeless animals and
asked if her guests could bring gifts for the ani-
mals at Fairfax Animal Shelter. It was a huge
success and saved me from clutter from unused
toys.” —Catherine F.

1 “For our daughter, who is 2 1/2 years, we
decided not to do parties, but to always plan
some sort of an outing/trip for her birthday so
that she would have some sort of an experi-
ence that is special for that day. This is mainly
because her birthday is in the middle of summer,
and also because we just are unsure whether we
want to put together something that we will
remember and she really won’t, if that makes
sense.” —Marija B.

2 4
“I feel like parties should stop focusing on
the ‘party’ and start focusing more on the
child. We stopped throwing extravagant Pinter-
est parties and instead spent the money on our
child. They get to decide on a large gift, vaca-
tion or choosing a special friend to take on a
day adventure. Parties are great and all, but let’s
stop impressing people with who did it best and
start celebrating the child.” —Lyssa P.

3 “We’ve done big parties, small parties, com-
bined parties and even some years with no
party. The best one ever was a combined party
for our two youngest a couple of years ago.

We rented an inflatable movie screen, ordered
tons of pizza, filled the coolers with drinks and
invited everyone and their families to bring
blankets and chairs. Everyone was outside, kids
were running around laughing, even the neigh-
bors came over to say how great it was to see
kids outside playing.” —Jaclyn D.

PARTIES “We had a great birthday party experience at
Bach to Rock Music School. We chose a rock
band theme. The kids picked an instrument
and a popular rock song, and within a couple of
hours, they learned the music and had a studio
recording. Each kid left with a CD. In between
jamming, there was time for pizza and cake. The
kids had a blast!” —Julia G.

1 2
ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS/
MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES four chocolate bars of their own. It was a
nice change from all of the bounce/laser tag/
trampoline parties.” —Abbie B.

“We just did a really cool birthday
party at River-Sea Chocolates in Chan-
tilly. My fifth-grade daughter and 10 of her
friends got to learn how chocolate is farmed,
harvested and made. They got to temper choc-
olate. And then they got to make/embellish
20 WashingtonFAMILY MAY 2019
“Anything that gives the guests fun things
to do or explore. We’ve had fun with deco-
rating your own mini-cakes, a foil fashion show
(pair up kids with a roll of foil and they cre-
ate outfits), scavenger hunts and mini science
experiments.” —Jane M.

5 “There are so many options in the area for
easy but awesome local parties, but the
most encouraging thing parents need to hear is
that it’s just as fun for the kids to ‘go simple.’
You don’t have to go big to give your kid a great
birthday. Our kids and their friends seem to love
the old-fashioned playdate-style party in the
basement or back yard with group games (like
stacking cups, dance competition, etc.) just as
much as the big blowout parties.” —Tricia R.

6 “We switch it up each year ... swim party,
home sprinkler party, monster golf (glow in
the dark) party, and she gets a say in the plan-
ning. This year, she is thinking about a rock
climbing party for her tenth birthday. My main
mantra is that they need to be fun and for her.

And if she wants a not-so perfect cake made by
Mom, then I am not going to be embarrassed
and make it for her!” —Pam M.

7 “Harris Teeter does a free smash cake for
first birthdays. I’m glad we did this. My
daughter was so dainty with tasting it. There
certainly wasn’t any smashing happening. We
did a brunch and donut theme. It was ‘Donut
grow up sweet one.’ Birthdays are like weddings,
you spend all this time planning, the day comes
and you are too busy entertaining to even enjoy
it. Take the time to reflect on the day and what’s
important about it.” —Shaelyn M. ■



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MAY 2019
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