by Kimberly Chitwood

Created on: August 16, 2008   Last Updated: August 21, 2008

Planning birthdays for your child can be the most fun experience. I love to plan my daughter's birthdays because she's always so excited to see what I come up with next. There is one very important instruction I have for you before you get started: have fun!

TAILOR YOUR CHILD'S BIRTHDAY PARTY TO HIS INTERESTS
How old is your child? What does he like to do? What are his favorite foods? Does he want to help you plan the party? All of these questions must be considered in order to have a successful birthday party.

The themes for my daughter's birthdays so far have been: age 1, Princess party (her first name means "princess"); age 2, a Sunshine party (her middle name means "sunshine"); age 3, a tea party; and age 4, a balloon party. Each of these party themes had my daughter's interests in mind. After all, the party was for her. Your child's birthday should exhibit at least a little of her budding personality. If you know she likes "Hannah Montana", then give her a "Hannah Montana" party appropriate to her age. If you know she likes strawberries, make everything at her party red and serve strawberry punch or Hi-C Fruit Punch juice boxes (yeah, you can do a "Strawberry Shortcake" party, too).

While "Hannah Montana", "High School Musical", and "Dora the Explorer" are excellent choices for party themes, sometimes it's okay to think outside the box and be creative. Maybe your child likes all things blue or he loves zoo animals. For the zoo-animal lover, have a room or tables (depending on where the party is) decorated like a jungle. Pretend to go on a safari or on a journey to the world's famous zoos. Maybe she loves coloring. For the child who loves to color, have a solid-colored tablecloth with a few WASHABLE markers for her and the guests to draw and color on. Have each buy a white or solid t-shirt (with nothing on it) or bring one from home and "color" their own artwork onto the shirt. Maybe your child is very active. Plan a game that is an obstacle course (age-appropriate to the children) and another one a race (these can be done inside or outside). Take these things that your child likes and turn them into a party idea for his birthday.

LET YOUR CHILD HELP YOU PLAN
If your child is old enough (around 4 years and up), let him help with some of the planning. Maybe he can pick out the colors of the supplies (napkins, plates, tablecloth, etc), go shopping with you for party supplies, think of games to play, and give you suggestions for birthday gifts. If your child is

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