Parenting Pointers: Birthday Party Tips

Birthday parties are a thrill for children but not always so much for parents. The festivities mean candy, cake, presents and much more – the presents can add up and the treats are not typically dentist-friendly.Parenting expert Rosie Pope provided some suggestions to creating the best birthday experience while setting boundaries for the kiddos. 

Practical ideas on healthy gift bag items, but that are still fun

• Chanel the inner explorer rather than candy lover: mini magnifying glasses, sunflower seeds to plant, bug boxes, mini note pads and pencils, fake mustaches, lip gloss rings, hair grips and stickers.

Money saving present buying and making tips 

• Go in with other parents attending the party. If you find a larger but more expensive gift from a lego set, basketball net to dolls house then split it with other party goers it will be much less expensive and the birthday girl or boy gets something they really want. 
• Ask the store to gift wrap so you don't spend extra on paper and ribbons - likewise have your kids make the birthday card.
• Find some signature go to gifts so that you can stock up in advance and not have to run out last minute and be pressured into buying something more expensive. We love to give magnatiles and stuffies depending  on the person.
• Buying and personalizing: you can buy a little wooden chair (ikea) or art boxes (amazon) and then paint and personalize yourself creating an inexpensive and very personal gift. 

Choosing cakes and ice cream that are better for us

• Choose cakes/cupcakes and icing without coloring (no more red velvet!) and give them color by adding bright fruits instead of sprinkles. 
• If making yourself add healthy seeds like flax to give the little ones a boost of omega fatty acids / likewise for ice cream use real fruit chunks
• Consider opting for party ice pops. A great recipe is frozen lemonade and strawberries blended together. You can add a little whipped cream for visual effect on serving. 
• Make sure everyone eats before the dessert to minimize how much they take down
• Lighten the Icing to cupcake ratio
• Take a leaf out of baked by Melissa's note book and go for ridiculously cute but very mini cupcakes
• Party ice-cream cones are also great - choose a multigrain cone and add a small scoop of vanilla - dip the cone in coconut shavings and add a candle for everyone to hold and blow out with the party girl/boy. They look great and are relatively small compared to ice-cream cake servings. 

 

A mother to four, Rosie is the founder of Rosie Pope Maternity, MomPrep and Rosie Pope Baby, as well as author of “Mommy IQ: The Complete Guide to Pregnancy” and previous star of Bravo TV's "Pregnant in Heels."