Can you recall your first birthday party? You probably remember excited, smiling family members and the presents they brought you. Maybe your parents invited some of your friends to celebrate this special occasion? Or perhaps you didn’t have a birthday party at all when you were little? Not all parents think that parties for little kids are a good idea – and even if they do, they are nothing like the elaborate birthday parties you can find on Pinterest in this day and age.In fact, the internet has probably contributed to a 10,000% increase in panic attacks amongst young mothers who try to make this day perfect for their kids. You try to match their expectations, and worst of all – your own expectations of the perfect birthday party. And remember: our expectations are probably more severe than anyone else’s. Maybe this is why you’re reading this article, to begin with! But try to relax. Breathe deeply, grab a cup of strong tea, and read on: these ideas might just save your day.

Let them eat cake

As a child anywhere from the age of 3 to sweet 16, the birthday cake is probably the crowning jewel of any birthday party. If you have a toddler, the appearance of the said confection is probably the most important thing. A toddler doesn’t care if a cake was made with the best handmade butterscotch or an assortment of organic chocolates. They care that it looks like a Pirate Ship, or Thomas the Tank Engine, or the most glittery of the My Little Pony gang. For older kids, the cake becomes something that gets talked about at school – thus instantly becoming a sensitive social pressure issue. We live in a world overcome with all different sorts of cakes – from the Great British Bake Off to the Great India Bake Show, we have become educated cake consumers, and bakeries have been keeping up with this trend. Companies like India Cakes offer not only the production of the perfect birthday cake but also deliver it to your event so you don’t have to stress about it. Any cake you imagine is practically at the tip of your fingers: butterscotch and pineapple, Peppa and Chhota Bheem.

All you have to know is what your child likes.

Party Hard!

While you will spend your child’s birthday chatting with other parents and sitting comfortably down to a drink or dinner, your child is young and will enjoy this day to the fullest of their physical ability. And if you want to watch your offspring’s exhausted face drifting off to sleep at bedtime remember this: No kid wants to sit and play nice at a table full of adults. The best thing you can do is to provide lots of physical activity for the children during the party. Some ideas include:

Have the party at a park and make sure you are near a playground.
Hire a bouncy castle and put on some music. This is a winner every time.
Get a professional DJ that specializes in children’s’ music. If they dance the afternoon away, it’s a sure win for you, and a Bollywood style party will be the talk of their school.

Fairytale come true

If getting a themed cake isn’t exciting enough, you can have an entire theme party. The cake will be the cherry on top of an elaborate scheme. If your child is talented and smart, they already have something they love that you know will make them happy whether it’s trains or dinosaurs. Theme parties include fun tents that you can dress up like a princess castle, and special props rental like a blow-up dinosaur or even hiring an actress that will be your daughter’s favorite Disney Princess for the day. Kids love flamboyance, so theme parties are best when they’re a bit over-the-top. A large number of balloons, streamers and steam machines will set the mood for an amazing time!

Elevate their creativity

Do you have a sensitive and creative child, one who’s bound to be the world’s next Thakur Dalip Singh or Picasso? Then we have the perfect birthday solution for you! A creative birthday party will surely be a new experience for some guests too and create lasting memories. It’s great for both kids and their parents because when you’re creating a project as a group activity, you can take your artwork home with you.

Some great art activities for kids are:

Ceramics – Rent a professional ceramics studio. They often have special classes for occasions such as this. There are usually two options available: either the kids will get their hands dirty and make their own cup, plate, or sculpture out of clay, or if the children are younger they can paint a ready-made ceramics piece, and have it fired. They will have something to remember from the party for a very long time.
Painting party – these are becoming very popular with adults, but it’s a perfect opportunity for kids to feel like a famous painter. The painting sessions are led by professionals and the kids paint one subject while prompted by a leader. They will all be sitting at an easel with paints and either a still life or a projected photograph to look at. This is perfect for older, calmer kids.
Tie-dying shirts – aah, the beautiful practice that’s associated with the American Hippie era, but has its roots in the Japanese art of shibori. This is a fun activity to do “on the side”. You can have the kids tie-dye shirts by twisting and tying them with strings and rubberbands. The techniques are endless, and each child will walk away with a colourful and unique souvenir.

Never Stop Learning

We all need a break from our job, or from studying – but on the other hand, when kids are young they learn literally all the time. Everything is a learning experience, and learning new things is fun and so much easier than it is for adults. You can use this to your advantage when planning your child’s next birthday party. Organize a workshop where kids learn a new skill together, and disguise it as a great party theme.

Some of the most popular activities may include but are not limited to:

A cooking class for youngsters – where an experienced teacher teaches the kids how to be chefs for a day. Maybe they’ll explore a few different dishes, that they can bring to the adults’ table to sample? This is a beneficial idea for everyone!
Candy making – this is a fun and educational activity that is also of great value for both kids and parents. At a candy-making workshop, they will learn how to make their own confections like lollipops and truffles. A valuable skill to have in the family! (We are trying to make children making candy sound as responsible as possible!)
Soap making for kids – a soap-making workshop for kids doesn’t use the harmful chemicals usually necessary in making soap. In a glycerin soap making class, the kids will work with safe glycerin soaps that will be melted and moulded into fun shapes and dyed different colours. No problem getting them to wash after this! And the guests get to take home a present too.

Above all – try not to stress

Your kids will feel when you stress out, and what a fun killer that is! Remember that they love you and that they know you are doing your best. In the end, even if you bake a cake yourself and have the whole family playing hide-and-seek instead of hiring a professional princess, it will be one of the days they remember when they’re 30 – and smile.