What are some good birthday ideas for a one year old?

Question

My son will be one in November and I'm trying to plan a party, but honestly I don't know what to do. I don't want a big get together, just family and close friends since he's really shy. How do I make extended family understand? Also what are some good themes that a one year old would really enjoy? What kind of foods can I serve that my son can enjoy as well? We're kind of strapped for cash so I'm trying to start getting things together now. One more question to add, what are good gifts at this age? I know that no matter what we get he will be more interested in the box than the gift, but what would you suggest for a one year old?

Answer 1

You can have an animal party with cute little animals or a simple car party.

Or just ballon and cake.

If he has any friends invite them

Answer 2

Do his favorite cartoon character on tv as the theme.

Answer 3

point out to the extended family that it's not about them but about your child. :)

Answer 4

I had my son's 1st party at a park.. and spent over $300 by the time decorations, food, and drinks were bought. (Yikes!) You can check with Chuck E Cheese too. The only thing with CEC, is that even though they have the prices listed for kids... some locations charge the same price for each adult that attends also. But if it's a small get-together, then it shouldn't be too expensive. Plus - you can use that as the excuse for those you're not inviting. =)

A park is always a good option though. You have entertainment for the kids, and can always bring a radio or something with you. For my son's party, we ordered pizza. Every single pizza place I called ran a special where if you bought so many pizzas, you got them at a cheaper rate (we bought 10 pizzas at $6 a piece).

Also - if you do the park, save money by making things yourself. One idea that I thought was fantastic.. is making cupcakes but not decorating them. Then take some icing, sprinkles, etc.. with you and make it an activity for the kids to do. They have such a blast creating their own cupcake masterpieces.

A skating rink could be fun, but check to see if they can close it for so many hours or if it would still be open to the public during the party. Nothing worse than planning a party, and then having it ruined by a bunch of unruly teenagers.

Here we also have a place called Picasso's Cup. They offer birthday parties. They don't provide food or anything, but it's an art cafe. Everyone picks a piece of art they want to paint, you paint it, and leave it with them. In about a week, you pick up your piece, which has been fired, glazed, and fired again. Kids really love that because they get to have fun painting, and get a souvenier to take home. So I would check to see if there are any places like that in your area.

For gifts - I got my son the Bounce and Spin Zebra, V Smile Baby & games, the sit to stand dancing tower, my first crayola crayons, movies, CDs, clothes, cars, trucks (among thirty other things)... And he was given a walker thing (one of the ones you stand up and push) .. a plastic book that played music and sounds...

Out of ALL of the gifts he got .. he played with the cars and trucks. He is now 15 months old.. and he is just now playing with the Bounce and Spin Zebra (he has fun on it - but doesn't get on it too much) and the vSmile baby - the remote can be played with alone without the tv interaction, and he'll do that sometimes, but doesn't care to play with it with the tv.. and $50 was just a bit too much for a musical controller...

So I would say for gifts.. get a large soft Tonka truck. =) And some other various cars, trucks.. and balls. The Sit to Stand dancing tower - my son STILL loves that thing. =) It's very cute! Also - anything with Wiggles. lol - my son LOVES the wiggles =) And they just  came out with a newer DVD (You make me feel like dancing) and it's a lot of fun!