I am having a 1st Birthday party and looking for more interactive games for toddlers as I really want my child and some of the other children 3 and under to be able to play and have a good time. Are there any activities that you can think of other than a Jumper.
I will be having a water table a pool filled with balls like at Chuck E. Cheese and balls for them to play with.
Thank you for all of your advice
The water table is good. Any other sensory activities will be a hit - sand, playdough, painting (if its outside), musical instruments and a disney soundtrack. They will NOT play any type of game with rules or requiring organization. Have fun!
Someone mentioned playdoh, what about making edible playdoh? They can squish it, and mash it, make things with it, or just plain ol eat it. There are a ton of recipies on the internet for it. In my family, for little kids, we also buy those little confetti poppers, and have bubble machines around. I know this sounds over the top. But I went to a kids birthday party once (long before I had my own) and it was all really little kids. They had a pinata. I thought how weird, a pinata for babies, and I was thinking how bad it could all go giving little ones bats. LOL They got all the kids around and an adult whacked it (without a blindfold) and little beanie baby type stuffed animals came out of it. It turned out cute and all the little ones were excited.
My son just turned 3. Most of the kids at the party were 2-3, but there were a few 1 year olds also. We put out a couple of small tables in the backyard with playdoh and tons of cookie cutters/playdoh molds. It was a huge hit!
We also had a train table in the backyard with trains and a few cars.
Happy birthday to your baby!
bubbles
target sells the machines that constantly blow bubbles. that way they dont spill, and no adult hyper ventilates.
a table w/ big legos/blocks? a tarp on the floor might be easier...
Depending on how much you want to spend, you could get a big "parachute" like they used in elementary school gym class. The three year olds can hold it on thir own, and parents of the one year olds can help their children.
or you could get a bubble machine. One year olds seem to love bubbles!
For our one-year old's party, we're going to put out crafts for the older kids (3 and up), like beads and string to make necklaces. We're also going to let all the kids decorate their own favor bags with stickers, crayons etc.
We may also put out paint to do handprints.
how about sidewalk chalk? Bubbles would be fun too.
I had a bubble machine at my daughters first birthday party. It was a huge hit with the babies as well as older kids up to 5 years old. I highly recommend it! You'll need an outdoor area away from cement (slipping hazard) to use it, but it made for endless fun for the kids! Best of luck!
WOW! A first birthday. That is exciting. When both my girls turned one, we had a family birthday for them. We asked each family member to make a birthday card for them, but not for this year. They were to pick a special year in their life and write a birthday card for that year. For example, my mom made a card for them for their 26th birthday, the year she had me. She told them of how she felt having me etc. It was great. My Baba made cards for their 60th birthday with a list of what she was doing when she was 60. It will be a nice comparison for them.
The first birthday is more about you than the child, they are truly too young to grasp it. So make it special so that when you baby is older they can really appreciate it.
Activities need to be simple and active. The kids will play and run and laugh without much prompting.
B.
Family Success Coach
