Just like that, your little sprout is turning three! They’re getting a little older and can actually have some fun at their birthday party. So, you know what they say… “Go big or go home!” Well, it’s time to go big.
Three is such a great age, it’s a time when you’re little person begins to develop their personality. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, age three is when children start learning to share, enjoy playing with other children, and start to show their feelings in acceptable ways. Now that you’re child is developing some or either all of these skills, they can appreciate a party a lot more, which means you get to go all out!
If you’re stressing over what type of party to plan, take a deep breath, we’ve got you covered. Here are some cool ideas and tips on themes, cakes, activities, and even party logistics.
Theme Ideas
Everyone knows the theme makes the party. Your theme will dictate your decorations, invitations, food, party favors, and activities. So you want to pick a solid theme, then you can build around it. Here are a few ideas for girls, boys, and gender-neutral parties as well.
- Girl
- Princess Party
- Mermaid Party
- All Pink Party
- Boy
- Dinasour Party
- Pirate Birthday Party
- Fire Fighter Birthday Party
- Gender-Neutral
- Paint Party
- Outdoor Drive-In Movie Night
- Candyland Party
Cake Ideas
When it’s time to gather around and sing “Happy Birthday to youuuu….”, the perfect cake should be in the middle. In this case, you can tailor this to your child’s preference. Do they like chocolate or vanilla? Sprinkles or gummy bears? A lot of icing or no icing? Whatever they like, it’s a great idea to include them in the cake making process. You know, make an afternoon activity out of it.
However, you may want to buy a specially designed cake that accompanies a theme. There is definitely nothing wrong with a store-bought cake, but here a few ideas for cakes you can make at home.
- Funfetti Cake
- Numbers Cake (Make a #3 cake)
- Ice Cream Cake
Activities
Keeping toddlers occupied at a party is key, and this can be done with fun activities. Here are a few fun ideas for a three-year-olds party.
- Dance Break: Pull out some classic, clean tunes and get to jammin’.
- Bubble Break: If you’re having an outside party, children can have a bubble blowing contest.
- Balloon Break: You can use a bedsheet and have the children gather around and hold the sides. Then you can bounce the balloons around on the bedsheet like popcorn.
Details. Details. Details.
Aside from planning the party decorations, activities, and food, you will need to consider other important details. How long should the party last? How many kids do I invite? How do I ask parents to stay? What time of day should the party be?
These are important factors that will ultimately shape the celebrations. For example, according to Parents, for children three and under, the party should be no more than one hour. As long as they are preoccupied with activities, they can handle an hour-long party. Here are a few more tips surround “children’s party etiquette”.
Time of Day: Experts suggest that 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. is a great time for a toddler party, that way parents can still make nap time.
Length of time: The party should be one hour long.
Who is invited?: A good rule of thumb is to invite as many children as your child’s age, plus one. Aside from this close family and friends.
Asking parents to stay: If you want parents to stay, detail this in the party invitation. You can ask that the invited child be accompanied by a parent.
Now, it’s time to get this party started! Good luck, and remember it’s a party, so have fun with it!
About Lizzie Stewart
Mom. Wife. Espresso Lover. Braves Fanatic.