Who doesn’t love a party? Planning parties and creative play events for my daughter has been something I’ve looked forward to since shortly after seeing those two pink lines. Her first birthday was easy since she wasn’t walking yet, so there wasn’t much that could be done. But now that she’s running around with significant energy to burn, I decided to start planning more fun ways to burn that toddler energy. First up, a Valentine’s party and play date!
Budget
I knew I didn’t want to spend more than $150 total on this party, so I had to start thinking cheaply. Keeping yourself within a monetary limit is good because things can get out of control very quickly. Stick to your budget!
Date
Don’t do what I did: have an idea and sit on it for a few weeks. I wanted to have the party on a Saturday, so my working mom friends could attend, but I missed out on this and had to have it on a weekday afternoon. At least it’s ON Valentine’s Day.
Venue
We live in a small apartment – fine for our family of 3, but it’s not a party-friendly location. I needed something conducive to active toddlers – someplace where running around and screaming were not frowned upon. Believe it or not, many play venues where birthdays are often held (i.e., jump houses, play areas, etc.) do NOT rent their rooms for anything BUT birthday parties. I solicited alternative ideas from friends and a few local Facebook groups and was given the name of our eventual location: a local gymnasium in a city building. I didn’t even know about it, and it easily fit into my budget.
Decorations
Kids as young as mine don’t care about decorations. They aren’t impressed by much, and let’s face it; a cute streamer is just one more thing to pull down and possibly eat. There needed to be something to reflect it was a Valentine’s Day party, so I shopped the dollar bins at Target and then took a trip to Dollar Tree. Tablecloths, plates, napkins, cups, and gift bags – done for just a few bucks. I might get some balloons if I have time, but that may be more trouble than it’s worth.
Activities
Instead of providing pricy entertainment, I asked every attendee to bring a toy to share. The kids will be in a gym and can run around at their leisure or share the toys they already have. Why would they need more? I have a simple craft (Valentine stickers that can be put on a foam heart), but it’s optional. I also asked everyone to bring Valentine’s cards for every other child. I’ve been updating the list of names with every RSVP so people will know how many cards to get, and I’ll provide a cute card box for each child.
Food
Again, keepin’ it simple. I have a huge bag of pre-packaged rice crisply treats (allergy-safe) and chocolate candies (more for the moms than the kids), and I’ll make boxed brownies cut out in heart shapes. I’ll have bottled water and juice boxes—that’s it. I told the moms to bring their own beverages and food if none of those sound good for their child or themselves and to bring their own high chair if their child can’t sit in a chair or on their lap.
Gift Bags
Kids like getting stuff to take home, and I needed an excuse to shop at Oriental Trading. I kept this pretty simple, too – a piece or two of candy, a box of stickers, and a small toy all wrapped up in Valentine’s cello bag.
