Birthdays Archives - Parenting Journals

W.A.T.C.H. Releases 2016 Summer Safety Report of Most Dangerous Toys

Danica Hoppe — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 17:33:20 +0000

By Lisa Pecos World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.) has released their 2016 Summer Safety Report and chances are that some of your child’s favorite warm-weather toys have made the list. With emergency departments expecting to treat approximately 2.7 million children injured in accidents this summer, parents and caregivers should have a look at the list and through the toy box. The five types of toys that top the list are: Toy guns with projectile ammunition. These include toy guns, bow and arrows, and other toys that are used to aim and shoot with. The risk of eye injury is high. W.A.T.C.H. warns that most of these types of toys are sold with inadequate or no warnings at all about the potential dangers and most don’t include protective eye gear. The organization recommends avoiding these types of toys entirely, and this includes seemingly harmless foam darts. Airborne toys. Remote-controlled helicopters and other flying toys, including boomerangs, can cause serious eye injuries, cuts, blunt trauma, and other potentially serious injury to a child when they come in contact with the head or face. Hoverboards. It’s no surprise that hoverboards make the list given that they’ve made headlines for spontaneously bursting into flames in the past. There were 52 reports of hoverboard fires between December 2015 and February 2016 alone. More recently, a hoverboard was responsible for igniting an apartment fire in Boston. Along with the risk of death from spontaneous fires, hoverboards can also lead to impact injuries from falls. Baby pools. These small inflatable pools carry a significant risk of injury because young children can drown in as little as just 2 inches of water. The organization stresses the importance of not leaving baby pools or any other items containing water, including buckets and fountains, unattended. These items should be emptied when not in use and turned upside down or stored to avoid collecting rain water. Water wings and other flotation devices. Drowning is the leading cause of death in children aged 1 to 4. Water wings and other flotation devices tend to provide a false sense of security, leading parents and children to believe that they are safe in the water. Parents and caregivers are warned to be diligent about supervising children in the water even when they’re wearing water wings or using a flotation device as there is still a risk of drowning. They also warn about larger flotation devices, like rafts, that can block the view of a drowning child. Other warnings in the report included: Pool covers, which can sag and collect water or have gaps that a child can fall through. Non-motorized scooters, which were responsible for approximately 56,000 injuries in 2014 and 7 reported deaths in the past 3 years. Drawstrings and bike helmet straps on playgrounds, due to the high risk of strangulation during play. Toys with small parts, which are a hazard year round, but especially concerning due to the recent number of toy recalls by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). You can help keep your children safe this summer and all year long by examining toys and looking for small parts and long slender parts, as well as parts that can break off or soft materials that a child can ingest and choke on. Checking the CPSC site regularly for toy and other product recalls can also help you keep potentially dangerous toys and other items away from your children. Also, always ensure that your child is wearing proper protective gear and in a safe area away from traffic when riding a bike or other motorized or non-motorized ride-on toy.

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Some Words of Caution Before You Buy Your Children’s Holiday Toys

Danica Hoppe — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 22:49:57 +0000

Before you buy toys for the children in your life this holiday season, the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) — and doctors — caution you to keep some important things in mind. PIRG has released its annual “Trouble in Toyland” report, which evaluates many children’s toys that are being sold during the holiday season. As always, there were toys that PIRG tested and concluded did not meet safety standards of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, or that had other problems that make the toys dangerous. Choking and Other Hazards from Swallowing If you are buying gifts for small children, be especially wary of small parts that could pose choking hazards. The CPSC has banned the sale of toys with small parts or those that easily break into small pieces to children under 3, but this year’s PIRG study nonetheless found such toys being sold for children under 3. Experts want parents to know that if an object can fit through a toilet paper roll, it can pose a choking hazard. The 2014 PIRG report also found several toys containing small parts, marketed to older children; but with warning labels on the packaging so small that it is hard to read that the toy is a choking hazard. Some toys, such as some small balls, may not carry a choking hazard warning at all. Other toys, like realistic-looking plastic foods such as hot dogs, may include a choking hazard warning, but they may be especially tempting for small children to swallow because they look like real food. So, if you have older children as well as small ones, it is important to give thought to whether the toys you buy for your older kids could be choking hazards for the younger children. Balloons: Many grown-ups may not think of this, but balloons are actually the #1 choking hazard for children, as they can be easily inhaled when the child tries to inflate them, and they get stuck in the throat. Balloons result in more choking deaths in children than any other toy or children’s product, according to PIRG. The CPSC advises that balloons not be marketed to children younger than 8. Magnets: Magnets are fascinating to children, but it can be extremely dangerous or even fatal if two or more powerful magnets are swallowed. The attractive forces will bring them together inside the GI tract, causing perforation to intestinal walls. Batteries: Many children’s toys require batteries, of course; but bear in mind that batteries are a choking hazard for babies and small children, and even pre-teens have been known to swallow them. The highest risk is for children under 4. Batteries also pose dangers that most people don’t know about. Cylindrical, tube-shaped batteries can be swallowed by children, placed inside noses, or they can rupture once swallowed, releasing dangerous acids and requiring emergency treatment. They can also cause tissue death from the pressure applied by the battery. But the newer button-shaped, round, flat models are of special concern to doctors. These are usually the ones that have been swallowed when children are taken to emergency rooms or to personal doctors after swallowing batteries. Button-shaped batteries often get stuck in the windpipe; when saliva falls on the battery, a small electrical charge is released; this electricity causes the battery to burn through tissue and blood vessels, potentially requiring surgery or leading to internal bleeding and death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that button batteries can burn through esophageal tissue in a matter of two hours; therefore, it is essential to take a child to a doctor right away when it is suspected that the child may have swallowed a button battery (or any other type of battery). Additionally, even once a battery is removed from the child’s system, the acids may continue to burn tissue, causing internal, possibly fatal bleeding days or weeks after the battery was swallowed and removed. Symptoms seen in children who have swallowed batteries include: vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing and coughing. Parents are reminded that many non-toy products include tube or button batteries, including watches, night lights, flashing jewelry, talking and singing books, singing greeting cards, hearing aids, TV remotes and flashlights. Thousands of American children wind up in emergency rooms each year after swallowing batteries. Chemicals in Toys A few of the toys PIRG tested this year had higher levels of toxic chemicals like lead and phthalates, both used to soften plastics, than the levels allowed by American regulatory agencies. Violations were found in toys sold at 99-cent stores, but also at big-box stores, online and in some top brands. (Visit uspirg.org to download full report.) Noisy Toys and Harm to Children’s Ears A few toys were found to exceed limits on decibel output; parents are advised that toys that make loud noises aren’t just annoying to parents … they may also harm a child’s hearing. To check if a toy your child owns or one you’re planning to buy has been recalled, check the government’s recall website, Recalls.gov Toy-related injuries have risen in recent years, according to a new study by the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Much of the increase is due to injuries from riding foot-powered scooters. Safety experts recommend that parents restrict use of riding toys, including tricycles and bicycles, to dry, flat ground, away from traffic; children under 8 should be closely supervised by an adult. Riders should also wear helmets, knee pads and elbow pads. By Eirian Hallinan

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Eight Big, Free Gifts that Parents Can Give to Their Children

Danica Hoppe — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 23:28:19 +0000

If you hit bull’s eye and got your kids some fancy, expensive gifts for the holidays that they are still playing with some weeks later, kudos to you. But what if you got your kids presents that only held their interest for a couple of days? You probably feel like you wasted money. It turns out, a lot of the best gifts that you can give to your children … cost no money at all. Isn’t it marvelous that you can go out there and blow a small fortune on presents for your kids, if you choose to — but that you don’t have to? If you work ongoingly to mold your child’s mind and character in positive ways, you’ll be giving your youngster gifts that will last them a lifetime and that could help them in countless ways. Here’s a list of totally free — yet priceless — gifts that a parent can give to their child. Self-Esteem What percentage of Americans suffer from low self-esteem? The question doesn’t even need to be asked. All around us, we see people who ‘act up’ in all kinds of ways, to get attention. These are people who probably did not feel valued by their parents growing up. Teaching your children that they are awesome, and that you love them greatly, will help them develop into adults who’ll value themselves and strive to be useful and helpful to others. Confidence Self-esteem and self-confidence are cousins. Teach your child that he or she is special in his or her own unique way. You do this by taking the time to periodically point out something at which your child excelled and telling them how proud you are of them. Accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative — by gently, thoughtfully correcting your child’s mistakes (or overlooking the small ones) — is not only a great way to get along with others, but an excellent way to strengthen your child’s positive attributes, while correcting what is wrong without causing the child to begin having doubts about their abilities and their worth. Your child drops a container of food on the floor, and it spills or shatters everywhere. Do you: a) Proceed to scream at your kid and ask how s/he could be so clumsy? or b) Use the moment to strengthen their self-confidence, saying something like, “It’s okay, baby; I think we’re both a little tired right now from pushing our bedtimes last night.” Give Your Child Physical Affection We adults know that getting an embrace, a kiss or even a touch from someone that we love feels wonderful. Children are no exception. Babies are tiny, compared to adults; growing children are smaller than us. But all of us, regardless of size, feel good and feel comforted when someone that we care about gives us physical affection. So, don’t hold back. Hug your kids, kiss them, cuddle up with your children and read a book or watch TV together. Give Children Your Time And speaking of being an affectionate parent, it goes without saying that kids love attention and need it, to grow emotionally. We all love and need attention from people that we love; being that kids don’t have all the skills and knowledge of a grown-up, they are that much more in need of attention, guidance and positive reinforcement from the main grown-ups in their lives. And insuring that you give your kids those things means of course spending plenty of time with them. Even if you are a busy working parent, as most of us are, make even 10 minutes a day to sit one-on-one with your child, inquiring about their day and looking for opportunities to guide them, praise them, and learn about things that are happening in their lives. The way to get your child to trust you and tell you about their daily lives is to spend time with them, emphasizing the good and reminding them that you are there to help and protect them. Patience Teaching your child patience is one of the best things that you could do for them. Teach your kids patience in dealing with others, and patience in life: that even when we work to get certain results, we may not achieve them right away. Teach them that it’s okay to fail, and that we should continue to strive, even when we don’t initially find success. Teach Your Children Charity From an early age, you should teach your children to have empathy and compassion for others. When one child snatches another’s toy and the other starts wailing, use it as a learning opportunity to teach kindness: “Your little brother thinks your toy is great, too. Is it okay if he plays with it for a little while, since you weren’t playing with it then?” All communities have opportunities to get involved in helping the less fortunate. School-age children can be encouraged to do something for needy children, the elderly, the homeless, etc., which will instill in your child the importance of kindness and charity. Teach Your Kids Discipline But do so with kindness! Teach them the importance of getting up and going to bed at around the same time every day (which will go a long way in avoiding sleep deprivation and the many problems that can arise from that). But don’t just yell at them to get up or to go to bed. Instead, take the time to explain that their growing bodies need a lot of rest (more than adults) to grow properly and be healthy. Create an atmosphere that reinforces and rewards discipline, such as being firm about not allowing use of electronics after a certain time (or not letting child have electronics in the room, if they are too tempting). Praise your children when they succeed at something (such as getting a good grade) through work and discipline. Teach Your Kids to Love Being Active! Whether it’s rollerblading, bike-riding, swimming, shooting hoops with the neighborhood kids or any other

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Hosting a Princess Tea Party

Danica Hoppe — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:40:35 +0000

By Chris Molnar Oh the princess tea party — it’s practically a rite of passage for little girls everywhere. At some point your daughter will embrace this phase and celebrate it for all the dainty beauty that it is. This makes for the perfect theme of a party and your little princess can truly celebrate. This is quite easy and fun to host as long as you focus on all the little details – the tablewear, the dainty little sandwiches, and of course the tea (which could just be Kool-aid or juice, though have them try herbal tea too.) For your princess to be one for a day, think of frilly, delicate, and ribbons. From the dress to the food to the decorations, this is one party that is sure to please even the most discerning princess taste. Here Comes the Royal Highnesses Every little girl wants to be a princess and at this party they can truly become one. You want to set up an area where all the invited little girls can dress up in their perfect princess costumes. On your invitations encourage princess or fairy costumes, but if somebody doesn’t have one, have a spare one or two dress up gowns and tiaras in a tickle trunk by the door. For activities before the main party, lay out materials to make a wand or a crown – they can take these home with them. Put out a few big mirrors so that they can check themselves out after they dress the part. The Dainty But Delicious Foods Time for the perfect little treats. You want to brew the perfect cup of tea if they are old enough to enjoy it. If it’s summer you can serve up iced tea or lemonade from a beautiful tea pot. If it’s winter or a bit colder you can brew up some herbal tea you think they will enjoy – strawberry, lemon or some other fruity herbal tea will be sure to please. If you are dealing with a younger set, consider serving up “warm” chocolate out of a tea pot. They will just get such a kick out of being served out of this beautiful ornamental piece that they won’t even care what they are drinking! For the little finger sandwiches, and if the girls are old enough to appreciate it, go for a traditional such as cucumber cream cheese sandwiches. Also make some favorites such as peanut butter and jelly (ask about allergies first), tuna, salmon, and cheese. To create professional-looking rolls, take a sandwich slice, cut off all the crusts, and layer the filling right to the edge. Roll carefully, press down gently so they stick, and leave in the refrigerator until needed. As they cool, they will retain their shape. When ready to serve, slice into individual rolls and serve on a dainty dish. Complete the princess meal with cookies and tea biscuits in several varieties – every princess loves her dessert! The Gorgeous Setting and Decorations The focal point of the table will be the ornamental and very decorative tea pot and the set of tea cups that they will each get to drink out of. Add one or two bouquets of flowers on the table, with petals on the table cloth. Add twisted pink and white streamers to the table edge, and along the walls (if indoors.) Use your imagination to transform the area into something royal and magical. You want to really make it feel like the meal is fit for a princess, so go for a pink tablecloth with lots of frill. Also consider tying a big beautiful bow on each little girl’s chair. You can even dress things up a bit by putting a jewel lined name card at each little girl’s place at the table. This is one princess tea party that will have all of the details covered, and make your beautiful little princess and her friends involved in a royal tradition! About the Author: Chris is a stay-at-home Dad and writer, and edits a website full of party theme ideas at Themeaparty.com. With two daughters, he has lots of experience setting up princess parties, and his eldest is asking for a Fancy Nancy birthday party in the near future!

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Personalize It: Giving the Perfect Gift for Every Occasion

Danica Hoppe — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:58:52 +0000

By Diane Cullen One of the best gifts I ever gave was a ceramic plate. Given to a dear friend on the occasion of her daughter’s baptism, the plate was hand-painted in pink and pale green and featured a cross, just as I had specified. The baby’s name and baptism date were spelled out in hand-drawn, whimsical letters. I can still recall that feeling of giddy anticipation as I waited for my friend to unwrap that plate. Here was a gift I would have made myself, just for my friend, if only I possessed the talent. Because I don’t, I did the next best thing: I asked a talented artist to personalize her work to my specifications and together we created a one-of-a-kind gift that I know my friend-and in time, her daughter-will cherish forever. After all, this perfect gift was handmade just for them. I’ve been giving personalized gifts ever since: a monogrammed dress for a first birthday, a ceramic cross with the name of a niece making her first communion, even a key chain featuring the hand-painted portrait of a friend’s beloved dog. For the next friend who has a baby, I’ll turn a practical gift into a stylish one by ordering monogrammed pacifier clips (those handy gadgets that keep pacifiers connected to baby’s clothing). I’m officially regretting the run-of-the-mill gift card I gave my son’s teacher at the end of the school year; a ceramic plate featuring hand-painted portraits of the children in the class would have meant so much more. And if I could do my wedding over again, I’d give myself and everyone in attendance a gift by ordering a custom-made wedding program that features hand-drawn pictures of each person in the wedding party! I’ve discovered there is no end to the type of occasion that can benefit from a personalized gift. Think beyond baby showers, birthdays, and baptisms. Have a friend who recently adopted a child? Help the new family start a tradition of celebrating the day their child arrived, which is sometimes called Gotcha Day or Adoption Day. This is a perfect way to establish an annual family tradition of honoring your child and emphasizing just how special and unique he or she is. Your gift can be as elaborate as a custom painting of the new family (you provide details like hair color and clothing color) or as simple and inexpensive as a box of sugar cookies featuring the continent of the child’s birth. Whatever you choose, your personalized, handmade gift is proof that you cared enough to give something extra special. Know someone who recently suffered a miscarriage, a stillbirth, or another type of untimely loss? When words feel insufficient or escape you altogether, a personalized gift can provide the comfort you long to give. Jewelry etched with a message you chose, a quilt made of fabric you selected, or a portrait drawn from a picture you provided are gifts that will be cherished forever. When it comes to giving gifts, nothing says you care better than a personalized gift. For a complete selection of unique, handmade personalized gifts to mark any occasion, from births to weddings to memorials, visit http://www.cccgifts.com today. Authors Bio: Diane Cullen Page specializes in personalized gifts for all occasions and is the founder of CCC Gifts http://www.cccgifts.com – dcullenpage@cccgifts.com. CCC Gifts offers not only the best personalized gifts, but also unique gifts such as Gotcha Day, memorial and loss gifts, etc. Check out their back to school specials going on now. Article is free to be reprinted as long as bio remains.

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Last-Minute Fun & Easy Party Games & Activities to Make Your Kids Birthday a Hit!

Danica Hoppe — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:19:49 +0000

By: K.D. Grant Last minute kids party planning made easy! Find a full day’s worth of fun, ready-to-play, and often free, interactive games and activities to make your child’s next birthday party truly memorable. You set the date and sent out the invitations with the greatest of intentions of planning the perfect birthday party for your child. Then somehow time got away from you, the date is fast approaching, and you’ve done little more than buy the gifts and order the cake. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Parents everywhere are struggling to keep up with all the daily household and career responsibilities while taking care of the seemingly endless to-do list that comes along with parenting. In a bad economy, this becomes even more of a challenge. However, all is not lost. You can still throw a great party with plenty of fun activities that will earn your child bragging rights and have his or her friends talking about the fantastic time they had long after the party’s over. Today’s generation of parents have a secret weapon on their side that gives them an edge that their parents didn’t have — the Internet. We’ll tell you how to save time and surf the web to quickly locate a full day’s worth of fun, and often free, interactive activities to make your child’s party truly unique and memorable without leaving the comfort of your home. Below are just a few of the game ideas that are sure to be a hit, are ready to play, and just a click away: Embark on a Treasure Hunt – Kids of all ages love to solve puzzles, follow a trail of clues, and race to track down hidden loot, and a classic printable treasure hunt with fun and clever pre-made clues is the perfect solution when you need an exciting party game quickly that children will love. An online treasure hunt can be simply downloaded, printed, and played instantly at minimal cost, and comes complete with a hiding guide to help you coordinate and pull off the perfect hunt that will bring your party to life! And don’t limit yourself to birthdays – these can be used to entertain your young children, teens, and their friends during sleepovers, on holidays, at picnics and while outdoors, on vacation, in the classroom, or for family fun night, plus there are many other themes to choose from. To learn more about how these hunts work and order online, visit www.treasure-adventure.com Play the Pantomime Game – This hilarious game will have children up on their feet and in all sorts of crazy positions as they attempt to mimic poses picked from a deck of printable cards. It’s a great way to break the ice and get kids interacting while having fun and improving their coordination and creative thinking skills. All you need is a printer and flexible children ready to play. http://www.printgames.net/english/pdf_e/panto.pdf Solve Puzzles & Word Games – You can create your own personalized word searches, crossword games, or jigsaw puzzles based on your party theme. For example, for your child’s birthday you might want to create a word search or puzzle containing your child’s favorite things, for a music themed party use names or pictures of instruments, or for a pirate party have the kids search for pirate jargon or treasure items, etc., and award small prizes to the one who uncovers all the words first or completes the puzzle first. Several web sites exist that let you generate your own unique puzzles and word games. You can even add your own graphics and personalize with your child’s name. To make your own word search puzzle you might try the web site www.billybear4kids.com, create your own jigsaw photo puzzle using a generator like www.flash-gear.com, or build a fun and challenging crossword puzzle at http://edhelper.com/crossword_free.htm Compete in the Paper Airplane Olympics — Have each child create a paper airplane, and then let them decorate their aircraft with their own personal style. You can divide the pilots into fighter teams or play as individuals. The planes then are raced through the air towards a target and judged in 3 different categories: best appearance, greatest distance in flight, and most accurate. The kids will love showing off their artwork and sending their airplanes soaring. The best part is all you need is some paper and crayons! www.wonderhowto.com “Capture the Spoons” – This is a fast-paced exciting and very popular card game that is perfect for large groups. All you need is one or two decks of cards depending on the size of your party, and kitchen spoons for all but one of your players. The kids form a circle and rapidly pick and pass along discarded cards trying to get 4 of a kind while keeping an eye on the spoons and other players in the event someone else gets 4 first. The first person to get 4 of a kind then tries to sneak away one of the spoons that have been placed in the center. Once one spoon is taken, the rest of the children must all dive into the center to get a spoon before they’re gone, and the one left without a spoon is either out of the game (shorter version) or given a letter each time, starting with “S,” until “SPOONS” is spelled and they’re out of the game (longer version). Don’t forget to include this easy classic party game that is a sure-fire winner that kids will love! http://boardgames.about.com/od/cardgames/a/spoons.htm Do-it-yourself party planning becomes a breeze when you take advantage of all the free and inexpensive kids games and activities that can be found on the world wide web that are perfect for livening up any children’s party without the stress of last-minute shopping in crowded stores with limited time and paying high prices for party games or party planners. ABOUT THE AUTHOR K.D. Grant is the president of www.Treasure-Adventure.com a children’s party game company that offers kids print ‘n’ play

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Easy Kids Craft Ideas: A Refreshing Alternative to Extravagant Parties

Danica Hoppe — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:10:00 +0000

By Rachel Messina As shows such as MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16” showcase the growing trend of over-the-top and extravagant parties for children and teens, it becomes increasingly difficult to remember the days of simple gatherings where Pin the Tail on the Donkey and Musical Chairs were considered prime entertainment. Kids and parents alike seem to be expecting more and more when it comes to celebrations these days, but sometimes the simple and classic approach dazzles guests just as much as expensive favors and amusement. Planning a children’s party should be a fun collaboration that focuses on celebrating between friends rather than showing off to neighbors with fancy venues and excessive decorations. While brainstorming kids birthday party ideas, for example, there are many factors to consider regarding the number of guests, themes, refreshments and favors, so keeping things simple is essential for the busy parents not to mention less of a strain on the wallet. When considering uncomplicated and inexpensive party favors, it is easy to get tempted by cheap and useless trinkets that hold no sentimental value and will most likely get thrown out the moment festivities end. Filling goodie bags with candy or junk food can also be risky since some parents may disapprove of these treats. Easy kids craft ideas for children to take home are an excellent alternative to traditional favors, and they also double as an entertaining activity for the party. Do-it-yourself crafting often becomes messy and chaotic with gatherings hosting young children and large numbers, but there are ways around the mess and difficulty that is typically associated with crafting. One company called Colortime Crafts & Markers offers inexpensive custom tee shirts, pillowcases, tote bags, backpacks and bandanas with different designs for kids to color how they like. Graphics on each of these products include fun images and slogans such as “Girls Rock,” “Circle of Friends,” and “Allstar.” Designs are also catered towards holiday celebrations and even Girl Scout activities. The permanent, non-toxic and chlorine resistant fabric markers come in a variety of sixteen colors and can be used for up to five to six full tee shirts each. All products can be purchased online, and discounts and customization options are given for wholesale orders. Although simple, easy craft ideas like this provide just enough personalization for children and teens of all ages to treasure and keep as a souvenir of the party. Preparation requires virtually no setup, and these projects are much less daunting for parents than the conventional art activities involving wet paint and sticky glue. This simple craft idea can be recycled for many different occasions such as slumber party planning. When thinking of fun things to do at sleepovers, children usually get sucked into the television or video games. Crafts are a great way to get those creative juices flowing again, and are a perfect and refreshing reminder of just how easy it is to have fun without having to turn to the latest high-tech or overly expensive entertainment options. Author Bio: Rachel Messina, a writer and Internet Marketing specialist with Mountain Media, writes about unique ecommerce businesses, Internet consumer trends, and useful web sites, such as Colortime.com, an online source for birthday parties and slumber parties.

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Grappling with the Birthday Beast

Danica Hoppe — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:24:42 +0000

by Jennifer Kirsch A mother starts to plan her son’s birthday party five months in advance, calling the parents of children with proximate birthdays to coordinate dates. A bewildered father wonders where to corral the many toys his daughter receives for her birthday. A friend confesses her relief at learning her son would like to go fishing with a neighbor on his birthday, foregoing a party. A comic strip pictures a family going through customs en route to a birthday celebration.(1) Have children’s birthday parties reached an immoderate level? Beginning as uninvolved functions, they marked the passing of another year in a child’s life. Understandably, busy parents started outsourcing event planning and coordination, but what was originally an honest attempt to save time and effort has escalated into a formidable movement, as celebrations have become elaborate, pricey, and even monstrous undertakings. The trend is most obvious on the entertainment front, where bedazzling guests is the goal. Hosts routinely rent free-fall rides, book princesses, line up petting zoos, and showcase scorpions in living rooms.(2) Some even toy with danger, as in Coral Gables, Florida, where a live cougar attacked a birthday guest.(3) The brutal pre-party planning stage also raises a red flag. With a sense of obligation permeating festivities, hosts concentrate on what is expected, rather than rejoicing over the occasion. Beleaguered parents then spend days grappling with the birthday beast: researching venues, brainstorming themes, and competing to find the most original idea, cutest cake, or enticing activity, all within a budget. Soon select universities will undoubtedly offer degrees in birthday party management. Undeniably, top dollar amusement spells good news for party guests. Yet, shifting the focus to wowing party-goers saps hosts’ savings and shatters their sanity. As presents pile up, parents’ efforts to teach gratitude deflate faster than a punctured balloon. The birthday child often experiences the flip-side of the merriment, as well, fading into the background. Restaurants boasting rides and video games present a case in point. With friends happily scattered in the maze of token-gobbling machines, and multiple fetes taking place simultaneously, the birthday child seems all but forgotten. Resigned to a similar fate is the affair whose scale approaches that of a wedding, with hundreds of invitees, a photographer, professional entertainment, a catered buffet, and in one case, a babysitter paid to engage the two-year-old birthday girl while her parents managed the crowd and arrangements. Will the child even be invited next year? Still, birthdays mark important milestones in a child’s life and warrant a celebration. Yet, short of launching fireworks, can parents find a way to make them fun? Tempted to set up birthday savings plans, rather than earmarking funds for higher education, I vowed to counter the trend. On my way to enroll my preschooler in swim lessons (a prerequisite for kindergarten pool parties), I switched course, embarking instead upon a quest to tame the birthday beast. Birthdayswithoutpressure.org advises cutting the extravagance: limiting guests to friends; scheduling the event mid-day to avoid serving a meal; doling out only one favor per child. Eager to put a leash on the beast, I attempted to follow this advice, but soon faltered. Unable to withstand the regret of planning an unimpressive event and not reciprocating some invitations, I caved in, adding guests and frivolities (while impairing finances). Reigning in a monster requires resolve. The next party, I tried domesticating the animal, throwing a backyard bash. Once again, though, the beast prevailed. Compensating for the lack of professional revelry, I prepared over twenty homespun games, and even constructed invitations picturing Velcro-tailed donkeys, to allow party-goers to refresh pin-the-tail skills beforehand. Yet, my efforts proved futile. Accustomed to razzle-dazzle in the entertainment department, the guests expected more than dance contests and musical chairs, and expressed their disappointment by refusing to follow the rules of games, squabbling over prizes, and cutting in line. Overwhelmed with containing the disgruntlement, I even forgot to take pictures. Perhaps my lack of entertaining finesse deserved the blame. Or, with their high standards and a monstrous ravenousness, are today’s kids hard to please? A neighbor’s strategy involved outwitting the monster. Feeling obligated to invite her daughter’s entire class to a celebration, she cleverly booked the bash at an inconvenient time (on Mother’s Day one year, during a school break the next), trusting that several invitees would decline. Another parent invited guests on short notice, hoping some would already have plans for the day. Lacking such insight, I might have abandoned my quest, were it not for a friend who managed to delve into the heart of the problem. Instead of offering her son a choice of party locales one year, she simply asked how he would like to spend his special day. By taking her approach, laying aside expectations and focusing on the birthday child’s interests, might more of us end up with sensible and original plans? By getting the kids’ opinions on what they would like to eat, what they would wear, and who they would like to include, might we succeed in centering festivities, once again, around the child? Admittedly, some kids will invariably insist on the hottest party joint in town. I wonder, though, if some might just name their good friends, or choose to share their day with Grandma and Grandpa, or even Mom or Dad. Or, like my friend’s son, they might even reply they would just like to go fishing with a neighbor. (1) Dan Piraro, Bizarro.com, August 18, 2006. (2) Thelizardguys.com. (3) Patrick Condon, “Parents Get Sick of Over-the-Top Birthday Parties for their Kids,” The Star Ledger, January 22, 2007. Biographical Information for Jennifer Kirsch While not shuttling her daughters to and from birthday parties in and around Livingston, NJ, Jennifer Kirsch, a former software developer, pursues free-lance writing. Her recent publications include “Juggling Too Much?” in the July 2008 issue of The MotherHood, and “Inquiring Minds,” which appeared as the cover article in the October 2006 issue of The Church Herald. She also enjoys covering sporting events

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Kids Birthday Parties. Have They Gone Over the Top?

Andrew — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 21:05:11 +0000

By Janie Kimball In our, “more is better” society, kids birthday parties have gone over the top. Find out have to create an inexpensive, yet memorable birthday party. Whatever happened to good old fashioned birthday parties with cake and back-yard games? My nine year daughter recently attended a birthday party which included a limousine ride to The Ritz hotel for tea, followed by manicures and pedicures at a posh shop. I think most of us were first picked up in limos for our wedding not a child’s birthday party. Since when did birthday parties become such extravagant affairs? CNN.com reported on a full service children’s birthday party planning company in California that is run by a team trained in child development. They take six weeks to plan and it costs as much as $10,000. Now that’s a party. In our now, “more is better” culture, parents and kids are having higher and higher expectations of birthday parties. As a result, parents are feeling the financial strain and stress and kids are overloaded and over-indulged. So how do you create an inexpensive, yet memorable birthday party? Keep it simple. Have the party at home and invite eight friends‚ not 20. Plan a fun craft that can be used as the take home party favor‚ eliminating the over-stuffed throw-away goody bag. Play good old fashioned games that kids will love. An obstacle course or sack race is great for both boys and girls of all ages. For younger kids, you can’t go wrong with Duck Duck Goose or Princess, Princess, Frog. For older kids, a dress-up relay race is always fun. Just use a bunch of clothes from the closet such as ties, dress up shoes, party dresses, hats. There are lots of great birthday party ideas sites online to find fun birthday party themes and party games ideas. One site to try is Amazing Moms. Readers from all over the country submit birthday party ideas. You can also check out your local crafts store such as Michaels or Ben Franklin crafts for your activity materials or if you are short on time, go online and find craft packages available to you. Remember that the birthday party is for your children. Pick something that every child can participate in and keep it simple. This will allow you too as their parents to enjoy the festivities, hold the video camera and simply share in the excitement of your child’s celebration! They will grow up too fast so relish in these exciting and developing years! Bio: Janie is a mom of two and owner of Birthday Parties Delivered (http://www.birthdaypartiesdelivered.com) which provides unique and personalized kids craft birthday party packages. Great kids birthday party ideas and ideal for busy moms who still want a personal touch and stress free!

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Surefire Hit Gift Ideas For Kids

Danica Hoppe — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 23:22:57 +0000

Whether it's a holiday or a birthday, kids can be especially hard to buy gifts for. Here are some surefire gift ideas that will make any kid happy. Games
The best games to get...

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