Keeping toddlers entertained can be a very challenging task, as many parents would testify, but keeping them entertained for a long period of time or in large group can be an even more difficult challenge. Hosting a birthday party for a toddler can be a lot of fun but can also be difficult unless you plan well and are willing to adapt and change the plan according to what the kids like most. Here are some ideas to help you pull off a successful toddler birthday party.
Entertaining toddlers can be very difficult. In some ways they are very easy to entertain and will be amused by almost anything. But the difficulty lies in the fact that they are rarely entertained by the same thing for very long and can quickly lose interest, especially when other children around them are not interested in the same thing anymore. The best approach to having a successful toddler birthday party is to have games that can be played by anyone and that are quick and simple for the whole group to understand. These few tips are the most important and will make the party run better in general as well.
A bean bag toss can be a fun way to get children involved while learning to take turns participating and letting other children play too. Tossing the bean bag at a target or some other container, like a bucket, can be a great way to develop hand-eye coordination and to have everyone participate in the same game at the same time. Make sure that it is clear that the kids have to take turns and that there is a line but everyone will get their turn to play the game. Make the game fit the theme of the birthday party and make it memorable for your toddler so that they will have fun and remember what they did at their party long after it’s over.
Duck, Duck, Goose is another game that can be fun for everyone and doesn’t really take much thinking or too much organization on your end. Again, you will stress the importance of taking turns and playing nice with other kids while playing the game. There are many variations on the game and you can create your own to fit the theme of the party again. Hot Potato is another game that can be played while the kids are still in a circle from the Duck, Duck, Goose game and will flow easily from one game to the next. Have a special item that will be considered the potato, unless you actually want to use a potato. This game is probably better for older toddlers who are more comfortable tossing and catching different things.
Simon Says is another great party game for younger children and can be fun for everyone. This is also a great game because it allows the children to get up and move around rather than trying to have them sit still and play quietly doing something. Kids generally want to be active and allowing them to be active helps gain and keep their trust and confidence when you want them to settle down and be still.
If your child has a summer birthday and you can take the kids outside to play, tag can be a very exciting and fun activity for them. Freeze tag is especially fun and allows them to explore the things their bodies can do while participating in a game at the same time. Letting the kids just run around and be crazy can also be fun and exciting for them, but you have to learn how to rope them back in if they get too rowdy.
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