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Parties for Preschoolers - How to Keep the Smiles on
Their Faces
Are you considering throwing a party
for your preschooler? Are you worried about the stress
of having fifteen small children in your care? Do you
fear facing a room of tired, over-stimulated, and crying
toddlers a full hour before pickup time?
Here's your guide for throwing a party for anyone five
or under. It's surprisingly simple and you CAN do it
without losing your mind!
MAKE IT SHORT
You don't need to host an all day or
all afternoon party for preschoolers. Two hours is fine
for a child three or under. Three to four hours is great
for children up to five.
Small children will tire easily from
the excitement of a party. That leads to crying and
fighting. With a short span of time you can have a game,
food and free play without too many tantrums to interfere.
MAKE IT SMALL
A good rule of thumb is to invite the
number of guests according to your child's age. Two
year old's will be quite satisfied with two other party-goers,
and do you really think five guests (plus your own)
is too few for a five year old? This is especially important
if you have other children of your own - you may chose
to divvy up the party guests so each child has a friend.
It's not about making a splashy show - it's about creating
a fun, memorable experience.
HAVE HELP
You'll have more fun yourself if the
moms or dads stay around. The younger the child, the
more necessary this is. For older children be certain
that SOMEONE is helping. You will need to prepare games
and serve food as well as handle potty calls and be
on hand to supervise. Having extra eyes and hands will
go a long way towards keeping it running smoothly.
PLAN ACTIVITIES
The great thing is that this age group
will be quite happy to enjoy some amount of free play.
If it's summer, try having a sprinkler available. Inside
set up tents or tunnels. You will have a difficult time
convincing them to even stop for a planned game.
However, party games and activities
are what make it special. Try face painting as your
guests arrive. Easy treasure hunts, trying to keep balloons
in the air, or even ring-around-the-rosy are sure to
please.
Move onto the food and provide finger
friendly treats like crackers, cheese, and cut fruit
they can dip in yogurt. Allow some free play before
winding things down with cake or 'make your own sundaes'
just before pick up time. This will get the kids sitting
down and breaking up the play without too much complications
as well as saving the sugar rush for when they get home!
1howto.com
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