Planning a kids birthday is exhausting. Even if your child is the most sociable kid on the planet, coordinating with parents and coming up with fun activities and ideas for games and food can be super stressful.
If you dread the thought of planning your kids next birthday party, you are not alone. Many parents fear coming up with creative themes, activities and games that will keep their child happy, as well as all of their friends.
This article will give you some easy tips to creating an birthday party ideas for kids 11 year olds with little stress involved. You do not have to break the bank or lose sleep over stressing about it. Simply read on for some great ideas.
Ask Birthday Kids What They Want
The best way to start any party planning is to ask the birthday boy or girl what they want to do. If you have a few ideas in mind, but are not settled, you can ask your child to help you brainstorm.
If your child has a clear idea of what they want to do, you have some great starting points to build your birthday party around. Kids are often excited to choose their own activities, and they will be more likely to pay attention and enjoy themselves.
Make a Shortlist of Activities
After you have asked your child what they would like to do at the party, it is time to start planning out some activities. You will want to have a shortlist of a few activities to choose from. This is especially important if you have invited more than a few guests.
You do not want to over-schedule your party and have people bored or feeling rushed.
If your child wants to have a pinata at their birthday party, make sure to have at least one other activity to balance it out.
If you have a few other activities that you can mix in, you can make sure to give everyone a turn, and your child will have even more fun at their party.
Decorations and Party Supplies
Now it is time to start thinking about decorations and party supplies. You can always go with a theme for the party, but you do not have to. Decorations do not have to be complicated or expensive.
You can also have fun with decorations that do not necessarily have to have anything to do with the theme of your party. Decorations do not have to break the bank, but they can add a lot of fun to the party. You can always ask your child for help with decorations.
Decide an Easy Theme
If you are having a themed birthday party, there are plenty of ways to incorporate the theme into the party. For example, if your child loves the ocean, you can have a “fish and chips” themed party. You can serve hot dogs or fish and chips, and you can use seashells or fish netting as decorations.
You can play fish-themed games, such as “Hot Potato” with a fish-themed twist. You can also use fish-themed party bags, such as fish-shaped crayons and pencils. You do not have to stick with one theme, either. If you are having more than one child celebrate their birthday in the same month, you can always have multiple themes.
Keep Guest List Small
It is important to keep the guest list small. For one thing, it is easier to keep track of who is there if there are not too many kids at the party. You also do not want to over-schedule the kids at the party.
They will enjoy the party more if they get enough time to relax and breath between activities. If you have a lot of kids at the party, it is also likely that their parents will feel rushed coming to pick them up.
Have a Plan for Clean Up
Kids are messy, plain and simple. If you are having a few children over for a birthday party, you must have a plan for clean-up. Given that the majority of kids at the party will likely be under the age of 11, they are likely not responsible enough to clean up the mess they make themselves.
It is important to have a cleanup plan in place before the party starts, so you can enjoy yourself without having to clean up after your child’s guests. Kids love to play in fake food, so you might want to keep an eye on the eating area of the party and make sure to put a stop to anything that is getting too messy.
Decide The Menu Early
There are a number of advantages to deciding on the menu for your kids birthday party well in advance. For starters, you can purchase food in bulk and save money on serving sizes. You can also ensure that all of the food is fresh and safe to eat.
You may also be able to plan a menu that includes food that most kids will enjoy, regardless of allergies or dietary restrictions. Ask your child and the other parents if they have any allergies or dietary restrictions and make sure to follow suit.
If you have any concerns about the safety of the food that you are serving, it is likely that the other parents do, too.
Keep Food Simple
The popularity of child themed parties has resulted in an abundance of food ideas that are not only colorful and festive but also delicious. This can be both a blessing and a curse.
Nevertheless, many parents are trying to stay away from sugary foods, and they are looking for some other options. Thankfully, there are plenty of recipes that use healthy ingredients and are just as easy to make as sugary treats.
If you are trying to keep costs down, you can also consider making your kids favourite food as well. Take your kids favourite sandwich or wrap and transform it into a fun shape with cookie cutters.
Incorporate Activities in The Games
You can fill the pinata with a few small toys and treats, as well as a few pieces of candy. If your child has a short attention span, you might want to consider having a few activities throughout the game that does not involve smashing the pinata.
If you are planning to have a few activities for kids, a game like “Hot Potato” can be a ton of fun. You can always add a few twists to the game, as well.
Ask Guests to Help with Clean Up
Simply having your guests put their plates in the sink or dishwasher when they are finished is a great start, but you may want to consider asking them to help with clean-up as well. You can offer to let the guests help with cleanup as a thank you for coming to the party.
This will also keep your kids guests engaged and out of trouble while you are cleaning up the rest of the mess.