Group Of People Celebrating A Birthday Party

How to Host an UNFORGETTABLE Backyard Birthday Party for a 3 to 9 Years Old Kid?

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As a parent, I understand we all want our kids to be happy. When it comes to celebrating their birthday, doing so with their playdates can create a fun and memorable experience. It would also be a fabulous opportunity for you to connect with other parents, and get to know more about the friends of your child.

Although we could rent a venue to host the birthday party, I enjoy doing so in the backyard of my home. This way, it would create a more personal touch for the guests, while the kids can enjoy playing in a safe outdoor environment.

The content of this article is mostly intended for kids from 3 to 9 years old. For children under 2 years old, the birthday party planning might be irrelevant since the toddlers are too young to understand what is going on. For kids over age 9, they are probably heading into their teenage years, so the ways to celebrate their birthday could be a lot different from the suggestions in this post.

 

Backyard Birthday Invitation:

How many people should I invite?

There is a saying the number of kids you should invite is equal to the kid’s age plus one. For example, if your child is four years old, then you can consider asking five kids to the party. Of course, this is for reference only. It also depends on the size of your home, and the number of adults that could supervise the children at the birthday party.

Do I Have to Invite the Whole Class to Birthday Party?

This is a very tricky question. For my kids’ birthday parties, I would invite all the children that participate in a particular group. For example, all children from my kids’ sport team or the same cell group at church. If in the case you will need to invite kids from different groups, ensure the gender mix to be more even out. Having all boys with only one girl might create a left out feeling for the girl, and vice versa.

There is an excellent article, “Birthday Invitation Etiquette Q&A” on parents.com, where it points out the different consideration when working on a birthday invitation. [1]Birthday Invitation Etiquette Q&A on http://www.parents.com/fun/birthdays/invitations/birthday-invitation-etiquette/

  • How do I whittle down a massive list of family and friends?
  • When do I start inviting my child’s friends?
  • When is it okay to invite only my kid’s friends and not the entire class?
  • How do I avoid making a child feel left out?
  • What do I do when unwanted guests invite themselves to the party?
  • When should I have drop-off parties?
  • How do I accommodate a child who has special needs?

How to Invite Someone to a Party?

There are tons of tools to do that. I like using either the “Facebook event” or Eventbrite. They both have the RSVP and reminder features. These make it a lot easier to account for the number of attendees and ensure the guests will not forget about the event. Some parents might consider using Whatsapp to invite their guests. I’m not a huge fan of that, as I always find it difficult to locate specific details in a Whatsapp conversation.

If you see the kids’ parents on a regular basis, (i.e., you might see them when you take your kids to school), then you could consider providing them a physical invitation card.

What to Say on a Birthday Invitation? 

Purpose of the event: To celebrate the birthday for your child and for the kids to have fun together. You could also state what age your kid will be turning into.

When is the birthday party? Not only you need to specify the date and starting time of the event, but many parents also forget to include the ending time in their invitation. Without that, it would be challenging for parents to arrange the day accordingly.

Where is the birthday party? Since most people have access to Google maps nowadays, including your home address would be sufficient.  If Google map does not list your home address, then you can include the route instruction.

What to prepare for the party? Depending on the activities in your party, your invitation should include the list of items that the guests to bring along. For instance, if the kids will be playing water or sandbox in the backyard, then you should remind the guest to bring along with extra clothing, flip-flop, or a towel.

Instruction to RSVP: Specify whether invitees can bring along any guests such as parents or siblings. Provide a deadline to RSVP. I suggest sticking with only one method when RSVP, either social media or by email. The consistency would make your life a lot easier when accounting the number of attendees.

Special consideration: Inquire if there’s anything that needs your particular attention for the guests. For example, does the child has any food allergy? Will there be any child with a disability which requires other accommodation?

Backyard Decoration for a Birthday Party

There is no fixed formula when it comes to decorating your birthday party, it all comes to your creativity and preference. For my kid’s birthday party, I prefer the guests to head directly to the backyard upon arrive. Therefore, I would place a colorful chalkboard in front of my house with direction to the yard.

To make the environment more cheerful, the yard’s fences could be decorated with ribbons and balloons. You could creatively design wind chimes with recycled materials such as old keys, CDs, forks, spoons, or even glass bottles, then hang them beautifully onto the trees.

If you have those metal folding chairs dull appearance, consider repainting them with bright and sunny colors. Not only it would bring more liveliness, but it also prevents them from rusting.

Depending on the kids’ preference, I would pick up some utensils such as paper plates, tablecloth with their favorite cartoon characters. This can be easily found in local stores such as Party City or Walmart. You could also find them online such as at Amazon.com, but make sure to account for the shipping time.

Backyard Birthday Party Safety Checklist

Safety First Concept

We all want our kids to have a fun birthday party. It is always better to be prepared than sorry later. Below are some safety items I would check:

Make Sure the Weather is Suitable for Outdoor Activities

If the weather is hot, always prepare enough drinks and water to avoid dehydration. Although it is nice to enjoy the natural environment, if the weather condition is too bad, there is no reason to force going out. Always have another backup plan to move the party indoors if that’s the case.

Mow the Lawn

When the grass gets too long, small children would feel very uncomfortable walking on it, especially those who are wearing shorts or a dress. I would suggest mowing the lawn a couple of days before the party.

I typically do not clean up the grass clippings afterward. According to an article from EarthEasy.com [2]http://learn.eartheasy.com/2011/06/grasscycling-the-easiest-way-to-nurture-your-lawn/, short clippings are an excellent source of fertilizer which helps the soil retaining water, promotes root growth and a healthy lawn. The short clippings should quickly fall between the standing grass blades and disappear from sight.

Clean the ground

Although I do not pick up the grass clippings, I still would inspect to see if there could be any potential tripping hazard on the ground. For example, glasses, garbage, large sized fallen branches, untidy gardening hose.

If there are ants problem in the backyard, you would want to deal with that as well. Here’s a post on how to deal with the ant problem.

Clean and Inspect the Backyard Playset

Inspect for mold: This could be a common problem for inflatable playsets such as water slide and pool. If children were exposed to them, it could potentially lead to health issues. You should apply the proper procedures to remove the mold. Here’s a post on how to clean inflatable playsets.

Inspect for rust: From the years of being placed under the sunshine, rain, and snow, playsets with metal components such as slides or swings can easily be rusted. Of course, no one would want to play on something that is so unpleasant to touch, while producing such an unwanted squeaky sound whenever it moves. Here’s a post with more insights on how to deal with the rust problem on the playsets.

Tighten any loose nuts and bolts. Hammer in or remove unnecessary nails: This does not necessarily only happen to the playsets. Sometime, it could be found on the yard’s fences too. Of course, all these precautions should be done not just for the party. The checkups should be done on a regular basis for your kids’ safety as well. Since there could be chemical involved in the above precaution, for example, removing mold and rust, ants control, I typically would work on it at least a few days before the birthday party.

Double Check on all Equipment

Test out all the equipment that would be used during the party. For instance,

  • Is the BBQ grill appropriately set cleaned and have enough gas?
  • Is the blower for the inflatable playset working correctly?
  • If you do not intend to use the swimming pool, is it securely closed so that no one could fall into it by accident?

Have Safety Kits Available

Regardless of how well we prepare, kids will always be kids. They trip and slip from time to time. Having a proper safety kit available is essential.

Adult Supervision at All Time

Since we are dealing with small children in this birthday party, it is important to have adults to supervise them closely. As a host, there are already many things that you need to take care during that day. If you are unable to look after the children all the time, make sure you discuss with the other parents so they can take up the responsibility of supervising.

Here is a list of 25 vital backyard safety tips here. Please make sure to check it out.

 

Food Ideas for Kid’s Backyard Party:

Chicken Wings With Celery And Carrot On Wooden Background  Shrimp Ring

Pepperoni Pizza With Mushrooms Peppers And Olives On The Kitchen Table Canape Served In The Plate

 

Since the foods will be eaten in the backyard, I want something that is easy for the kids to handle. I like foods such as boneless wings, chicken fingers, sandwiches, pizza, burger, salad. They are easy to prepare and less chance of making a mess when eating.

Given that, I would try to avoid spaghetti with sauce. For drinks, fruit juices and water would be good for the kids, while coffees and teas can be reserved for the adults. With some creativity, even the simple foods can look appealing to the kids.

A Shot Of A Delicious Homemade Birthday Cake

How can the meal be completed without a birthday cake? Since I’m not a good baker, I would buy one from a local bakery store. If you are not sure which one to use, you can ask your friends, family or neighbor if they have any good one to recommend. Alternatively, you could check on Google reviews or Yelp, and good for one with good customer reviews.

In regards to how much cake you should prepare, according to a chart from Under5s.co.nz [3]https://www.under5s.co.nz/shop/Hot+Topics/Activities/Kids+Birthday+Parties/Kids+birthday+cake+size+guide.html

  • 4″ round could provide 6 servings
  • 6″ round could provide 14 servings
  • 8″ round could provide 26 servings
  • 9″ round could provide 30 servings
  • 10″ round could provide 38 servings
  • 12″ round could provide 56 servings

If you are still unsure how much birthday cake should be made, cupcakes will also do the job. I typically would prepare one for each person, which is more than enough in most of the case.

Make sure to check the invitation response from the guests and see if they have any food allergy. In North America, many people are allergic to nuts. Some of them could even have a life-threatening reaction, so I would completely avoid any foods with nuts.

I like to get my kids involved when preparing the foods. This activity could be an excellent opportunity to develop them with a sense of responsibility.

Incredibly Fun Activities for Backyard Birthday Party:

Even though most kids would start playing with one another after awhile, there are some activities which could help break the ice and add more fun to the party.

Simon Says:

It is one of the children games with the longest history. The best part is everyone can play without any props. My kids love watching the Australian TV show, “The Wiggles.” Many children would feel excited when they hear their song “Simon Says,” perhaps you could consider playing that in the background during the game.

Treasure Hunts

The idea is simple and fun. You could place a few of the same toys in your backyard and have the kids to find it. They don’t have to locate them all at once, but with careful observation, they should be able to spot them during the party. You could place them on the dining table, within the playhouse, in front of the flower beds. Avoid putting them in dangerous areas where the kids are hard to reach. Once they find them all, they could all be entitled to a gift at the end of the party. That’s where the thank you gifts comes in.

Face Painting

Little Girl With Face Painting

Butterflies, cats, dogs, tigers, and many other cartoon characters, face painting, can surely bring lots of fun to a kid’s birthday party. If you are going to DIY in painting for the kids, you should use only paints that are suitable and safe for the kids. Some people suggest avoiding oil-based face paints, because they tend to smear, and are difficult to remove and clog pores. Rather, some would recommend using Snazaroo.

Below are 10 tips for face painting from Thoughtco.com [4]https://www.thoughtco.com/best-tips-for-face-painting-2578206

  • Tip 1: Value Your Paints
  • Tip 2: Sponge Don’t Brush
  • Tip 3: Be Patient and Think Thin
  • Tip 4: Visualize the Finished Face
  • Tip 5: Special Effects
  • Tip 6: Use Stencils
  • Tip 7: Temporary Tattoos
  • Tip 8: Getting a Decision
  • Tip 9: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who’s the Most Beautiful of All?
  • Tip 10: Stock Up on Tissues

Every child may have a different reaction to the paint. It is safer to apply the makeup to the arm first. To avoid the color going into the eyes, I would avoid painting near those areas. If you are not confident enough to DIY, you may hire a professional to do so. Just make sure the professional has a good reputation and comply with the standard safety procedures. You can also check out the article with “Top 10 Safety Tips For Face Painting” from Thoughtco.com [5]https://www.thoughtco.com/top-safety-tips-for-face-painting-2578204

Creative Painting:

My daughter is painting a dinosaur at a birthday party

Paint can be a fun experience for the kids. It helps them to express their feelings and emotions through the use of different colors. Below are some tips from Ecokidsart [6]http://www.ecokidsart.com/basic-tips-how-to-teach-or-introduce-painting-to-children-for-the-first-time:

  • Wear clothes that can get messy. If you are concern about it, get your child to wear an apron. Here’s one that I really like.
  • Use only child grade non-toxic, safe paints
  • Paint brushes are the most common painting tool, but there is no need to limit to this. You can also try using other fun objects such as stamps, feathers, sticks, sponges, bubble wrap, droppers
  • Painting Surfaces can be paper, canvas, cardboard, watercolor paper, wood surfaces or even rocks.

Photo Booth

As a parent, I understand we all want to capture the happiest moment of our kids. Rather than staging them to sit and pose a smile, I believe the most beautiful is to capture their most natural moment. To add more fun, you could consider getting some photos booth props for the kids. For example, mustache, pirate hat, glasses, smiley mouth.

Although it is effortless to take photos with our smartphones these days, I still enjoy having some physical copies, especially for such a memorable event like our kids’ birthday party.
You could take the photo digitally, then get it printed in a local printing store. For instance, Walmart seems to have that service. Alternatively, you could get an instant photo camera, so all the kids could a copy of their photo immediately.

Bubble

Bubbles are one of the favorite things my kids love to do. It is inexpensive and easy to prepare. You could buy them in most convenient stores. If you prefer, you could even DIY to create it. I would use 6 cups of warm water and mix it with ½ cups of dish soap. Some parents suggest adding sugar or 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1 teaspoon of baking POWDER and 1 teaspoon of glycerine to make the bubble stronger and larger.

I haven’t tried them myself, but feel free to experiment and let me know your result. [7]https://happyhooligans.ca/homemade-giant-bubbles/

 

Of course, there are a lot more games the kids could play at a backyard birthday party. For instance, ring tossing, potato sack race, bowling with reused water bottles.

Make sure to check out the “101 Super AWESOME Backyard Activities that Your Kid Wouldn’t Want to Miss

 

Fun Playsets that Your Child Cannot Resist from Playing:

Not all games need to be structured the way we want it. Playsets with good design can help the kids naturally play along with one another.

Sandbox:

Family Childhood And Parenthood Concept Happy Mother And Little Baby Girl With Sand Toys Playing In Sandbox At Summer Playground Happy Mother And

Kids love to play with sand. It is an open-ended medium which stretches their imagination. You can prepare a few buckets, small shovels, and sand toys. We did some online research. Here’s a sandbox which has many great customer reviews, and is large enough for multiple children to play with. Before the kids start playing, make sure they understand that the sands are for playing only, and not for throwing toward one another.

I wrote a review on some products for sand play, feel free to check it out.

 

Inflatable Water Slide:

Child On Water Slide At Aquapark

© PixelRockstar.com

During a day of summer heat, what’s a better option than an inflatable water slide to cool off your kids and burn off their energy? Since you are throwing a birthday party, you should remind the parents that they should bring an extra set of clothing for their children. As a thoughtful host, you should also have some extra clothing and towels ready.

There are many different inflatable water slides. Some have a simple design for a small backyard, while some are a bigger scale which could accommodate many children.

Here’s an in-depth review of the 5 inflatable water slides that I really like. Hope this would be useful.

Inflatable Bounce House

Regardless of which children’s event I go to, the inflatable bounce house (affiliate link) always remains the popular choice for kids. They can jump, bounce and climb. Since inflatable surrounds the kids, parents would feel this is a relatively safe playground.

To add more fun, some would include different colors of plastic balls to the bounce house. For precaution, make sure the kids do not carry any sharp objects into the playground. Here’s an inflatable bounce house that we have reviewed.

Full Playset:

With a complete playset, you are bringing a similar level of fun from a park to your backyard. Some playsets could include slide, swing, climbing areas, and many other features. For younger children, you could consider the Step2 Clubhouse Climber. Here’s a brief review I wrote about it.

For older children, and a bigger sized backyard, you could consider the Backyard Discovery Skyfort II All Cedar Wood Swing Playset

 

The shipping and installation can take some time. If you are purchasing that for an upcoming birthday party, be sure to leave enough buffer time for all that.

Birthday Party Thank You Gifts

We should teach our kids always to be thankful. As a token of appreciation to their friends in coming to the party, it would be a good idea to provide them with a gift.

There are many great choices of gifts. Snacks such as biscuits and chocolate are more common ones. Once again, due to the potential allergy issue mentioned earlier, I would recommend them to be nut-free. You also consider a creative small toy or keychain.

I like something that is more long-lasting and meaningful. Since the whole point of hosting the birthday party in the backyard is to encourage kids to spend more time in outdoor. How about a bag of plant seeds? This could be a good activity for the parents to do with their kids, and also an excellent chance for children to learn about nature. You should remind the parents those are seeds and not eatable.

Accompanied the gift with a thank you card, where your child writes each kid’s name on it.

Anxiety Over a Child’s Birthday Party

Worried Young Woman Laying In Bed Sleepless At Night

If you have read the article until this point, you must be very serious in planning a memorable party for your kids. I met many parents who are perfectionists. They desire to have a perfect wedding for their kids, which end up carrying lots of unnecessary stress. Having some pressure could be normal, but if it is to the extent of losing sleep at night, or negatively affecting your daily routine, then it would not be worth it. Below are some thought processes I always remind myself when I’m feeling stressed.

  1. The key purpose of this party is not for others to admire, but to provide a memorable experience for your kids and their friends.
  2. The perfectionism of the party is not most important. The demonstration of your organizational skills and willingness to handle unexpected problems would set a fantastic example for your kids.
  3. Just like every party, regardless how well you planned, it’s almost guaranteed that there are things you wish you could have done better.
  4. You don’t have to handle everything yourself. Can you get help from family, friends or relatives? If you’re not comfortable in DIY the things, can you hire professionals to do so? For example, face painting? Catering? Cleaning services?
  5. Don’t try to incorporate every good idea into the birthday parties. Just a few would be good enough.
  6. Can you prepare ahead of time so that there will be buffer room to deal with any unexpected changes?
  7. True friends will admire the effort you put into being a thoughtful party host.
  8. Don’t view any problems bigger than it is.
  9. Focus on other people’s needs, and not what others might think of you.

Do not just host the party for your kid; rather it should be with your kid. Depending on their age and ability, consider assigning them to different tasks. For example, help in setting up, clean and tidy up after party. The experience gained from the party is a lot more valuable than its outcome.

Throwing a birthday party for your child can be an amazing opportunity to connect with other parents, and get to know more about the friends of your kids. Doing so in your backyard would create a more friendly atmosphere for the guests, while the kids can enjoy playing in a safe, natural outdoor environment.

If your kid is still young, I encourage to value every memorable moment you can have with them. After all, kids are growing so rapidly. As parents, we all hope to provide our kid a joyful childhood memory.

 

 

 

Disclaimer: This content of this website is for general information, and do not intend to provide any specific advice. Although I’m trying our best in providing accurate information, I cannot guarantee they are error-free. Information displayed on this website could be subjected to change. For any medical-related question, you should always consult with your family doctor. For safety or product related question, you should consult with the actual manufacturer.

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