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| Max and Jabe Humphries, Silver Springs TX |
Entertaining two year-olds may seem as challenging as organizing an ark full of animals, unless you follow some rules of twos.
- Two to an invitation. Invite each guest to bring along a parent or adult friend to help with crafts, guide through party activities, and provide a safe lap to settle in when needed.
- Too many guests can overwhelm the birthday child. Invite only a handful of guests to participate. Most party planners recommend no more than three or four young guests.
- Two hours or less is plenty of time for the celebration. Any longer, and children become too fatigued to enjoy the festivities. Plan the party to follow naptime for smoother sailing throughout the party.
- Too much fun. Costumed entertainers may frighten twos. If you choose to use an entertainer, check references carefully to ensure entertainer has experience with very young children.
- Twos love variety. Keep activities short, fifteen minutes or less. Vary the pace by alternating between active tasks (hunts, interactive puppet shoes, sponge toss) and more sedentary tasks (crafts, finger plays, story). Be as flexible as possible with guests who prefer to watch activities rather than participate, or want to continue with an activity when the time comes to do something new.
- Two-on-a-team activities. Plan activities that allow parent-child pairs an opportunity to work together, such as creating a plate puppet, lap time finger plays, or an easy hunt.
- Twos safety tips. Whether inside or out, clear a large space for children to play. Remove breakable objects, objects with sharp corners, pets, and any hazardous materials or plants. Be sure the party area is secure so little guests can’t wander off alone. Check toys and party supplies for small parts that could be choking hazards. Ask parents about any known allergies before serving food.
- Twos appreciate small amounts of simple, familiar foods. Serve twos at a table or on a blanket on the floor. Finger foods and juice boxes make both eating and clean up easier.
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Shelly Radic is the Director of Group Life at MOPS International and also the author of The Birthday Book: Creative Ways to Celebrate Your Child’s Special Day. Having hosted more than forty children's birthday celebrations, and attended countless others, Shelly is delighted to provide parents with a wealth of birthday planning ideas.
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