Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Can anyone give me any ideas for a 2 year old girl's birthday party? I don't have much money.
By rocknrollmom from Los Angeles, CA
The best birthday party ever:
lots of balloons on the floor when she wakes up
streamers hanging from her door when she wakes up
open gifts one at a time all day long and play with each gift as it is opened
party hats
those blow out party thingies (have a race to see who can blow the fastest)
musical chairs
freeze
stroller race (let your child sit in the stroller, and put another 2-y-o or baby doll in the other stroller; form 2 teams; on your mark, set, go; each team has to race to a destination and back with stroller and tag his/her teammate, who then races to and from and tags the next teammate until all the teammates have raced; the team whose last teammate runs back first wins--tons of fun for everyone)
It does matter if you have a good birthday party for your children. They may not remember the exact stuff, but what they remember that day is how they felt, that you made a big deal. It is a great way of creating memories each year, my mom always makes my birthdays special. By age 4, the child will begin anticipating his/her birthday party and all the ways you make it fun. My child's party was very inexpensive, but it was very memorable and fun. We took lots of pictures and talked about them for a couple weeks afterward (cementing the memory in her mind and reliving the feeling she felt). Next year, we will pull out those pictures again in anticipation of another, but different, party.
My son is turning 2 in Nov. It's a sports theme. I need ideas.
Brandie
I don't know if you have one nearby or not, but I just saw a bunch of sports themed decorations at The Dollar Tree. Good luck!
My son's 2nd birthday is coming up in September. We live in Texas so you can only imagine how terribly hot it is down here. We live in an apartment so I really can't invite all the family over at once to celebrate. there is no room, and it is too hot to do anything outside (I tried that out last year, it was terrible!)
By Shandy
Do you have a local skating rink? Sometimes McD's will rent you a party room for a reasonable rate. Also, is there a local YMCA or YWCA? They often have ideas. Places with too much noise often scare kids that age, so what about the library?
Can anyone give some ideas for a 2 year old birthday? She is also in remission. I just want this to be a special day for her.
By Nita from Williamston, NC
A person dressed as a clown who can fold balloons into shapes is entertaining and colorful and ought to capture a child's attention.
We are having our 2 year old's birthday party at our town's Country Club this year because we are in the process of moving and can't have it at our house. I'm looking for ideas on activities for the little girls to do at the party since they won't have a bunch of toys to play with. Keep in mind this is winter and inside. Thanks!
By Kristin from IA
2 year olds can't sit still for long so I would have lots of active games:
Dancing to music with streamers and bubbles
Circle games like Ring a ring of Roses, and the Hokey Cokey
Then something quieter like Pass the parcel
I'm planning to have a safari animal theme party for my son's 2nd birthday. It is next month, June 20th from 1-4pm, at a playhouse for kids 6 and under. Is this a good theme for a boy and is the time OK?
We did his 1st birthday outside last year and it was too hot and it also rained. I want to keep it indoors this year and keep him entertained, but my husband wants to have it outside again.I think a safari themed party would be perfect! A three hour party might be a little long for a 2-year-old.
I agree that 3 hours might be a little long, but it depends on your guests. When my middle son was two, a lot of his friends were 5 & 6 years old, and I've also hosted parties for little guys where some of the guests were 10 year old girls, who basically took over the running of the party games. I didn't have to do much of anything.
If your guests are all 2 & 3 year olds, 3 hours might be a little much, but if all the moms are there as well, and there are not too many guests it might be just fine. A good guideline for guests is the kids age plus one, unless you are doing some sort of family gathering that involves a mix of ages. I think your theme is very nice; it sounds like fun.
My little girl is turning 2 in May. She is 4 days older than her cousin. They both like Minnie Mouse and the mother doesn't want to throw a party together and I don't want to do the same theme as she is. I have no idea what kind of party to throw for a 2 year old. What should I do?
By Brittany
You don't have to throw a themed party for a two-year-old. Just figure out your color scheme. Say it is pink and white. Fine. So order a pink and white cake, then go to Walmart in the party supplies section, and get pink and white streamers, pink and white balloons. Get her pink plates and white napkins, pink plastic cutlery, etc. You can serve strawberry or vanilla ice cream or both. Put her in a pretty dress.
The child is two. She will be thrilled no matter what. It's a party.
A two year old doesn't have any idea at all about parties. Any theme or colour scheme you choose, you do to please yourself, because you like it, want to do it, or think it is fun, and want pictures of your child with the fancy cake.
If your child has playmates or cousins who are older (4 to 8, say), they will appreciate a "theme". If you are inviting grandma, grandpa, aunties & uncles, and no kids, I am not sure that anyone would really appreciate a theme, other than for the photo op.
Birthday parties are not a competition, and two year olds don't need a bunch of other two year olds as guests; they are happier with aunties and grandmas, in my experience.
My daughter is turning 2 in August, and I've been trying to think of ways of celebrating her birthday. Her first birthday was uneventful. I really want her to have something a little special this year, considering that she's been attending everyone else's party. However, the big issue is that my boyfriend (her father) doesn't get along well with my family. There have been a lot of issues in the past, and I would like to avoid all of that. I've been considering two separate small celebrations, but I can see that is accumulating unnecessary cost. Any suggestions, tips or ideas? I'm drowning in stress and the day is approaching fast!
By Khadija C.
I would honestly speak with your boyfriend and family members and tell them frankly that the day is about the child and not them and for the child's sake for them to please put aside their differences for the event. After all they're supposed to be adults. No one gets along all the time but for a special event I think they can be good examples.
Hey I have the similar situation but I told my family it's my child's father so lets put our differences aside for a few hours and enjoy what it is that you have plan
I have to make a birthday for my 2 year old son, but I have way too many people. Any ideas on where and what to do?
By Elyssa
Try using your back yard if you have one. If you do not use a park depending on your budget serve hotdogs, and hamburgers.You could also do the party after lunch and feed everyone desert only. Try a cake and cupcakes. Try a potluck lunch. Use dollar store prizes, and goody bags. Just buy a bag of balloons, box of crayons, a colouring book, a pack of pencils. Seperate each of these items into the goody bags.Tear a couple of coloring pages into each bag just staple together. You can also forget goody bags and play coopertive games, or dance with some music. Hand out a couple of prizes.
Two year olds don't know about birthday parties. A party for a two year old is for the adult guests and older kids who come. No one needs goodie bags, unless you've invited a 5 or 8 year old cousin or someone like that.
Give them those little bubbles as a "gift". Serve cake and ice cream. Keep it simple. Balloons are nice for decorations -- two year olds like balloons. Do not attempt to "entertain" two year olds, and do not invite a flock of them for the party - they don't know what it is all about. Party plan - sing happy birthday, blow out candles, take photo, eat cake, open presents, play with presents. Adults visit.
I just moved to France and my daughter will be two years old on the 26th of this month. We want to celebrate her birthday, but we don't have a lot of money and I am not too good with house decorations. We invited some friends over and I need advice on what to do about the decorations and on how to make our invites happy on that day?
By Nkechi
Use balloons (they go quite far for little money). Use colorful paper plates, glasses, and napkins. If you can get crepe paper over there, cut that into streamers and string them from the ceilings.
If you want to decorate, you can simply put up some crepe paper and hang balloons from the paper at varying intervals. We always did this for my children for their birthday parties. It will look very festive and cost very little and the best part is your little one will enjoy the balloons. You could also buy some inexpensive flowers (or some from your garden) and place some at various places around your home. You don't need expensive vases--you can use any type of a container, jar, etc. Have fun!
I need ideas on a birthday party for a 2 year old. Please? Thanks.
By Mommy is the best from Baltimore, MD
for a two year old, i was just do a simple backyard cookout. cake and ice cream type of thing. invite family, friends and other people with children around his or her age. i would wait until your child is about 4 to start doing the real parties with themes and going to jungle gyms, parks, etc.
how about a jungle animals theme? I saw these cute cake or cupcake toppers in the shape of jungle animals.
www.sophiesfavors.com/
I'm having my son's 2nd birthday party. It's a Disney Car theme and for the food I wanted to do cut out car shaped sandwiches. Does anyone know where I could get car cookie cutters? Can you suggest any games I could play? (It's snowing out here.) Any ideas will help. Thanx :)
By Alexiss from Denver, CO
To be honest, if he is two years old, you are doing all of this "theme" stuff for you more than him. He won't remember the sandwiches were in the shape of cars three hours after they have eaten. The games he may remember. Here is one that will last a couple days.
Get fairly good size boxes. Decorate them as cars that the kids can wear. You cut a hole in the bottom of each box for the kids to put there body through. Use straps for them to wear the box on their shoulders. Use paper plates and those brass hooks that have a button end and two wings that spread out (help me out here, haven't done crafts in years). Poke the things through the paper plates and then put the pointy end through a hole in the box. Reach inside the box and spread the wings to hold these things one. using saucer size paper plates might work best as headlights.
Let them use markers or crayons to color the cars, add doors, red break lights, etc. When done you can play "Red Light" with the kids or just have them drive around the room like they are in the city or a parking lot. You could also do the "Red Light" type game with music, move around till the music stops and then they all stop.
Anyway, each kid can take his "car" home and play with it later that day or week.
I found a good Disney Cars page. I used this site when I planned my sons Disney Cars/Thomas the Train party. And whether he remembered it 3 hours later or not did not matter because in the moment he loved it! And the joy he expressed when he saw all those decorations was worth it and in that moment it was for him!
I am looking for new theme ideas for a 2 year old kid birthday party?
By mohit from Nepal
What does your 2 year old like?
The 2 year old in our family likes Thomas the Tank Engine. What a bout a train party?
Everyone could wear striped overalls and a conductors hat. Decorations are train shaped. I drew a train onto drawing paper and colored it in for Elijah. One the engine I put a big 2 indicating he was turning 2.
For a girl, what about a teddy bear picnic? Bear shaped cookies, bear shaped gummies, have guests bring a teddy bear, serve bear shaped pb&j sandwiches, etc.
For my two year old girl's party, I used an ice cream theme. It is very easy to find treats for goodie bags to go along. I also found a huge ice cream cone penny bank to use as decoration on ebay. I found a cake pan in ice cream shape at Michael's.
I have a 1 year old sister who is turning 2. She loves the Wiggles and Barney and I thought about a Wiggles or Barney party, but I want to do something more because it's her golden birthday. I'm also in charge of the party. What should the theme be and where should the party be?
By Luna P.
You don't say how old you are, but it's nice that you are planning your sister's birthday party. As she is only 2 years old, she will not know whether she is having a "golden" birthday - just a regular birthday. Whatever you do, keep it simple with a theme she will understand (like Barney). A small party at home with family and a couple of friends - simple food like finger sandwiches, cake and ice cream would be ideal for a 2-year-old. Plan a more elaborate party when she is a few years older and would be able to appreciate it. Good luck!
I need some ideas for a 2 year old birthday party or something to do around at home.
By STACEY WILLIAMS from Hempstead, NY
Select a theme and work according to the theme.
Make a cd or dvd with nursery rhymes to handover to kids.
Get a clown if you can afford.
Get red noses.
Paint on their faces.
Make party packs.
Make some colourful hats.
Play simple games.
What can I do with my daughter for her birthday? She will be 2 on May 31, 2013 and I'm on a fix income and live in NYC.
By NB
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
I have a 1 year old and he will be two soon. Does anyone have any suggestions?
My son will be two on the 16th and I want to have a pizza party at home. What other ideas do you have for us?
My son will be two years old in August. I have quite a few questions. Please help in any way you can. Is a pool party acceptable for this age group?
I'm having a birthday party for my two year old son. He loves cars so I thought I would follow along the lines of the Disney movie "Cars".
My son will be 2 years old in October. Does anyone have any ideas for a a two year old birthday? Should it be inside or out? What theme?
I'm doing a birthday party for my 2 year old daughter. I'm thinking of either Dora the Explorer or she likes bees and ladybugs so I thought of some garden theme.
I have a little one who will be 2 during the holidays. That being said, she is not ready for traditional 2nd birthday themes.
My son will be turning 2 in November. Does anyone have any ideas for an inside party?
My daughter will be turning two on Feb. 28. I want to throw a party for her but not in our home.