How do you celebrate your child's second birthday with absolutely no money at all?
By Trinity
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At that age a child doesn't know what a birthday or a party is. All you need to do is bake some kind of cake, put two candles on it and sing "Happy Birthday." The idea that kids need big showy parties is just plain rediculous. Kids wouldn't expect that type of party as they get older if they didn't start having them when they were one, two years old.
There is something to be said for the parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins having a bit of celebration though. We all need more of this togetherness, especially if we're no- or low-wage.
Here are some ideas that I hope will help:
- Arrange "twos" of things you have around your house, and ask the birthday child to try to find them all (two pillows, two books, two toys, etc).
- Make a Number Two lunch or dinner (two pieces of apples, two crackers, two pieces of cheese, two scoops of a casserole dish, two veggies, two straws in a glass of milk or juice, two pieces of candy, etc. - whatever you have at home or want to get).
- Play a game with guests where the answers require two words.
- play another game where the guests describe something in just two words; what family means to them, what memorable thing the birthday child has done or accomplished, etc.
- Fill empty jars with various objects found around the house (buttons, paper clips, etc.); give each guest a piece of paper and pencil and ask them to mark down the number they think is in each jar; ask them to add up all the numbers; give prizes (Hershey's Chocolate bars for example) to the Two people who guessed closest to the right numbers.
- Make a garland of scrap paper (just cut the paper into 2" x 6" strips (or whatever size you like); glue pictures cut out from magazine pages or the flyers from newspapers (for instance Toys R Us which usually has fun pictures of kids); glue the finished strips into circles, interlocking with each other.
- Make a "Happy Birthday" sign, with your child's name, out of scrap printer paper; your older children (or you) can decorate the letters with fun colors.
- Instead of an expensive cake, make cupcakes to serve each guest and the birthday child; just cut out the number Two from scrap cardstock (old cards), and tape the numbers onto toothpicks to put into the cupcakes.
Just putting a little bit of effort will make a memorable party "on the cheap" - Not just for the 2-year-old who will have the memory because of family members repeating it, but also because family will be brought together to share a wonderful time together!
Hope these help. Blessings to you all!
Ditto! Don't set yourself up for some big expensive deal that is not sustainable. Happy Birthday, maybe favorite foods for meals that day, and a cake (or even just a cupcake) to blow out the candles (at 2 years old, maybe not lit), and enjoy. It's more spending fun time with you than about stuff at this age.
I agree with Redhatterb, The best gift you can give a child is Love, Time & Laughter. Go to the park, pack a lunch, sit under a tree. Show him/her the beauty around no mater where you are.
I agree with the other posters. Two year olds know nothing of parties and so on. Spend time with him/her. Go to the park for a picnic, spend the day with grandparents, have a cake with candles to blow out, sing happy birthday, make a favorite meal. Take photos.
Two year olds get just as much fun out of a day playing on the jungle gym. If you don't have money for a present, look for something you could make - like a fort out of cardboard boxes, a treasure chest of dress up clothes (this might be too old for two - depends on your child), playdoh made out of salt and flour from your kitchen - recipes on the internet.
Trinity, First, two is a great age. I have read (and done this myself) that the number of guests should be the age of the child plus one. Believe me, it works! Maybe you could do a picnic at a playground.
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