What do you think of Birthday Parties for young kids?

I used to have parties for my kids when they were little, even when they were only 1 or 2 years old. It was not about presents but the bringing together of the family to celebrate their special day. I used to love them and always enjoyed taking my kids to other birthday parties. I know sometimes they can be over the top now and way too expensive, but I was never into those types, for me it was all about who were at the parties. I have them all on video film and my kids often watch them which is so funny to see and remember what they used to be like. Enjoy being indulgent babykay as it does not last forever but luckily those memories are there forever:0)

I love celebrating their birthdays!! My oldest will be three this month and my youngest will be 1 at the beggining of next, since their b-days are so close, and we will be on vacation during the youngest one's well have a joint party.. I can't wait for it. I think I'm problably going to be just as excited about it as the 3 year old is (the one year old is of course oblivious still) (:

My sister can go a little over the top- for my eldest nephews first birthday she hired a HUGE jumping castle, and for her youngest's first birthday she hired an animal farm. It was cute, but the kids didn't really understand, and it seemed more like a statement than something for the kids if you get what I mean. Personally I am all for HUGE kids parties, I just don't think they need to be extravagant. For my son's first birthday we had a Pirate theme, and all the little ones looked really cute with their little bandanas and eye patches and stuff. We had a pinata, played pass the parcel, pin the eyepatch on the pirate and a few other games. It was pretty simple, and I made most of the games myself so it was cheap... but to my son it was massive. At one, he thought all the coloured balloons everywhere, and everyone dressed up, as well as all those little games were amazing! It was a huge day for him and he was exhausted. All in all, I think it's completely up to a parent how to celebrate their child's birthday, and in all honesty I don't think there is anything I would consider "ridiculous"... I think my sister spent too much money, but oh well, it was her choice, and it was sweet. Just my opinion ;)

I love organizing parties for my niece and nephew. I organize all of their parties but as they grow old(especially my niece) I told my sister not to spoil her too much with great parties only those times that are significant to a child like the first three years. the seventh year. and the twelve th year. in between these significant years i told my sister to celebrate only with families, or with just 2 to 3 guests at home. Kids growing up with big parties during their birthdays usually give them the idea that they will always have parties greater than their friends. I believe that toning down the parties can teach them humbleness in some ways...

I love organizing a party, whether small or big and What I love most? kids birthday celebration, all my nephews and nieces celebrates thier birthday every year, we had big parties on thier first and seventh.It's worth it,all the effort and money worth it, we love watching thier videos,It's so much fun. Birthdays calls for a celebration..thanking God for granting us another year.It may not be a big celebration what matter is you are thankful for that day.

Hi there. My thoughts on birthday parties for children, I think is totally up to the parents of that child or children, it may seem ridiculous or money wasted to others, but overall I think, this is the parents way of feeling happy and showing love and importance for there child turning that certaint age, these are my views anyway... My family always celebrate the babies 1 year old birthday, 5 year old, 12 year old, 16th & 18th year old birthdays and lastly, if they have'nt had a baby by then, we celebrate the 21st birthday, after this birthday, they are free to celebrate on there own accord as frequent as they want... Overall, the parents have the first and last say, no matter what anyone thinks...

well to an outsider it would probably seem to be stupid and silly but to a parent his/her child is the world and every year that the child grows up is like a miracle. cos you are there for the child day in and day out and you feel so happy to see tham grow up. So i guess its pretty natural for parents to do this and sometimes even go over the top at times. But you know even if the child cannot understand now when it grows up he/she will appreciate what the parents have done when you look at the photos os video or something.

I am childless and I still think birthday parties are very important. If you're a parent, you want the best for your child and you want to show them how important they are. Birthday parties is an effort to make your kid's day as best as it can be. It also means fun and presents - and all kids love presents! At least your kid can grow up telling his/her friends "yes, my parents always threw parties for my birthday" and to anyone hearing that, they'd feel that your child has always been very much loved. After all, a party means a celebration and a birthday party means a celebration of your child's birth day. I can't believe anyone would be against celebrating their child's birthday.

I agree that birthdays are just as much for the parents as they are for the children, especially at that age. After all, I think that we have every right to celebrate being parents.

I feel birthdays should be a special day for the person. I do not think you need to have a big party, but you need to accknoldge the person on their special day. I am a twin, my twin and I go this line every christmas and every birthday. "we are spending the same amount of you as we are your older sister but it is your fault there is two of you so we are splitting the gift." The other line we go for the lack of gifts was "your older sister needed somthing we did not have money for a gift for you." we got that line more than not. I can understand not having money, but do not buy for one and not the other one, be fair as possible.

I am not really into the birthday party thing, but my daughter is almost one and everyone is telling me that I should have a party for her, but I am of the thinking that she is going to be 1 and she wont remember it so why bother, but then I am also thinking that if I dont have a party for her then I am going to have people coming to visit her all day, so I can make up my mind which way to go! I hate the idea of having to cater for a party though!!! Yeah I agree with you that the party is just as much for the parents as it is for the child

Let's be honest...such parties are very much for the adults, just as they are for the kids. I know many parents use the opportunity of a child's birthday party to have a kind of family get-together, and a birthday celebration is good reason to bring everyone together. Then of course the birthday kid gets lots of presents. I think the other reason why parents hold parties is because of peer pressure. If a kid is in playschool or kindergarten, and his friends there all have parties and his parents are often invited, chances are the parents will want to hold a party for their own kid to invite the other parents and their children as a return gesture. Otherwise they may feel left out or odd if they don't hold one themselves.

hi babykay..I agree with you..When you are pregnant with a child and going through the experience the day your child is born it's an overwhelming and exciting feeling why not celebrate that as each year passes...It's just as much fun for the kids and a happy moment for the parents..I think birthdays are fun smiles

They are worth celebrating, but at age 1 or 2, it's best to keep it small because once they grow a bit older, they'll want bigger and bigger parties everytime.

oh.. i love birthday parties.. my son is 10 months old and i plan to have a big party for his 1st birthday...i love to celebrate birthdays of adults as well..it so much fun

Giving a kid's party is enjoyable. I don't have kid yet but I participate in my nephews and nieces birthdays. I even organized the party. It's one way of thanking the Lord for the another turn of life.

birthdays are to celebrate whether they are of a kid or an old person.by throwing birthday's party for young child her or his parents want to show how happy they are on their child's birth so i dont think here is anything ridiculus and stupid in this.though it's stupid to spend too much money on birthday parties.it lessens the real happiness of the birthday.

I like parties, even if they are for very young children. In those case I think the party is for the adults and sometimes the children get nervous and tired. Anyway, it is nice to see those babies so happy clapping their hands.