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Sunday, October 28, 2007
It's never easy to plan for a child's birthday party, but it becomes even more difficult when you have multiple age groups to consider. Children of large families may have brothers and sisters or cousins attending, some of whom may bring friends of their own. With younger children, where even small age gaps can make a big difference, your child's own close friends may vary sufficiently in age to have very different needs. How can you cater for children of different ages at one event?
The answer is two fold. Firstly, you should look for the things which children of all ages enjoy. Food is a good place to start - it doesn't often become stigmatized as babyish, and if you find that some girls protest they're worried about their weight you can assure them that special occasions like parties mean it's okay to enjoy treats. Games involving physical skills like balance and dexterity can also be a good way to cross the age divide, and team games mean that you can spread out any advantage that might be enjoyed by the older ones.
Secondly, you can make sure older children don't get bored at birthday parties by encouraging them to take some responsibility for the younger ones. Talk to them and let them know some of your worries. Don't give them chores which will spoil the party atmosphere for the, but do give them the chance to volunteer. This will make them feel that they're respected for the more mature qualities they value. Let them contribute to the direction of the party, for instance by getting them to help with choosing music.
At a mixed ages party, it's all the more important to have some quiet space for kids who're finding it all a bit too much. This is important for small children who may need naps and also for older ones who may need some private space to reassert themselves. Having another available activity, such as a computer game, can give them a valuable chance to escape for a bit.
Running mixed ages parties can be hard work, but by taking the time to consider different children's needs you can be sure of still putting on a successful event.Labels: birthday, childrens, party
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