2nd Birthday

[KDENISE977]

My sons 2nd birthday is rapidly approaching and I'm not sure what is appropriate, currently, I have a petting zoo to visit his daycare for 2 hours and that's it. What else is necessary? I don't have family in the area or friends with children his age to ask. I think we should do the gift/fun bags for the kids in his class room but other than that???? cake party or pizza party??? I have no idea what to do ???

 

[mamatutu]

My sons 2nd birthday is rapidly approaching and I'm not sure what is appropriate, currently, I have a petting zoo to visit his daycare for 2 hours and that's it. What else is necessary? I don't have family in the area or friends with children his age to ask. I think we should do the gift/fun bags for the kids in his class room but other than that???? cake party or pizza party??? I have no idea what to do ???

If you want to save money, do not go overboard. He will not remember. Save up your money for years to come, when he will remember. My children never had a petting zoo come to their daycare; that is awesome! Actually, your son might remember the petting zoo! What are parents allowed to give other kids anymore, anyway, you know the PC thing, and all that. You sound like a great mom. I wish your son a very happy birthday!

As I thought about it more, maybe some animal picture books/beginning type books from the $ store would be good favors. My children always loved the pop up books.

I am cleaning the kitchen, and still thinking about your post. Pizza and cake would be wasted on two year olds. You could just do ice cream because that is easily eaten, and pre-packaged. Also, you could provide paper and crayons so they could draw a picture of the party, and take it home, or give it to your son; as a memory.

My children are now 23 and 26. I would so love to have my babies back, and experience it all again. Yes, they are still my babies, but you know what I mean. Please enjoy your little one(s), because it really does go by in a blink of an eye.

 

[Bann]

A cake, ice cream & presents? :shrug:

My kids didn't go to daycare, and I would never have been inclined to have a party for lots of 2 year olds. Besides, I think the party planing standard for inviting guests for a birthday party is 1 kid per year of age.

If we lived near family, I invited Nannie, Grampy, aunt, uncles, 1st cousins, and that's about it, really.

 

[somdfunguy]

A box and a spatula is all that is necessary.

 

[mamatutu]

A box and a spatula is all that is necessary.

Oh, great idea! Give a bunch of 2 year olds some spatulas! I don't think KD wants to spend her son's birthday in the emergency room!

I know what you are saying. Little ones are content to play with the kitchen pots and pans, collanders, spoons, etc. Why buy toys in the first years? I did that. It just wouldn't work for a birthday party at a daycare!

 

[KDENISE977]

I just know that he comes home every so often with a little gift bag with little trinkets and paper toys and whistles in a little gift bag and I'm told they had a birthday party for so and so. I asked his teachers and they said parents to pizza parties, or ice cream socials?? or things like that so I guess I'll try that route after the petting zoo is all done.

 

[Bann]

I just know that he comes home every so often with a little gift bag with little trinkets and paper toys and whistles in a little gift bag and I'm told they had a birthday party for so and so. I asked his teachers and they said parents to pizza parties, or ice cream socials?? or things like that so I guess I'll try that route after the petting zoo is all done.

I will say that my kids are way past that stage, so my input may not be welcome, but I think that the parental need to outdo each other on parties, soirees & destination birthdays for toddlers has gotten waaaaay out of proportion. Honestly.

It's more for the parents than the kids, because at that developmental stage (boring, clinical facts) a toddler has no ability to pay attention for longer than a few minutes to any one thing. I don't get why anyone would want to overwhelm them with even 1 hour of jam-packed activities and then overload them with sugary goodies & call that a good time for them. (not to mention the cost of it all!)

As usual, your mileage may vary!

 

[KDENISE977]

I will say that my kids are way past that stage, so my input may not be welcome, but I think that the parental need to outdo each other on parties, soirees & destination birthdays for toddlers has gotten waaaaay out of proportion. Honestly.

It's more for the parents than the kids, because at that developmental stage (boring, clinical facts) a toddler has no ability to pay attention for longer than a few minutes to any one thing. I don't get why anyone would want to overwhelm them with even 1 hour of jam-packed activities and then overload them with sugary goodies & call that a good time for them. (not to mention the cost of it all!)

As usual, your mileage may vary!

Yes, I understand your point. My reason for doing much of this is also a fun way of introducing him to his new classmates. He's been in the same group of kids for 2 years now and he'll be transitioning to a new group now, so I've invited BOTH groups to participate in some fun activities, that's all.

 

[daylily]

My sons 2nd birthday is rapidly approaching and I'm not sure what is appropriate, currently, I have a petting zoo to visit his daycare for 2 hours and that's it. What else is necessary? I don't have family in the area or friends with children his age to ask. I think we should do the gift/fun bags for the kids in his class room but other than that???? cake party or pizza party??? I have no idea what to do ???

We have no family here either and up until little man started Pre-K, we only had a couple of friends with kids his age. So until this year (when he turned 4), we really didn't throw him a big party. He had a series of small ones each time a relative came to visit and we paid for a couple and their son to come to the Circus with us last year.

I think what you're doing at the daycare is more than enough. A petting zoo? Pretty awesome party, nice that your daycare provider allows that. Some lunch and cake, done.

 

[daylily]

BTW, which mobile petting zoo did you book? Cool idea!

 

[JeJeTe]

I will say that my kids are way past that stage, so my input may not be welcome, but I think that the parental need to outdo each other on parties, soirees & destination birthdays for toddlers has gotten waaaaay out of proportion. Honestly.

This is so spot on. I just don't understand it.

I celebrated my son turning 2 with a cake and some presents. :shrug: And balloons. That was probably his favorite part of the day was the balloons.

 

[kwillia]

After reading this entire thread... I'll go back to your original question...

What else is necessary? I think we should do the gift/fun bags for the kids in his class room but other than that???? cake party or pizza party??? I have no idea what to do ???

You have already lined up a petting zoo and you already know you want to make gift bags. That sounds like plenty and his classmates will be quite satisfied.

 

[KDENISE977]

BTW, which mobile petting zoo did you book? Cool idea!

The place is called Mary's Go Round. They have a website.

 

[Sweet 16]

Neat idea but I would save the petting zoo and three-ring circus for when they're older because they won't remember any of it. I invited family and close neighbors and had food, cake, icecream, balloons and presents.

 

[ZARA]

My sons 2nd birthday is rapidly approaching and I'm not sure what is appropriate, currently, I have a petting zoo to visit his daycare for 2 hours and that's it. What else is necessary? I don't have family in the area or friends with children his age to ask. I think we should do the gift/fun bags for the kids in his class room but other than that???? cake party or pizza party??? I have no idea what to do ???

At 2 yrs old, quanity over quality. I use to buy my son a TON of cheap toys at the dollar store, wrapping each one individually, in all different size of boxes. Some would be boxes inside of boxes inside of boxes. Then on his Birthday, he would have 50 presents to open. It would take at least thirty minutes or so for him to open everything and he was over joyed that he "got sooo many presents!"

I still wrap boxes inside of boxes inside of boxes. Best one yet...I had this huge computer box, my son's present was a ipod mini. The ipod mini was 1 inch by 1 inch...it was MINI. So I wrapped it in eight different boxes, each one a little larger than the last and finally in the computer box, which was about 4 feet by 2 feet in size. He was so excited to unwrap the computer box! Then found another...and another...and the expressions on his face were priceless. FINALLY, he reaches the final box and out pops the ipod mini...He turns to me laughing and says, "Mom, that is a whole new level of wrong."

 

[KDENISE977]

At 2 yrs old, quanity over quality. I use to buy my son a TON of cheap toys at the dollar store, wrapping each one individually, in all different size of boxes. Some would be boxes inside of boxes inside of boxes. Then on his Birthday, he would have 50 presents to open. It would take at least thirty minutes or so for him to open everything and he was over joyed that he "got sooo many presents!"

I still wrap boxes inside of boxes inside of boxes. Best one yet...I had this huge computer box, my son's present was a ipod mini. The ipod mini was 1 inch by 1 inch...it was MINI. So I wrapped it in eight different boxes, each one a little larger than the last and finally in the computer box, which was about 4 feet by 2 feet in size. He was so excited to unwrap the computer box! Then found another...and another...and the expressions on his face were priceless. FINALLY, he reaches the final box and out pops the ipod mini...He turns to me laughing and says, "Mom, that is a whole new level of wrong."

That's a great idea ! and I get what everyone is saying that he won't remember it....but is that any reason for him not to have a blast?? Do we do everything so they'll remember it for years? IT'S TO HAVE FUN and see the look on his face petting a little mini donkey and seeing chickens and things like that.

 

[ZARA]

That's a great idea ! and I get what everyone is saying that he won't remember it....but is that any reason for him not to have a blast?? Do we do everything so they'll remember it for years? IT'S TO HAVE FUN and see the look on his face petting a little mini donkey and seeing chickens and things like that.

I agree with you. He may not remember, but YOU will remember. I remember a lot of things my son doesn't and the memories warm MY heart.

 

[SoMDGirl42]

What else is necessary?

I don't think anything is necassary. However I think a petting zoo, gifts for all his school friends etc. is more than enough.

He will be 2. Make his day special with those who are most special to him at this time in his llife, you and your hubby. The other stuff is for everyone else to enjoy. Keep it simple and don't stress out about it. Soon enough he'll be planning his own parties, and you better keep $$ in the account for that one because his expectation will grow with every candle on the cake.

 

[Bann]

I agree with you. He may not remember, but YOU will remember. I remember a lot of things my son doesn't and the memories warm MY heart.

That's what I said! It's for the parents -not the toddler. Parents having to outdo each other for a 2 year old's birthday. 2 year olds have fun in the moment. Literally. Cake, ice cream, a few packages with ribbon & boxes - a total party for them! Then they're off to something else.

I just feel that when you continually try to outdo what you did last year, just because you feel the need to improve on it, then what happens when they're 12 and not satisfied with anything they ever get? It really does start out when they're little.

But that's JMO, your mileage may vary!

 

[KDENISE977]

I'm not trying to"out do" anyone. I want to make it special. He's the only kid I have and that's why I want it to be fun and have the best experiences. It may not be something he remembers but its a fun day we as a family will remember, is that SO bad?