Your child is not so small anymore, and her first birthday is just a couple of weeks away. You are probably already thinking about the best way to celebrate this first wonderful year filled with accomplishments and happy moments with her. So, keep reading because in this month’s article we will look into the most popular elements of a birthday party, how they look for a one-year-old and the characteristics of suitable gifts for her.

Your child’s first birthday celebration is bound to be a special one. Still, very often, the first-year parties are directed for the enjoyment of parents and their guests, which is not exactly following the needs nor interests of the birthday child. So, here are some suggestions about how to plan a celebration that will take into count your one-year-old and still be joyful for the rest of the crowd.

Guests List

Try to keep it simple and remember that your one year old might not feel comfortable with strangers and will want to spend lots of time with you. When having big groups of well-wishers in her space trying to hug her, carry her, and congratulate her, she could feel overwhelmed and anxious. Opt for an intimate gathering with a few adults and children that are meaningful for your child. 

Choosing a Theme

Less is more; there is no need to select a complicated theme that might overstimulate your child with cartoons and multiple fictional characters. The truth is that a party theme is not a priority for your one-year-old, so you might want to aim for a subtle color-coordinated look.

Choosing a Place

Where will your child feel most secure? The odds are that you will answer your home. Home is usually the right place for a first-year celebration. However, if your home is not an option because of space, location, or any other reason, aim for an outdoor environment like a park or anywhere that has enough space for children to move around and explore. Hopefully, this can be a place where your child has been before, and you know that she enjoys spending time there.

Naps

Usually at this age, children still get at least one nap a day. Allow your child to take her nap at her usual time. This will help with her sense of order in the routine and will allow her to decompress in case she is overwhelmed and wants some time by herself. If the celebration is not at home, make sure to be prepared. Bring the stroller, blanket, or any item she will need to enjoy her much needed nap.

Keep Calm and Slow Down

Hosting a birthday celebration might give us an extra pump of adrenaline and even some anxiousness that everything comes out as planned. Stop, slow down, and enjoy the time with loved ones. Avoid rushing your child to blow the candle, take pictures with relatives, or play with other children. Follow your child’s lead and avoid asking her to perform for guests. She can sense your energy and will react to it..

Birthday Presents

If you decide to accept gifts from guests and would like to make suggestions, opt for items that are non-overstimulating, and items of different materials, not only plastic. Items that will challenge her growing mind and spark her creativity. Here is a brief list of suggested items: an indoor or outdoor slide (if you have the space for it), a wooden wagon to push, stacking blocks, a ring stacker, finger paints, a small sized musical instrument, books with realistic images, a very small bike with no pedals, a ball tracker, or a spinning top.

Give Her a Heads Up

Whether you decide to organize a simple, intimate party or you go for a bigger crowd and more complex gathering, the most important thing is that you give your child a heads up. This shows that you respect her sense of order and that you want to make sure she enjoys her day instead of being disoriented about what is happening. Talk about the things she will be able to see in the gathering, the people that will attend, and even the food that will be available. This will have a positive impact on how she likes the day of her celebration.

Have a little extra time?

Grab your headphones and listen to this one-hour podcast by Jeanne-Marie Payne. She shares a conversation with Lorena Seidel titled “A Peaceful World Starts with a Peaceful Home.” They discuss how to help children build emotional intelligence from a very young age.

Jeanne-Marie Payne is an AMI Montessori certified guide from Birth to Six Years and a certified Positive Discipline Educator. Lorena Siedel is a Social-Emotional Learning consultant, a certified Montessori teacher, a trained Positive Discipline Educator, a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction teacher, and a mother of three.

The podcast can be heard directly on the website or through Apple Podcast, Google Play, Spotify, or Stitcher. Enjoy!

Link to website audio: https://voilamontessori.com/08-a-peaceful-world-starts-with-a-peaceful-home-with-lorena-seidel/



Quote of the Month

"The child has a different relation to his environment from ours... the child absorbs it. The things he sees are not just remembered; they form part of his soul. He incarnates in himself all in the world about him that his eyes see and his ears hear."
- Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind, p.56.