Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-03
Tips on Parties
For Toddlers
Z. D. s., Springfield

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ton I am inclosing. It viii
b. too late for her but may
help others. ! had to wait to
write this until I'd seen the
results Of my own planning Of
q. party for q S-year-old.
!. Your child's birthday IL Q
very important event In his
life. The degree to which he
enjoys this day and retains Q
happy memory Of 1t depends
on his parents. how they have
planned for and helped him
celebrate this happy occasion.
Arelaxed atmosphere and cas-
ual approach win help the
small child be at ease and
have fun on this day.
A small family gathering
viii be enough for the very
small child. but Is he grows
older the mother will feel It
is time to include his friends.
Neighborhood customs are an
important consideration In
planning your child's party,
provided they do not contra
dict certain basic principles.
The following are some
party suggestions for children
through age 8. They are
meant to be used as Q guide
to creative planning.
The 1-year-old: A simple
family celebration with q cake
and candles Is enough. This
Is more to satisfy the parents
and older brothers and sisters
than to impress the child. Il
tAA good occasion for picture
taking.
The 2-year-old: A smali
celebration. fitting into the
framework Of his usual day, u
Q wise plan. II children are
invited, outside Of the family
circle. 1t Is best to restrict
the number to two or three
and these should be children
the birthday child knows well
and enjoys.
The party itself could con-
-sist Of light refreshments fol.
lowed by q play period Of about
Soto IS minutes. FAvors are
mot necessary. ! II they are
used. they should be safe and
durable. It is best to omit
balloons. Nothing IL more
crushing to Q small child than
to see his balloon break.
The 3-year-old: In inviting
other children. q Is best TO IN.
clude only those close IN age
to your child. No more than
six or eight should be asked,
and inviting children because
their parents are good friends
Is Q mistake. A 3-year-old win
love . party. especially Il he
has been to several others. BE
careful that he doesn't ret too
excited In advance. A casual
approach viii help him enjoy
It,:
- You may want one mother to
help but let her know In I'D.
/: vance what you want her to do.
/. Eiot Of talking mothers In one
s. corner Of the room IL distract.
ing to the children. Things
should be kept as simple and
the atmosphere as relaxed a.
possible.
The birthday child should
have an opportunity to open
his gifts himself and zee them.
II they are In danger Of being
broken. perhaps al could be
placed out Of reach during the
party. The child's own toys
could be available for the play
period. Children this age are
too young for organized games
and there should never be
prizes. Competitive games are
best left until the child ID
. school age. Favors should be
durable and balloons are again
best omitted.
:: IT Is q good idea TO have the
refreshments early IN the
party. perhaps immediately
after the gifts have been
opened, since this Is what the
children are really waiting for.
Servs small amounts Of simple
food and have enough adults
g % the children win have as
much help as they need at the
table. A play period could fol-
low before they 90 home. A
story time, music time or other
activity might be fine, depend.
ing on the interest Of the chill
: dren.
The play period should be
well supervised, not dictated,
but enough help should be
given 20 that the children feel
secure and know that un.
desirable behavior win be
stopped.
"A written thank-you for gifts
y not necessary but Q verbal
Acknowledgement by the parent
TO the other parents Is much
appreciated.
The birthday party can be
both fun and o learning ex.
.perience for the child, but It
takes o good amount Of plan
ming and thought to achieve
this.
Economy In Cooking
M. A. s.. AnnandGle
Dear Mrs. 0.M.M.: I have
Just read your request for O
food budget discussion. Here
are some OF the rules I follow
: IN keeping our food budget
= low.
'.'s /. Do "old-fashioned" cook-
ing. Pre-cooked pies. soups,
stevs. baked goods are o won
-derful convenience, but cost
more than the same items
prepared at home. You're
paying for the labor involved,
of course. A little practice
should enable you to turn out