Ideas for baby’s first birthday party
Your baby reaching their first birthday is a milestone and deserves to be celebrated in style. However, many parents spend weeks, even months, trying to find a suitable birthday party theme. After all, what can you do to entertain a room full of one-year-olds?
A sensory baby shower is a great solution for little ones and is suitable from newborns and up. The added bonus is that it doesn’t have to cost the earth. Most of the equipment you need can be bought or made cheaply. You can even find local businesses that will provide you with everything you need.
A sensory party is about just that. Senses.
Will need:
1. Some shallow trays. Toy box lids are a fantastic option.
2. Dry spaghetti
3. jelly
4. Glow in the dark balls. These can be bought at promenade shops for less than £1 each.
5. Some blankets to make a den (or a small tent if you have one).
6. dry rice and empty plastic bottles with lids.
7. Cornmeal
8. Lots of old sheets (preferably plastic sheeting, the plastic party tablecloths you can get are good).
The first is the first. Think about the room in which you will have the party and establish 5 stations.
Station 1.
In the darkest corner build your lair. You want it to be as dark as possible but not completely covered. Parents will need to keep an eye on their little ones, so it’s best to leave one side open.
Place some textured cushions in the den so babies can experience different ‘feels’. Do not use your best fabrics because they will undoubtedly get dirty!
Add glow-in-the-dark balls to the den.
Station 2 – Jelly tray.
Simply prepare your jello as directed and pour it into one of the shallow trays. Put in the fridge to set. Place a plastic sheet and place the fixed gelatin in your tray on the sheet.
Station 3 – Spaghetti Tray
Cook spaghetti according to instructions. Run under cold water and pour into one of the shallow trays. Place the cold spaghetti on your tray on a plastic sheet.
Station 4 – Cornmeal Tray
Pour a small packet of cornmeal into a shallow pan and add enough water to make it thick and sticky. Place this on your tray on a plastic sheet.
Station 5 – Maracas
For some dry rice in clean and dry plastic bottles. Replace the caps tightly. You can decorate the bottles with wrapping paper if you want to make them look more attractive.
Once you have established your stations, you are ready to release the babies. It’s a good idea to cover anything you don’t want to get dirty. Everything suggested in this article is fairly easy to clean up and when using food you don’t have to worry about little ones putting things in their mouths (which they inevitably will).
Be imaginative and add as many sensory rich elements as you can think of.
Your one year old will love exploring the new tastes, sounds and textures and is sure to have a fun and messy birthday.