Planning Childrens' Birthday Parties Brings Famalies Together While Celebrating Milestones

Family schedules are so busy that parents often have trouble finding a way to put fun into their lives. With academic, social and sports calendars fully booked some times it's hard to find a way to have fun together. An old fashioned birthday party can be just the thing to bring family and friends together while celebrating a milestone for children. There are many resources online that can make party planning a snap.

Boulder, CO (PRWEB) March 12, 2006

In our over-scheduled and over-mediated world, it is easy for families to lose sight of good old fashioned fun. As a result, when it comes time for kid’s birthday parties, many parents opt for the easy way out and miss a golden opportunity to create a ritual that will bring their family and friends together, fire their child’s imagination and have a great time in the process. Fortunately, there are many online resources available that can enable any parent to plan and execute great home-spun birthday parties, without overtaxing themselves.

Many parties have just become the act of plunking down large sums of money at an arcade, activity center or other venue that entertain the kids one-on-one with very little interaction between the guests and the birthday child. An old fashioned birthday party gives families a chance to plan an event that will highlight the birthday kids’ likes and interests.

Marking a milestone is an easy way to come together as a family and make lasting memories. A birthday party is not only a celebration of a new age, but way to spend some fun time with your child and his/her friends. Including parents at the beginning or end of the party provides a way to touch base with them and have some time for conversation in a relaxed environment. Parents who know their children’s friends and their parents become more involved in their child’s life.

A party can be come much more than letting a group of kids loose in a loud and over-stimulating environment. Parents who grew up in the 1960s and 70s probably experienced a home spun party, with traditional, non-commercial themes, simple party games and projects. Kid’s imaginations were allowed to work, and everybody had a great time. Unfortunately, this type of party is becoming a lost art.

Unlike a video arcade or laser tag, an old fashioned party can provide cooperative games and projects where kids work and play together. Providing rituals for a family can really help strengthen family bonds and create lasting memories between generations.

Our experience as parents and party providers shows that kids really respond to homespun parties. They love to see themes played out in detail with invitations, decorations and activities that revolve around the theme. Kids are excited to do crafts, projects and games that involve their friends and let their imaginations soar. Becoming a Pirate, Princess, Spy or Astronaut for the afternoon ignites imaginary play that so many kids have gotten away from in favor of electronics, arcades and giant activity centers.

A study of family routines and rituals in the December 2005 issue of the American Psychological Association's (APA) Journal of Family Psychology, found that family routines and rituals are associated with marital satisfaction, adolescents' sense of personal identity, children's health, academic achievement and stronger family relationships.

Birthday parties are a ritual in which all family members can participate. By including kids in the planning process they will have the opportunity learn a lot of valuable lessons. They can get involved in making the guest list, plan the date and time and depending on their age, help with the budgeting.

The themes for a party are endless and should reflect the interests of the birthday-boy or birthday-girl. Once a theme is chosen let the creativity begin! It's fun for all family members to work toward a common goal and host an unforgettable event.

There are many online resources available that makes planning a party a snap. From sites that have party ideas to online retailers that offer complete party kits, such as wholeshebangparties. com, there are resources to meet most family’s needs and budgets.

So, when it's time for your child's birthday party this year plan ahead a little and create a ritual that will give them memories to last a life time and the satisfaction of being a part of the whole planning process. At the end of the day you'll be glad you did.

Lisa Sklar lives in Boulder, Colorado and is a wife and mom to three boys. After giving many unique and fun parties for her kids, her friends and family encouraged her to go into the party business, so she and a friend who also loves parties, Beth Rzasa, founded Whole Shebang Parties. They feel that everybody deserves a great birthday party and their company can make that happen. Whole Shebang Parties is an online retailer of complete birthday party kits for kids. www. wholeshebangparties. com

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