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Somehow, it’s easier to pick out birthday gifts for younger children. When they’re babies or toddlers, they’re often excited just to receive a present in colorful packaging. A box of LEGO or a new pair of shoes might’ve been enough to light up your kid’s face back in the day, but it gets harder as they grow older. As they start to become more independent, your child will probably have their own requests for birthday gifts. Still, if you want a small part of your kid’s birthday to be a surprise then here are some great gift ideas for your growing child.

Arts and crafts.

A great birthday gift for a growing child is anything related to arts and crafts. Kids love being creative at any age, of course, but you might need to think outside the box as they get older. If they’re keen on planes or trains then you could buy them the kit necessary to make their own model versions. Or if they’re into music then you might want to buy them a DIY synth kit; that’s a slightly more adventurous purchase, but it’ll certainly keep them occupied. And that’s the great thing about artistic presents that require construction. They’re the gifts that keep on giving. Once the project is complete, your child can admire their work.

Video games.

For most kids, video games are always a safe bet. The consoles are always changing, but the idea stays the same. Depending on your age, you probably played video games (on some long-forgotten console) when you were younger. You know how exciting a new video game is in the eyes of a kid. They’re still fun when you get older, of course, but there’s something special about the iconic video games of your childhood. You might want to look into a mobile strategy game for kids if they’re a logical thinker who’d be into that sort of thing. A game such as Final Fantasy XV is a good example of this.

Of course, you might want to look into games for other consoles, too. There are plenty of good deals out there, so you might want to treat your kid to a few different games. PUBG is obviously incredibly popular at the moment, and it’s compatible with most consoles (even phones). You might also want to check out the new Spiderman game if you have a PS4 in your household. Let’s be honest, everybody loves Spiderman; that’s a game for everybody in the family (if your child doesn’t mind sharing).

A trip to somewhere they love.

You might have already bought your child the gifts they wanted, but that doesn’t mean you can’t surprise them with something they didn’t request. You could really make your kid’s day special by taking them on a trip to somewhere they love. If you want to truly make their day then you should keep the location a secret until you arrive at the destination.

Perhaps you could pretend that you’re getting in the car for a quick shopping trip (every kid’s worst nightmare). Then, they’ll be even happier when you actually turn up at the zoo, the cinema, or any other place they love. It depends how sneaky you want to be, of course.

If you think they’ll just complain during the car journey then maybe you should give them a hint that your destination isn’t actually somewhere boring.

Suddenly, you realise a whole year has gone by, and you are left wondering not only why your little one is growing up so fast, but what to do for their party this year. You can get the odd helpful word to latch on to from asking your children what they want – like dinosaurs and unicorns – but unfortunately, their dream of making friends and spending the day with either the extinct or mythical creature is a little beyond your capabilities. Here are some tips on making planning a party as stress-free as possible so even you, as well as your children, can enjoy it.

Send Out Invites As Soon As Possible

You’ve been there – where an invitation has been handed to you at the school pick up for the next weekend and felt that panic of getting a present and party outfit in such a limited time. Help out the other parents in your life, and be sure to send your child to school with invitations as soon as possible. This also means you can ask for an RSVP so you don’t waste money on a much too big cake and party bags that won’t be used. Be sure not to do it too early though – or they may forget!

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Rent A Hall

Now, this may seem like an expensive and over the top option, but please hear it out. Paying out for your child and a few friends to go to a theme park or the cinema may be more appealing. However, the cost of feeding and watering the children for the day and the transport getting there and back can rack up the already quite high price. Not to mention the overpriced gift shop toy, or pot of Ben and Jerry’s that everyone just has to have. Also, the time it takes for your child to choose between all their “bestest friends” could leave you with little time for the actual organisation of the event. Having a party at your home seems like a cheap option, however the stress of making sure everything is spotless, nothing is split on your cream carpets, and the mess that you are left with when everyone has gone home may be enough to put you off ever doing another party again. By renting a hall, you have a space that can be transformed into a party haven for the children and you tend to have offers of help for the setup and clean up afterwards. You can ask for other parents to chaperone ensuring good behaviour and minimal injuries. This avoids any parents google searching for a “personal injury attorney”, and the headache and stress that comes from a parent not trusting you with their children anymore should someone get hurt. You may laugh, but you’d be surprised how rowdy a children’s party can get, so it’s helpful to have extra help on hand.

Avoid A Buffet

Buffet food always seems to be a go-to option for parties, however, it can become quite expensive when buying all the different options of food. It may be worth considering doing a hearty, healthy option like jacket potatoes with options of plain butter, beans or chilli. All loved foods that offer options for vegan, vegetarian or fussy eaters and can avoid any allergy mishaps. It will fill everyone up without the added sugar hype that comes from many party foods, and cooking in bulk is quite cost-effective. Wrap all the jacket potatoes in tin foil and pop the chilli in a thermal container for easy transport, if you decide to go with this option.

Hopefully, this has given you and few useful ideas and helped you to relax about the next birthday written on your family calendar.

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Lots of parents worry about organizing birthday parties for themselves because their kids might get bored. Still, that shouldn’t put you off the idea because you only have one special day each year. You had to give up a lot of things to become a parent, but birthday parties aren’t one of them. So, use some of the advice from this page to ensure you can have a lovely day or evening with your friends. These tips should help to guarantee your kids don’t become restless and cause issues. At the end of the day, you just have to get them excited about their mommy or daddy’s big day.

Put your kids in charge of the presents

Children love birthdays because they experience the excitement of giving a gift to their mom or dad. So, make sure you involve then in the buying process. Plenty of reviewers write for sites like Manly Matters these days. So, you should have no trouble finding a suitable gift for him. However, dads might have to work a little harder when it comes to finding something perfect for mom. Whatever process you follow and whoever’s birthday it is, just let your kids make some decisions. You should also put them in charge of hiding the gift and presenting it at the right time. They will then feel like they have an important role to play in the event.

Get your kids to welcome guests at the door

Your children are sure to know most of the people you invite to your birthday party. So, why not ask them to answer the door and welcome everyone? That will encourage your guests to have one on one conversations with your friends and family as soon as they arrive. It could also help to increase your child’s confidence according to Working Mother and other bloggers. With any luck, that will make them feel more relaxed in a room full of adults. The last thing you want is for your little ones to feel like they are being ignored. So, that first chat at the door could work wonders.

Arrange a play space so all guests can bring their kids

Lastly, you might consider creating a play space so all your guests can bring their children to the party. You only need one or two adults to watch over the area while the kids are enjoying themselves. That will mean your little ones get to socialize with their cousins and friends, and they also make lots of happy memories. They might even forget the adult party is going on because they’ll start to have fun. You can play music in the room and even create some simple party games for them to play. Pass the parcel will provide them with hours or fun. All you need is a small gift, lots of wrapping paper, and some music.

You should now have a reasonable idea of the best ways to keep your kids entertained at adult birthday parties. I hope now you will make better use of your special day and ensure you celebrate it properly. Far too many parents forget about themselves while their kids are young. However, that’s never sensible. If you’re happy and living a fulfilling life, you will always be a better parent to your children.