Flowers, Anyone?: A Theme Thread

I was absolutely delighted to find this post, A Garden Flowers Birthday Party, by Anna at The Imagination Tree, filled with gorgeous, fun photos of a birthday party she held for her two year old daughter with a flower-based them. It's whimsical, creative, and colorful. Theme can be such a fun part of the birthday celebration, especially when it incorporates creative activities kids can enjoy.

In The Birthday Wall: Create a Collage to Celebrate Your Child, I introduce the idea of including the creation of The Birthday Wall as a craft idea in Chapter 5 Creativity Central: Putting It All Together. This can work great for younger ones who enjoy being a part of such a fun, visual activity.

Do Less: Your Celebration

Your approach to celebrating your child's birthday is a very personal one, yet it reaches to loved ones as well. Christine Koh shares her choices in connection with family to have use a minimalist approach to her daughter's first birthday. Sometimes doing less is the right choice; keeping it simple and memorable at the same time.

Family traditions are often a part of how we celebrate our child's special day; The Birthday Wall has been the one I've created for the past 9 years. What kind of family traditions do you follow to show your child how special they are to you?

Light on the Budget: Simplicity is Key!

If you're looking for tips on keeping prices low on your kid's birthday party planning, Lisa Steinke provides a great list anyone could love. From Dollar Store finds to just keeping it simple; then there's the idea of asking your child what he/she would like.

I find when I make a Birthday Wall for my daughters, I keep it simple and apply what I know about them right now toward what I create. When I take the time to ask what they like right now, that goes a long way toward making the most meaningful visual display possible. It always amazes them how well they are represented in all of their interesting, personal facets. Their surprise never grows old.

Birthday Sanity Savers: To The Rescue!

I love Nicole Hempeck's no-nonsense approach to planning your child's birthday party. She gives some great tips based on her personal experience with planning her twin's party. She includes tips on your Birthday Budget as well as a Pinterest approach to planning your birthday theme.  Plus planning ahead so you know exactly when and for how long your party will last.

In each chapter of The Birthday Wall, I cover your economic approach in planning your expenditures for the creation of your child's birthday wall in Birthday Budget.
I also discuss the planning of when and where you can display your child's Birthday Wall in Chapter 5, Creativity Central: Putting It All Together.

Bringing Birthdays Back Home: Keep It Simple!

I just love the heart-warming vibe of this birthday blog post on bringing your child's birthday home with its emphasis on simplicity and the enjoyment of planning and creating together. It's those simple and family-centered times that make birthdays so special.

That's why I love creating Birthday Walls for my children. It's such an intimate portrayal of my daughters from year to year that makes them feel so special. And when planned simply and timely, it can create a dimension of their birthday that can leave lasting memories they will always treasure.

Thanks to Heather Cahoon for her fabulous post and party ideas!

Terrific Tips: Birthday Party Essentials

Here's a quick tip article, Happy Days: Tips for the perfect kids party, which includes theme, game, and cake ideas. I make several suggestions for great theme ideas in Chapter One, A Thoughtful Thread: Choosing a Theme, and Chapter Five, Creativity Central: Putting It All Together, of  my new e-book, The Birthday Wall: Create a Collage to Celebrate Your Child.

Building Self Esteem

Dr. Katherine Ferdenzi explains the importance of building your child's self-esteem in this video clip. When we praise our children and show them how much we appreciate who they are and what they do well, it helps to build up their self-esteem, which is exactly the purpose of The Birthday Wall. It's a celebration of your child.