First Birthday Party Themes

A Seasonal Guide for That Important Milestone

By Shannon McKelden

Your child's first birthday party should be fun and memorable. But planning it doesn't have to be difficult. Want to create a picture-worthy party no matter what the season? Check out these ideas!

Often cold and rainy, winter might seem like a hard season to plan a successful party. But there are lots of creative ways to celebrate your little one's special day.

Karina Elizalde Ferrales, a party planner from Clifton, N.J., suggests a "cool" first birthday for a winter party. Go with a penguin theme.

• Decorations can be as simple as black and white balloons and streamers.
• Use black tablecloths with white plates and yellow utensils.
• A "black and white" cookie with your child's name on it in yellow icing would make a yummy souvenir.
• The cake could be chocolate with white meringue snowcaps. A couple of small plastic penguins purchased from a local toy or craft store can adorn the top of the cake.

Wanza Leftwich of Brooklyn, N.Y., offers her Frosty the Snowman theme idea – especially fun if you live in areas with lots of snow.

• Dress the birthday girl or boy as Frosty the Snowman.
• Decorate the tables, chairs and walls with snowflakes.
• For a fun activity, cut out snowflakes and color or paint them.
• Make an ice cream snowman as an activity the kids can eat. Take three scoops of vanilla ice cream and put on a plate in the shape of a snowman. Use chocolate chips for buttons and eyes and M&Ms for the nose. Offer more edible embellishments and let the kids get creative. Parental supervision is required as small candies could be a choking hazard.
• The cake, of course, should be in the shape of Frosty.
• For entertainment, watch the movie Frosty the Snowman, hire someone – or use Dad – as a big Frosty.


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Want to see more?

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• Baby's First Birthday
• Your Child's First Birthday Party: Learning to Identify and Nurture Little Feelings
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