Should Party Bags be given for a 1st Birthday Party?

The answer is YES!
Your child's 1stBirthday is a very special time, whether you decide to have a party for close family only or to invite lots of friends, it's always nice to give your guests a small gift as a token of your affection. If you are inviting friends who have children, then make sure you give them a gift that's relevant to their ages. It's more likely that you will end up with children of various ages, from babies to ten year olds even. Of course you might only invite your babies little friends of the same age, but be prepared for any older siblings too.
Great gifts for babies and toddles are bath toys, soft toys, chunky crayons, story books, teething toys, plastic beakers, puzzles etc. Just make sure they are suitable for that age group. You can make up little gift bags by using themed plastic loot bags, cello bags, gift cups or even little baskets. Another way to give out the gift is to do a pass the parcel box where each gift is wrapped up. Might need a bit of help from parents to sit round in a circle with their little ones, but this is a fun activity that can be played to music too.
Gifts for older children could be small pocket money toys, books, sweets, crafty gifts, stationery and so on.
If you are just having close relatives and friends at your child's first birthday party, then perhaps give them a small momento gift relating to your child. Things like a photo frame with your child's photo, a keyring, book mark, fridge magnet or a personalised photo mug.
I'm sure grand parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends will appreciate this gift as a keepsake of the special day. If you don't want to spend a lot of money on these gifts, then you could do something simple like send them a 'thank you' card with a photo of your child on that special day.
Both children and adults alike love edible gifts. You could make some cupcakes with an edible photo of your child on, or make cookies or cake pops. Edible party favors always goes down a treat regardless of how old you are!
All gifts will be greatly appreciated and at the end of the day, it's to show how grateful you are that your guests have helped you celebrate such a special event in you and your child's life.
If you need lots of 1st birthday party bag inspiration, check out Best Kids Party where you will find a wide range of kids party bags and 1st birthday party supplies, to help you throw the best first birthday party ever!

The Best 1st Birthday Party Game Ideas

Many parents get stuck for ideas of what to do for their baby’s 1^st birthday, especially if it’s their first child and the first ever birthday party they will be throwing. That’s why many parents want it to be a special occasion, one they can remember for many years to come.

A first birthday party usually ends up being a celebration for adults, mainly family and friends and their children, however if you’ve been a very sociable parent and made lots of friends through various mother & baby clubs and play groups, you could end up with a house full of parents and one year olds!
However many people you decide to have, here are 10 great ideas on how to keep  everyone entertained at your baby’s first birthday party and have lots of fun:

1. Guess the Baby Photo Game:

This game involves asking your guests to bring two photos of themselves, one as a baby and a current photo. They can do the same for any older children they bring to the party too.
Make a note of which photos belongs to who then arrange all the baby photos in a line and number them. Then arrange all the current photos and letter them A to Z.
Give each adult/older child a piece of paper and a pen and they have to write down which number and letter corresponds.
The person who gets the most correct wins!

2. Baby Bottle Bowling:

More often than not most parents will have lots of spare baby bottles around the house. Fill as many bottles you have with either water or rice to make them more sturdy and use them as skittles!

3. Baby Messages:

Decorate a small box or buy a special keepsake box and get your guests to write a note to your baby. This is will get everyone thinking!
You can then keep this for your child to open and read when they are older.

4. Baby Obstacle Course:

Set up a mini soft obstacle course using tunnels, pillow, cushions, soft baby blocks etc. The little one’s will have lots of fun crawling through and entertaining themselves.

5. Ball Pool:

Children of this age love colourful plastic balls, which are in expensive to buy by the bucket load. Fill a small paddling pool with them and let them have lots of fun.

6. Sing Song:

Buy a CD with lots of nursery rhymes and get parents to sit around in a circle with their children.  Lay out some musical instruments and have fun making your own little sing song session.

7. Puppet Show:

If you’re brave enough, turn yourself into an entertainer or get one of your family or friends to do it!

Finger or hand puppets and great to entertain small children however be careful with the one’s you choose as some small children can be afraid of them.

8. Toss a Bean Bag:

Line up some plastic buckets and assist your child in throwing a bean bag into a bucket. Great fun and good for their hand co-ordination development.

9. Treasure Hunt Crawl:

Hide some baby friendly wrapped gifts or treats around the house and allow babies to hunt them out!

10. Pass the Parcel:A traditional game that works well no matter what age you are! Perhaps try a lucky dip style box to pass around to music, instead of gifts wrapped in a paper parcel, as it will make it easier for small children to handle.

It can be tricky to play games with a house full of babies and young children, but whatever you decide to play the key is to have lots of fun so that you can capture memories of that special day!

For lots of 1^st birthday party inspiration, check out Best Kids Party for a wide range of 1^st birthday party supplies, 1^st birthday decorations and special 1st birthday gifts.

Great Ideas for Kids Halloween Goodie Bags

If you are planning a Halloween Party this year, whether it’s for a few children or a large group of children, they will still expect to go home with some form of party bag. Here are some great ideas for spooky Halloween party gifts:

Paper & Cellophane Bags

Paper Bags – you can buy plain paper bags with or without handles in great traditional Halloween colours, such as orange, black, white, red and green.

Paper bags are great to decorate too. Children will have lots of fun creating their scary monster party bags.
Fill them with small halloween themed toys and some sweets.
For an extra spooky effect you can wrap the small toys in artificial stretchy cobweb and then place in each paper bag. Or perhaps sprinkle some halloween themed confetti for a great effect.

Cello Bags – Available plain or printed and ideal to fill with small toys and sweets. Most bags come with ties, but you could try & use something a bit more appropriate like black pipe cleaners to give that hairy spider effect.
Scary witch hand shaped cello bags are ideal to fill with popcorn if you think the kid’s have had too many sweets.

Gift Cups

Children can just as easily decorate a plain paper cup, provide lots of craft materials for them to make their own scary creations.

Make a couple of holes on either side of the cup and thread through some ribbon to make a handle so they can carry them easily.

Fabric bags

Cotton bags are a wonderful eco-friendly alternative and can be used over and over again. You can buy tote style bags with handles, or even drawstring bags in lots of designs including halloween themes. They are great to fill with little gifts.

Crafty things to make

A Witch or Wizard’s hat – use craft paper to make a cone shape and then stick it to a round base with a hole big enough to fit the size of a head. The hat can then be decorated. Children can make mini hats too that can be filled with treats ready to take home.

Mini Graves – get a large empty match stick box and paint it with black paint. Then cut out a tomb stone using grey card and stick this to one side of the insert box. You should still be able to push the box open at one end. The box can then be filled with some sweets.

Scary Masks – children can be as creative as they wish! Attach some elastic to fit around the head.

Spooky Lucky DipInstead of making up party bags, do a lucky dip box or bag.
To make up a lucky dip box simply have fun decorating a cardboard box and fill with small gifts for each child. Gifts can range from pocket money toys that fit in with the halloween theme or even small books and stationery items.

Instead of a box try using a black dust bin sack.

Something Sweet

If you are planning on trick or treating before the party, children would have collected enough sweets anyway.

As an alternative you could make ‘Ghost’ cake pops, pumpkin cupcakes, or ghoul looking cookies.

If you don’t have time to make your own party bags, but would like to look like you have, Best Kids Party have a range of fun Handmade Kids Party Bags in Halloween themes, as well as Gift Cups, Paper Party Bags, Cello Bags, Pocket Money Toys and Party Bag Fillers.