2-year-old birthday party ideas
Emily Gulla
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Planning a two-year-old's birthday party might seem like a huge task, but we know that organising a special celebration for your toddler is important for you and for them. This is everything you need to know, from venues to food to gifts.
Indoor party ideas
By two years old, your child will be much more active and vocal than they were at their first birthday party, so it's likely that a bigger, busier party is on the cards!
An indoor birthday party is always a good idea with unpredictable weather to contend with - and if your child has an autumn or winter birthday then it's probably the safest option.
Hosting a two-year-old birthday party in your own home means your child will be in familiar surroundings (and less daunted by all the people), but if you're looking at a larger guest list, why not try some of our other indoor party options below?
Your own home
By two years old, your child will already be developing all of their own personal interests, so an at-home party means you have endless freedom to create a personalised theme that feels special to them.
Depending on what your child is into, themes like animals, princesses, dinosaurs, superheroes or fairies are good options that lend themselves well to decorations and dress-up costumes (which could be super cute!).
A party in your own home is also a great way to keep the cost low, and it offers you more control over how many people you invite and how long the party lasts for.
Soft play centres
Now that your child is a little older, they'll be able to properly enjoy a soft play centre party - more so than when they were younger.
Most soft play centres will have a specific area that caters to young toddlers, so no need to worry about older kids getting in the way. They'll often offer bookings with a party planner and catering included - so it's definitely the most hassle-free option!
You can browse your local soft play centres with our handy search tool here - just check that they have a section suitable for two-year-olds, and if you’ll need any adults to supervise.
Village hall or community centre
Your local village hall or play centre is another great indoor party venue, especially if you don't want to be restricted by the size of your home or the per-head cost of soft play.
Hiring the hall will be the main cost you have to front, plus any added extras like paying for catering or a bouncy castle (ideal for toddlers). And if you want to keep costs down, you can opt to make your own food (just bear the numbers in mind if you're doing so).
Check out your local halls for hire using our search tool - just remember to check that they offer children's parties.
Outdoor party ideas
Petting zoo
Now that your toddler is getting older and more curious, a petting zoo is an exciting adventure for them to explore on their birthday. Don't panic about goats and ponies just yet, though - plenty of venues will offer parties with smaller animals, like guinea pigs, bunnies and chicks. And you'll be able to snap some super cute photos to look back on!
Garden party
A garden party is the perfect compromise when it comes to an outdoor party that still maintains the familiarity of your own home.
You can decorate the garden with bunting, hire a bouncy castle, or set up play mats with toys. Plus, you have freedom when it comes to the theme, with animal, jungle or dinosaur themes working well outside.
If it's summertime, then a water play party in shallow paddling pools can be really exciting for two-year-olds. Just of course make sure to supervise at all times.
Picnic
Going for a picnic party is an easy outdoor option that feels more like an adventure than staying in your own home. Bring some finger food and toys out for a picnic, then head to an outdoor play area for the kids to explore. There are plenty of games that can be played on a picnic, like pass the parcel (as long as you clean up afterwards), outdoor puzzles or chalks to draw on concrete.
Who to invite
By two years old, your son or daughter will probably have made more friends from their nursery or play group - but this doesn't mean they won't be shy or daunted around bigger groups. Anything up to around eight friends is a good idea and will stop them from becoming overwhelmed. Then, once you add on family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and children of family friends, you'll have a full list.
If your child is getting into arts and crafts, then sitting down to make some invitations together can be a fun way to get them involved in the planning - and it'll add a personal touch.
It's ideal to send out party invites between two and four weeks in advance. If you're paying in advance for a venue, ordering food from a caterer or buying ingredients yourself, you'll want to have numbers sorted early - so ask for RSVPs as soon as possible too!
Games and activities
When it comes to games, two-year-olds won't necessarily be used to following rules, and being kicked out of a game can be upsetting. Avoid activities with too much focus on competition and instead concentrate on having fun. Stocking up on small prizes is also a good idea, so that everyone feels included.
Simple games like musical statues, musical chairs and pass the parcel will excite two year olds - and you can give everyone a prize for taking part.
If games are too tricky, then simply handing out bubbles or setting up a sandpit outside is an easy way to keep toddlers entertained.
You can buy bubble-making machines, too. See more details here at Amazon.
Check out some more party games for two-year-olds here.
Food and drink
Party food
By two years old, your child should have explored a range of different foods and will be able to eat the same things as the older children and adults at the party. Small, bite-sized food is the best option for a toddler's party, as the kids will be having too much fun to sit down and eat.
If you’re worried about making sure there’s enough food to go around, fill up a cardboard meal box for each child. That way, you know no one will miss out and they can always take it home if they're having too much fun for food.
With most toddlers being picky eaters, stick to foods that you know they're probably going to like, such as sausage rolls, mini sausages, finger sandwiches and cheese cubes, as well as low-salt crisps and crackers. For more ideas, check out our party food guide here.
Drinks
For drinks, the healthiest option is to stick to water or milk. If you want to give fruit juice to under-fives, the NHS recommends that you dilute it with 10 parts water to 1 part juice. Older kids can have squash, water or undiluted fruit juice.
The NHS advises against fizzy drinks or flavoured milk for babies and toddlers, but if you want to offer them to older kids then do so after the food, so the kids aren't too full of sugar to eat anything healthy.
Plus, if you’re at home and are worried about damaging furniture or carpets, keep the food and drink in a designated room or the garden.
Birthday cake
There are plenty of different options for birthday cake, depending on how much of a baker you are! Most supermarkets will sell themed birthday cakes, or if you want something extra personal then your local cake maker will likely be able to whip up something amazing.
For a middle ground hack, you can buy a simple sponge cake and add the personalised decorations yourself. We promise the kids won’t know any different! We've got plenty of cake decoration ideas for you to follow here, from castles to trains, to a classic caterpillar cake.
If you fancy baking your own cake, browse our library of recipes, from cupcakes to chocolate cake or rainbow cake, plus gluten free and egg free options, too.
Desserts
For extra dessert options other than cake, it’s a good idea to have some finger bites available, like little chocolate bites (though not too many!) and pieces of fruit.
Kids will also love jelly and ice cream as a dessert - and to make it that touch healthier why not try some of our fruity ice cream recipes? Alternatively, you can serve sorbet as a dairy-free option that goes down a treat with kids.
Gift ideas
By two years old your toddler will be developing their own interests, but they're also likely to grow out of things quickly which can make buying gifts difficult.
If you don't want to buy a toy that they'll shortly be too old for, then a sentimental keepsake like a personalised story book can be a nice memento.
As a practical gift, a toddler's tricycle is a smart idea as they should be just about ready to start learning (plus, it'll last them a good few years!).
In terms of toys, chunky Lego is a fun way for your child to learn as they figure out how to build different shapes. Have a browse through some more of the best birthday gifts for two-year-olds here.
Lego Duplo is always a good idea. See more details here at Amazon.
Party bags
As two-year-olds start to be invited to more parties, they'll quickly get used to receiving a party bag every time they go to one! It can sometimes be tricky to know what to include...
If you've thrown a themed party for your child, then having a theme to stick to for the party bags too makes it that bit easier. You can find cute stuffed animals for an animal theme or tiaras for princesses.
A lot of plastic toys are only suitable for children aged three and upwards, so stick to things like play-doh and chunky crayons. Oh, and don't forget the cake!
Check out more party bag ideas here.
Tips for a great second birthday party
As with any party, planning ahead and getting organised with a list of everything you’ll need to do in advance of the big day will make things whole lot easier. These top tips should help things run even more smoothly:
- Child-to-adult ratio: If you've got quite a few two-year-olds or young toddlers in attendance, then make sure you have enough adults on hand to deal with accidents, as well as any tears or tantrums.
- Write down the gifts your child receives and who they're from as soon as your child opens them. You'll thank yourself later when it comes to writing thank-you notes!
- Plan the party for the morning or lunchtime. Many two-year-olds will take an afternoon nap, and you don't want your party to clash. Plus, they'll likely be tired after just a couple of hours.
- Be prepared for accidents. Some of your two-year-old guests might have started potty training, so be ready for some potential accidents during your party, and keep cloths and baby wipes handy.
- Don’t drop your usual rules. Okay, a party is a time for kids to have fun - but that doesn’t mean you should drop your usual rules when it comes to tantrums and misbehaviour. However you usually deal with a tantrum, the best thing to do at a party is to take your child away from the audience, so going to a free room is a good idea.
Looking for more birthday party ideas? Check out our articles below, or swap tips with other parents in our forum.
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