Joint Parties with a Big Age Difference

So, you want to have a joint birthday party for your two kids…one is 11 years old and the other is one! Is this feasible, and, if so, how do you organize it?

Joint parties can be done for your kids no matter the age difference, and here are a few thoughts on how to go about it:

• A small child turning one will not remember his first birthday party, but the 11 year old definitely will. Listen to your older child to hear what he wants for his celebration and the theme.’
• Jazzy, but non-specific, party goods will do double duty.  A great example of this is at Birthday in a Box.

• Plan the party as an umbrella for two mini-parties. If your 11 year old wants a Pool Party, then you can make it an Under the Sea theme, and then have activities for both kids. The 11 year old can enjoy crafts/games/activities around the theme, and the little one can also enjoy the decorations, his little friends playing in a wading pool together, etc. So, listen to what your older child wants as a theme, and try to make it consistent for the other one as well.
• Make sure to have plenty of help. Remember you will probably be hosting two mini-parties, and so you need to have plenty of help to run the activities and to watch over the little ones simultaneously.
• If your older child wants to have his own party. Then a compromise may be to start the party around your one year old’s schedule. Have friends and family over and do the cake and ice cream. With such a young age, parties rarely need to go more than one hour. Once that is complete, have the older kids’ friends arrive straight afterwards for their fun. So, the party is on the same day, but the timing allows for it to be a bit separate.
• Instead of baking two full cakes, make the one year old his special first birthday cake, and serve themed cupcakes for the older kids’ cake. An activity can even be that they decorate the cupcakes. This way you aren’t baking two whole cakes twice.

The best advice: listen to your older kid and then plan a theme for both around his interests. It will save you time, $$$ and energy!