Happy 2nd Birthday, Toddler Girl!

March 22, 2011

Happy 2nd Birthday, Toddler Girl!

Congrats mama! You’ve survived year two and entered the heart of toddlerdom. Time to celebrate the past year’s milestones—walking, talking, maybe even potty training—and read up on next year's big developments. Happy birthday to you both!

Two-Year-Old Birthday Party Tips

Schedule Around Your Daughter’s Routine. Tap your expert knowledge of your daughter's daily routine and moods to schedule the party when she’ll likely be upbeat and well rested. Additionally, cap the length at a few hours—the overstimulation and sugar rollercoaster of a marathon party may cause a meltdown. Heather S. shares: "From my experience, keep it small...It gets very overwhelming for a two year old to have a big party."

Themes. For winning two-year-old birthday party themes, try focusing on your daughter’s favorite fictional characters, whether from a book, cartoon or movie. As Marissa C. shared: "My daughter has a major obsession with Winnie the Pooh at the moment and I am looking forward to theming her party that for this year." Dora the Explorer, Blue's Clues, Hello Kitty, Dr. Seuss, and Disney princesses have also all been wildly popular with daughters of Circle of Moms members.

Keep ‘em Busy. Plan activities to keep younger guests happily entertained. Some Circle of Moms members suggest toddler-friendly locations like gymnastics centers; others recommend backyard parties with ball pits, bubble machines, bounce houses or activity tables. Mother-of-one Kelly D. shared: “I had a party outdoors and wanted to keep the kids entertained, so I had a Play-Doh table and a coloring table, plus a potato sack race... Keep ‘em busy!” Of course, your daughter may simply want to play with her gift wrapping paper, and that's fine too!

Gifts and Toys for Two Year Olds

Are friends and relatives asking for birthday gift tips? We know it’s hard to brainstorm toy ideas when you’re already living in a mini Toys"R"Us, so we’re offering four reliable gift ideas for two year olds.

Arts and Crafts. Play-Doh, washable crayons, finger-painting, stickers, ink stamps... arts and crafts supplies make excellent gifts for toddlers.

Little People from Fisher Price. Many Circle of Moms members, including Tana K., have great things to say about these chunky, easy-to-grasp figurines: "I love Little People. There is so much selection—from the town center to the animals to the wheelies."

Kitchen Toys. From basic food sets to elaborate play kitchens, kitchen toys can provide two-year-olds with hours of entertainment. Or, try teaching where some foods come from with gardening toys.

Books. When in doubt, books—especially touch-and-feel titles—are always a good gift for toddlers. Over 50 Circle of Moms members have weighed in with recommendations for great books for babies and toddlers.

Preparing for the Next Year

To help you gear up for the next year, Circle of Moms is ready with helpful resources on common challenges and milestones: