Every family has its own holiday traditions. Its youngest members will still have time to plunge into adult life, so you shouldn’t take them to a restaurant or cafe, but it’s better to organize a child’s birthday at home. It’s not that difficult to create a menu; you can even call on your children to help.
I want to celebrate every children's birthday in an interesting and original way. The child is looking forward to this holiday with great impatience. For him these are gifts, surprises and a beautiful festive table. Our article is about what to include in the menu for a child’s birthday, what to prepare to make the holiday memorable for the kids for a long time. Growing up, the child will remember with gratitude happy moments with family and friends.
Where to begin?
When deciding to hold a children's birthday at home, parents need to seriously consider the holiday scenario. Invite your child to discuss this activity. Ask him who the child wants to invite and what to prepare for this celebration. Find out from him what he would like to treat his friends to. When creating a menu for children's birthday, remember that these are active, spontaneous and cheerful guests who will not be able to sit stiffly at the table and follow all the rules of etiquette.
Several event ideas
Because the mother gave birth, the mother fed, the mother did not sleep at night, so it’s up to the mother to arrange her birthday. For mothers, this day is in most cases more exciting than coming of age.
During this period of life, the baby has just begun to take his first steps, he is still a baby and therefore it is recommended to spend the holiday, if not at home, then close to it.
Fun at home
- A special scenario is the key to happiness and smiles on this day. It will be very interesting if the mother makes cards or certificates in advance on behalf of the baby. Grandmothers, godparents and other relatives will be pleased to receive such a prize.
- “What does the child look like?” - an entertaining competition. Give your guests cards that can also be decorated in a cartoon style; on them they will write who they think the baby is like. Having counted the quantity, you can read the result in intonation style.
- “Height Meter” is a competition to determine height. The invited guests take turns calling the height of the child, and whoever guesses correctly wins. The same competition can be held to determine weight. For fun, each guest can be offered to lift the baby.
Fun in nature
- A forest, forest edge, or any secluded place is perfect for holding an outdoor event. You can put your child to sleep in the fresh air. Decorating the forest is also not a problem. Decorate nearby trees with photographs and toys. Competitions in nature are even more interesting than at home. For example: “Who will throw the ball further?”, “Who will drink the juice faster?”
- If you plan to celebrate your child’s one-year anniversary away from home, you need to make sure that you have everything you need, as well as the possibility of quickly returning home if necessary. For many parents, this becomes the reason for refusing to celebrate outdoors, because it is calmer at home.
Tonsured
The tradition of tonsure is a long-standing belief. A child under one year of age is not given a haircut according to it, even if they already have to tie a ponytail. Cut hair is stored for many years. Legend says that the hair should be burned, released into the water, buried, while saying the words: “Fire-brother (Earth-mother, Water-sister), grant our baby happiness and a happy destiny.” After this, the baby is seated in front of the things and they see what he chooses, this will be his profession:
- candy-confectioner;
- scissors - tailor;
- money - businessman;
The ceremony will be a fun time for both the baby and the guests. It’s quite easy to organize a holiday for a child by turning on your imagination. And don’t forget to take care of the gift for the birthday boy.
What dishes to serve?
Before cooking, be sure to consider the age of the children, because the menu for a schoolchild differs from the menu for a year. For his birthday, a child wants to try something new, unusual, different from what is on the daily table. However, even familiar favorite dishes can be served on the table on this day, they just need to be placed in unusual dishes or decorated effectively.
Most often, the children's menu consists of a hot dish, light snacks, fruit, vegetable, cheese slices, and a variety of sweets. The main highlight of the program will be the birthday cake. You will also need tasty and healthy drinks.
What to give a child for his first birthday
The first question that arises for both parents and holiday guests is what to give the baby?
The first thing I can say is: don’t bother. A child under three years old doesn’t really care what they buy for him. But this doesn’t stop parents, and they spend a lot of money on a “cool gift.” Why, to show it off to your friends?
Daughter in her play corner - a gift for her one year old
Therefore, give what the one-year-old really needs and will be interested in. Or you can not buy anything special at all, but make something with your own hands. For example, just in time for our daughter’s birthday, my husband and I completed the play corner - shelves and a rack for toys, a busy board and a warm, bright rug. All! No pushers, electric cars or gold earrings :))) Now my daughter loves to play there, and her mother is happy that all the toys are in one place? Read about it in my article Do-it-yourself play space for a child.
You can also use the list of gifts for a baby from 1 to 3 years old. I wrote the article for the New Year, but the ideas are quite suitable for any time of the year 
I would also like to add: warn your guests that it is better to give money, and then you will figure out how to please your beloved child. Since relatives can buy extra, because they don’t know what you have and what you don’t, or whether it’s necessary at all. Otherwise, you won’t know what to do with the pile of teddy bears? I, of course, love soft toys, but when there are too many of them, they collect dust, lie everywhere, and take up space that is already not enough. And in general, I make such toys for my daughter myself; you can look at our favorite unicorn in the article Crochet a unicorn for a baby.
Table setting
Preparing a varied and interesting menu for a child’s birthday is not everything. The table must be set brightly. Use disposable tablecloths and utensils. Firstly, the latter will not break and harm the child. Secondly, retail outlets offer a large selection of bright festive disposable tableware and decorations for any holiday.
What should the table be like?
The decoration of any holiday table, of course, is the cake. It can be baked or ordered. Everyone knows that a freshly baked homemade cake is simply delicious, but mom may not have enough time to bake. A grandmother can come to the rescue and happily prepare her signature cake, but it is better to choose a custom-made option, since confectionery masters can create real masterpieces - cakes in the shape of a boat, a doll, a bear, etc.
Everyone will agree that a custom-made bunny cake holding a one in its paws is much more interesting than a regular one. In addition, the baby will definitely like such a hare without harming his health. The menu for the table should also be thought out to the smallest detail. For adults - some dishes, and for the birthday boy - others. A one-year-old baby needs exactly the food that corresponds to his age (mashed potatoes, vegetable cutlet, compote).
Beautifully cut and placed
If canapés and fruit shish kebab are more suitable for older birthday people, then what should be included in the menu for a child’s birthday? Original cuts of fruits and vegetables are perfect for kids' birthdays. Use them to create a small miniature - it will attract children's attention. Arrange the pieces of fruit in such a way as to create the bright tail of a fabulous Firebird. Create a fairytale forest kingdom from pieces of vegetables. Let the small slices of fish on the platter convey the image of the Goldfish. If the children are small, then they can take the pieces with their hands; place small forks or skewers near each of the guests over three years old so that the children can easily prick a piece and not get dirty.
List of allowed products for a one-year-old child
From 1 year to 1.5 years, nutrition should be approximately the same. In general, the calorie content of daily food consumption should not exceed 1300 calories. It is also worth considering that everyone develops differently. Some children are more active, which means they need to consume more calories, while others, on the contrary, refuse larger portions. Nevertheless, with any development, the following products must be present in the diet of a one-year-old child:
- breast or artificial milk;
- dairy products;
- porridge;
- meat and fish products;
- vegetables and fruits.
You can use not only meat and fish as protein, but also boiled eggs. At this age, bread and cookies are allowed. But these products should be given to the child in small quantities. Juices based on natural ingredients are welcome. The choice of vegetables and fruits will depend on seasonality, since it is during this period that these products are most rich in beneficial microelements.
All listed products are allowed at the age of 1 year. You can prepare various healthy dishes from them, because at this time the most important thing is variety.
When choosing a protein product, you should prefer one thing. You should not combine, for example, fish and eggs. Separately, protein products are used twice a week.
Hot dish
Don't forget about the hot dish. What to cook for children that is tasty, light and nutritious? Include dishes made from rabbit, turkey or minced meat into your holiday menu. Whatever dish you create, it is advisable to decorate it or make a child’s picture on the plate. It could be a landscape or the face of an animal. The ingredients of the dish will tell you how you can be creative in creating and serving delicious hot dishes. A hot meat dish can also be included in the menu for a one-year-old child. For your baby’s birthday, it’s better not to experiment, but to feed him what he loves and what he’s already gotten used to at his age.
How much does it cost to celebrate a child's first birthday?
See the table for the final price list for the first birthday:
Despite the fact that we adhered to common sense regarding our daughter’s first birthday, the amount still turned out to be impressive. However, with this amount we organized a play corner for the child, got beautiful photos and gathered all the relatives at one table. According to a survey I conducted, many of my friends spent from 60 to 100 thousand rubles on the holiday. Some even took out a loan on purpose!
So I suggest you first decide what is really important to you and what you can save on. I just shared my experience of celebrating one year and I hope that it will be useful to you!
Best wishes!
Your Blogomomochka - Ekaterina Ulyanova
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Ekaterina Ulyanova
Mother of two wonderful daughters and author of the blog blogomamochka.ru
Delicious meatballs - a hot dish for big and small
Our recipe is for about a kilogram of meat. You can take one variety or mix several; housewives often choose pork and beef.
Pass the meat through a meat grinder with one small onion and two cloves of garlic. Cut out the pulp by removing the crust from one or two slices of loaf or white bread, and soak it in a raw chicken egg. One or two medium-sized potatoes need to be grated. Combine minced meat, bread pulp, potatoes and add one glass of boiled rice. Distribute the ingredients evenly, mixing them thoroughly. Don't forget to add salt and ground pepper. It is better to leave the resulting mass in the refrigerator for an hour or two so that it hardens a little and becomes harder.
In order to prepare the fry, you will need one small carrot, which needs to be grated on a medium grater, as well as one onion, which is best finely chopped. Vegetables are fried in vegetable oil. Approximately two tablespoons of wheat flour should be dissolved in half a glass of warm water. Stir well so that there are no lumps, and pour into the frying onions and carrots. Let the mixture boil a little, if necessary add a little more hot boiled water. The gravy is ready.
Remove the minced meat from the refrigerator and form it into ball-shaped meatballs. Place them in a mold or on a baking sheet, pour over the prepared gravy. Place in the oven for about half an hour. It is better to bake at a temperature of 160-180 degrees.
The meatballs turn out soft and juicy. Adults and children like it.
For little sweet tooths
What to cook for a sweet table on your birthday? You can give up traditional treats and create a themed sweet table. This could be a menu for a little princess or a young gentleman, pirates or travelers.
Whatever the mood of the holiday will be, make the sweet table that way. An original tablecloth, unusually shaped dishes, the use of designer decor, a variety of colors - all this will be attractive to guests. On the table there may be oriental sweets, candied fruits, chocolate medals or figurines, small cupcakes, lollipops. Little ones with a sweet tooth will also like fruit and berry jelly. Include it on your child's birthday menu. The photos will tell you how to decorate the table, or at least give you some creative ideas.
Musical accompaniment
Before the event, you should prepare a selection of compositions with adult and children's music in advance. Before everyone sits down at the table, cheerful children's songs are best suited for the background - this will help set the tone for the holiday and once again serve as a reminder of the reason for calling the guests.
During the feast, the music can be muted enough so that you can hear your interlocutor and have a quiet snack. Competitions will be more fun if you use musical accompaniment, as long as this does not harm the principle of the competition.
In the late afternoon, you can play popular dance music for the older generation. Do not forget that this is a holiday not only for the baby, but also for his parents.
The peak of the feast - taking out the cake
The list of the festive menu ends with a birthday cake. This is the culmination of the birthday. A cake in which the number of candles is equal to the child’s years is brought into the hall to the enthusiastic exclamations of the children. After all, it is on your birthday that you need to blow out all the candles to make your dreams come true. The cake is made to order the day before, secretly from the birthday person. Culinary specialists offer a large number of options. You can order baked goods decorated with the child’s name and figurines of fairy-tale characters. Each such cake will be one and only.
Beverages
It is best to choose natural drinks. These can be compotes, juices, cocktails, fruit drinks. Add pieces of fruit to your drinks. On your birthday, decorate your glasses with pretty straws and paper umbrellas. Children will enjoy drinking, so prepare more drinks. Soda is harmful to children's health, so it is better not to use it in children's birthday menus. Store-bought juice boxes contain very few vitamins, so it’s better to prepare your own drink from some fresh fruits or berries. For example, apple compote.
Choosing gifts for a one-year-old birthday boy
Any holiday is accompanied by certain traditions, and Birthday in particular. One of the long-standing traditions is to give gifts to the birthday person. The faster the baby gets used to this feature of the celebration, the more pleasure he will receive from this tradition, not only as a birthday boy, but also as a giver.
What to give to a one-year-old? There are a great many options. But remember that the gift should not only be bright, but also useful for the development of the baby. Here are examples of great gifts that a child will be incredibly happy with:
- machine-tolokar in different variations. With such a gift we immediately kill 2 birds with one stone: the baby will learn to walk holding the back of the car, and then he will be happy to ride it;
- cars, trains, tractors and other vehicles. Carrying them around or rolling your favorite toy is a real pleasure;
- playhouse or tent. Having your own corner is important even for a one-year-old baby. Give him this opportunity;
- large dolls and various animals, preferably with a set of dishes, food and other accessories. We teach the child to look after his charges, take care of them, put them to bed, etc.;
- easels and drawing boards. At the age of one, children develop a passion for painting everything in the apartment. To avoid the issue of wallpaper, immediately offer your child a specially equipped place;
- outdoor toys (sports equipment: balls, skittles; wheelchairs, strollers, carts). All this can be used at home, but there is more space outside, and besides, a one-year-old child spends enough time outside, and one sandbox is not enough for him;
- large bright books with thick pages. Children should be introduced to reading from this age. A one-year-old baby will be happy to listen to a simple fairy tale and look at the pictures. A more advanced option is “talking” books: when you press a button, they themselves entertain the little fidget;
- educational kits for creativity and construction kits. Children do not immediately get involved in the process of creation: they will first break and destroy. But gradually they will become passionate about creating something new and bright, of course, if their parents support this by their example;
- practical gifts that parents will be very happy with (sleds, bedding, clothes, shoes, pieces of furniture: table, chair, chest of drawers, etc.);
- swing. You can swing on a swing not only in the yard, but also at home. Godovasik will be very happy about this opportunity;
- inflatable pool with balls. Intensive physical development of the baby is guaranteed!
The list of gifts doesn't end there. Here you can add educational tables, rocking chairs, and many other useful and interesting things.
What not to give
There are also gifts that are not recommended to be given on your first birthday:
- Stuffed Toys;
- toys and sets with small parts;
- toys intended for older children (from 3 years old);
- toys made from unsafe materials;
- toys with sharp sounds that can scare the baby;
- rattles that the year old will not be interested in.
- Options for competitions for the student initiation scenario and tips on how to hold the event at a high level and with interest for the viewer.
- You need to choose the right wedding competitions and games for guests so that they feel fun and at ease at the wedding banquet; we have all the details.
Fresh apple compote
You will need about half a kilogram of ripe sweet apples, they need to be peeled and cut into cubes or slices. Place the pieces in one and a half liters of boiling water and cook over low heat for about fifteen minutes until the apples are soft. Add some sugar. It is better to leave the compote covered for a while so that it can brew until it gets a rich apple taste. Can be served either warm or chilled. A tasty and healthy drink for children!
When throwing a child's birthday party at home, try to create a unique creative masterpiece. A variety of festive menus will decorate the celebration. And the guests and the birthday boy himself will remember this birthday for a long time.
Proper preparation for the holiday
As mentioned earlier, only the closest people should congratulate a 1-year-old girl on her birthday. Because only they can, for the most part, adequately respond to the child’s requirements. It is advisable to arrange everything so that your daughter does not become overexcited from the stormy and protracted holiday. The child should get a break from noise. In a circle of familiar faces, the girl will feel calm. By properly organizing the baby’s leisure time on this significant day, parents will be able to enjoy the family holiday. It’s good if grandmothers can step in to “substitute” - to help mom and dad.
Many parents strive to surprise their child with various gifts. They are literally setting up a children's toy store in their home. However, this approach is completely wrong. A small child, contrary to expectations, may be frightened by new trinkets unknown to him. This is especially true for things that glow and make sharp sounds. You need to choose gifts for your baby based on her preferences. Parents know very well what their daughter is drawn to. Following the interests of the child, you will be able to combine business with pleasure. It is also advisable for mom and dad to discuss the topic of gifts with invited guests. In this way, you will be able to avoid uncomfortable situations.
