2 Year Old Birthday Party

Children this age need simple, and that is what it sounds like you are thinking. Take her to the store and let her pick out napkins and plates. Buy some balloons, real cute ones- she can pick those out too. Take her someplace like learning express, and let her choose something. Go to the park with the family and let them all play, come home and have a cake. She will have been part of it all.

Does she like Dora the Explorer? Every little girl I know does!!! We did Dora fo my little girls 2nd b-day and it was a big hit! Nickjr.com has party and cake ideas for all thier characters including games and party favors, and the cake was fairly easy to do

good luck

When my son turned 2 I just used a theme that he liked. I got some balloons and a cake and served hot dogs, juice and chips. It was just family and a few friends and he enjoyed it. Nothing big and nothing too expensive.

We recently went to Hobby Lobby and bought $10 stepping stones to make. It was alot of fun, and now we have good memories. You could also keep it simple and set up icecream and snowcone making stations, along with other outside activities. For my two y/o's party we just had a bbq and i made it a glorified playdate for the other kids with "stations" set up, to keep them busy. Good Luck, J.

When my daughter turned two we held the party at Reynolda library, which was free, invited her friends, play kids music and just let them have fun. The library was a great space because it had a small stage and the kids had so much fun playing on it.

I got pizza's from CiCi's, drinks from the dollar store and a friend made the cake. Everyone had a blast!!

My daughter recently turned two as well. We invited all of our family and a few of her friends. I think they're still young enough so that they stay pretty occupied simply by playing with her toys. It was fun! Save the elaborate parties for when she's older!

I too am a proud Army Wife!!

I would cook her favorite meal and make a fun day with her! Simple and still shows she is special
OR
do a family day at Chucky Cheese!
OR
Take her to a mall that has a carousel let her ride a few times then take her to an icecream store afterward!

when my daughter turned two, we just had a cook out at our house. we had an elmo cake that she chose, and balloons and all. we served more adult friendly food, like grilled chicken and salad and then cooked a few hot dogs for the kids.

The family thing sounds very good to me. you spend some time with famiily

HiPatty, we're also planning a 2 year old party for my son. We're just doing family although that's still about 20 people :) He's big into sports so I'm just getting plates and things with a sporths theme and making cakes to look like different balls. Then I'm just gathering up all of his sports toys (Basketballs, goals, footballs, etc) along with some sidewalk chalk and paintbrushes with water and turning all the kids loose in the back yard.

At the dollar store, they have a great variety of outdoor toys and if the kids beat them up, no big deal.

I wouldn't go with anythign too terribly structured for 2 year olds...just a bunch of stuf they can get into without being yelled at and they'll be in heaven :)

Have you thought about the WNC Nature Center in East Asheville? My 2 and 6 year old love going there...picnic spots where you could have a 'celebration', affordable(in fact a year membership is only $60 for the whole family!)My 2 year old is a little afraid of the farm animals right now so maybe give it a test try first!

Hi P.!

Does she have a favorite character that she loves. It usually changes every year. We have always had just the immediate family for birthday until my children got older. I prepare or buy their favorite meal and cake and then we decorate and as always have a BLAST! You can even get your pets in on the fun with party hats and games that they can play with you.

It will come to you and i hope that she has a Totally Terrific Birthday Two!!

We had a cook-out for my daughter's birthday. We just had it at our house, or you could use the local park-I'm sure some have apvillions ro grills to rent. Either way, there is lots of stuff to do, has own toys to play with. We chose to have it at home in case it rained we could all go inside and still have a good time. If it's warm, just drag the toys outside, fill up a kids pool and you've got all you need for a recipe for fun!

How about going to the zoo? That is always fun for kids...get her a special pin that says it is her birthday and then go home and have something simple to eat and then have cake and ice cream.
jen

I'm not sure where you live but, I saw an awsome ad today on UNC tv ch.4 for the Museum of Life and Science. Having lived in and around Wake county for 32 years I can not believe that I have never been to this museum in Durham. There were things for the whole family to enjoy: train rides, live animals, places to eat, butterfly habitat...on and on. I think the website is www.ncmls.org (if not maybe try google and NC museums) the zoo in Asheboro is also great for a day trip.

My son turns two on June 7th and we're doing the smaller family type thing, too. We're going to grill out hotdogs and hamburgers and I'm going to have the small pool set up and a smaller bounce house set up (that a friend is letting me borrow). I'm just going to get a couple bunches of balloons from Party City and a cute cupcake cake that I know he would like. =0)

For my son's second birthday, we had kids of all ages. One thing we did was make your own pizzas. I had English muffins, pizza sauce in a squeeze bottle, and lots of pizza toppings. The kids made their own and we baked them right there. (Although I had fancier food for the adults, many of the adults made pizza too.)

Since I do origami, I had made up a bunch of paper airplanes of different styles. The kids went out back and had contests to fly them around. A simple airplane book was all that took.

After that, we did start doing just family activities though. Now we do a family trip in place of gifts around his birthday. Since he's older, he now picks what to do. We've done football games (pro and college) and two-day trips to zoos and museums he's picked. This fall he's going to his first rock concert (bands are parent approved, of course) and he's really excited about that.

Those are some ideas I've used. Good luck.

Try Thomas Gymnastics, they do a great party for young children.

i would also suggest the museum of life and science in durham if you live in the triangle area. as long as your little girl likes animals and adventure, it will probably be entertaining for all 5 of you. i actually just took my 20 month-old daughter there today and she LOVED it! there is a traditional indoor museum (which we didn't go into at all today) and then a giant outdoor area with a playground, chime and drum walls, farm animals, a butterfly house, a train and a mini-zoo with a few wild animals (bears, wolves, lemurs). just the outdoor section was plenty excitement to keep us busy for a few hours. there are lots of tables around, so you might even be able to bring a cake (although, i'm not really sure if that's allowed). maybe if she was able to wear a crown or party hat (if she's into that kind of thing), she would understand that the special outing was in her honor, but your other kids would have a blast too. good luck planning!

Hello! My son will be turning 2 in Sept. and I've racked my brain as well. I know u mentioned ur looking to do something w/mainly jsut imediate family so this may not be what ur looking for, but I've decided to do a Carnival theme. There will be kids of various ages so I fig this wld be pretty fun. I've decided to set up different activities-nothing complicated of course...and then have toys out as well. My aunt is going to do face painting! I knwo his bday is still about 4 mths away but I'm already excited!! :) Good Luck and hope ur daughter's bday is wonderful!
E.