Birthday Party Suggestions for Boy/girl Twins Turning 3 - Metairie,LA

Truthfully, I don't think 3 year olds understand themes! I think parents go to a whole lot of trouble for stuff the kids don't appreciate, and other than a few staged photographs, you don't have much to show for all your trouble and expense! If things get too large (20-30 guests), then the kids get over-stimulated and it turns into a free-for-all.

We always kept our parties very small. Just family until age 4 or 5, then the "1 guest per year" rule. When they turn 5, they invite 5 friends, at 6 they invite 6 friends. With twins, you might increase this a little, but I wouldn't double it. A small group lets them make time for their real friends, and lets them open a few gifts in front of the people who give them. My son always absolutely hated the 20+ kids at a party - he dropped his gift at the gift table and never got to experience the recipient opening it and saying "thank you." Nobody learns any party "etiquette" (like how to be a good giver and a gracious recipient, even at the young child level. Then the birthday kids have no energy to write 20 thank you notes and the whole neighborhood/preschool/soccer team winds up in a year-long gift trade with a party every other weekend! It gets overwhelming so it's best to not set up ridiculous expectations you'll have trouble managing when they're older and have separate sets of friends.

For age 3, I'd have one simple craft, and you can get great ideas at your local craft store (Michael's or whatever you have in your area). Things like gluing foam shapes to a picture frame (usually also foam) are easy for little hands, and then you can email a photo of the child to the parents after the party. The craft becomes the party favor. Most parents don't like all the cheap party favors that break. You could do something like finger painting if you can do the party outside and have enough smocks and adult help to keep kids from ruining their clothes. If you cut arm/neck holes in some old pillow cases, that works great. If you have a sprinkler or kidding pool, have the kids wear bathing suits and just rinse off after the activity. 3 year olds don't follow game rules very well, so I'd skip that.

We used to buy those plastic Easter eggs and put a few candies or plastic dinosaurs inside, then hide them around the yard (in the flower pot, the downspout, the lowest notch of a tree, etc.) and have each adult help a child find things in his/her color (so everyone gets the same number of eggs). The contents are taken home instead of a standard goodie bag.

Keep the party short (90 minutes max) and keep in mind that kids this age often still nap, so avoid the hours when they're likely to be melting down.

I think cupcakes work better than a sheet cake. You can get a couple of flavors and the kids can choose what they like. Simple decorations - a few balloons or crepe paper streamers, and you're done! Don't clean out your bank account for these things - kids don't notice and parents don't need the stress.

Have fun - that's the point!

The theme should be 'simple and easy to clean up'.

If it were me, (and I didn't have a birthday party for our son until he was at least 5; we had small family gatherings which worked well), I'd do something small and simple. Cupcakes with whipped cream (just make the cupcakes from a good mix and grab a can of whipped cream... the kids WILL ooh and ahh... we did this for Kiddo's 9th birthday and they loved it). Healthy snacks (string cheese, apple slices, PBJ sandwich halves, fizzy/tap water, milk). Play outside if you can: bubbles, a tub or bin for some sensory/water play, sidewalk chalk...When I had a preschool we'd draw shapes on the driveway in sidewalk chalk and see how many kids could find/fit into the shape or color. Do a silly walk down the sidewalk.(Scissors walk, giant steps, teeny steps, jumping/hopping)....cooperative , noncompetitive games are your friend.

Diane B's suggestion of a simple craft is great. If you want, have a table with lots of playdough available along with simple tools. Kids love playdough.

Really, at this age, the parties are about the adults. The kids enjoy the presents, but most 3 year olds aren't usually interested in *another* kid's birthday. Keep it simple. One of our family's favorite birthdays was when my dad released a bunch of ladybugs into his garden.. the kids were glued to the ladybug area and watched them for a long time. Kids don't need much at this age.

Mom of boy/girl twins here. We always picked a theme and picked games with prizes for all the kids. There was usually a fishing game (little pool, fish with paperclips, and fishing pole with magnets on the end of a short string) pin the tail on whatever (the tail was tape)ring toss, usually a sprinkler because their birthday was in the summer, Finger foods and water and juice boxes in addition to cake.

They aren't going to remember this. I would get a cake or make one with what they are into. I'd invite family and maybe a couple of kids their age. With my sons 3rd birthday, we rented a bounce house. The grown ups had more fun in there than the kids. Maybe set up some sprinklers and kiddie pools. Food wise, do pizza, bbq, or ask people to bring a dish. Keep it simple and easy for you guys.

As some posts below mention, at this age it's a party for the adults, a gathering of mom and dad's adult relatives/friends and their children if they have children.

With that in mind - simple games for the kids, outdoors if you can, and some good finger foods that everyone can enjoy. Chicken fingers, tea sandwich sized sandwiches, etc. And cake.

I let the kids choose their theme. It's their party. At age 3 they're old enough to have favorite TV shows, favorite super heroes, favorite colors, and more. They should get to choose.

Since they are just 3, you can do anything. Give them cake and presents and they will be happy. Just get creative....decorate in their favorite theme (fire trucks and dolls?). You don't even have to have friends over at this point. You can invite just family or just neighbors. Decorate the kitchen with streamers and balloons (always a hit). Get them each a couple of gifts. Have cupcakes & kid food and they will have a ball! We waited until our kids were 5 before we had kids over.