There is a lot of pressure, especially on moms, to plan the perfect birthday party for their kids. Planning a birthday party takes a lot of work and can add stress to something that should be fun and exciting. I’ve pulled together some ideas and recommendations for planning a casual Toddler Birthday Party that will make everyone in the family oh so happy, especially your little one.

First and foremost, you should know that after two years of being a mom I’ve yet to pull off planning a full-on birthday party for our son Hudson. We spent Hudson’s first birthday unexpectedly in the hospital to be followed weeks later with a birthday cake (that Hudson didn’t eat) and spent his second birthday with a few family members playing all day at the park, a pizza party, a few balloons, and a casual good time.

The casual and easy-going vibe of Hudson’s second birthday put a smile on our faces all day long. We had fun, made memories, enjoyed being outside in beautiful weather, and opened presents. It was truly a perfect way to celebrate a two-year-old.

Casual and easygoing is the way to success for any toddler birthday celebration and here are my recommendations for successful and casual celebration planning.

Planning a Casual Toddler Birthday Party Tip #1: Make It About Your Kid

What are your kid’s favorite things? Is she a little artist? Does he love sports? Do they love music and dancing? Choose an activity that is sure to be a hit with your toddler. Now is not the time to try something new or ask him or her to do something that isn’t always a home run type of activity. Get everything set up for their favorite activity and just go for it! 

Planning a Casual Toddler Birthday Party Tip #2: Limit The Guest List

A casual birthday celebration is not about inviting everyone you know, the whole family, plus neighbors. It’s about the kiddo being celebrated; so keep the guest list on the smaller side to 6 people or less, which would be two close friends or schoolmates plus their parents. Or one close friend and their parents plus grandparents. That sort of concept. Nothing too big, otherwise it will turn into an affair and you’re shooting for casualness.

Fun and Casual Toddler Birthday Party Tip #3: Don’t Make The Food

For me, casualness does not align with spending all day in the kitchen. Order your child’s favorite takeout for you and your guests or throw a pizza party from a place that will deliver to your doorstep. Supermarkets also have fabulous deli party trays you can pre-order and quickly pick up for an easy and crowd-pleasing option. For beverages, fill a cooler with juice boxes and a few adult beverages and you’re ready to go.

(If you’re interested in your local supermarket deli party trays, here are links: Kroger, Publix, Whole Foods, Festival, Fresh Market.)

Fun and Casual Toddler Birthday Party Tip #4: Use Disposable Drink, Dinner, and Flatware  

A casual birthday celebration for a toddler calls for a quick clean-up! This means using disposable cups, plates, and flatware. I also recommend having some take-home containers for the guests available so you’re not stuck with too many leftovers. 

Fun and Casual Toddler Birthday Party Tip #5: Minimal Decor

Decorating takes a lot of time, can be expensive, and is not likely to be appreciated by your toddler. Pick a theme that he or she loves and select a few choice decorations.

Some great options include tablecloths and matching disposable cups, plates, and flatware. I also love a great balloon bouquet in the shape of your toddler’s favorite animal or cartoon show. Beyond that maybe some fun party hats and you’re good to go. If you’re not into decorating or don’t feel you have time to source the items, use a local party store to help! For Hudson’s second birthday party, I used Made to Party for some help with the balloons and was beyond happy with the results. 

Fun and Casual Toddler Birthday Party Tip #6: Have As Much Delivered As Possible

If you’re trying to keep things casual and easy, that doesn’t align with running 50 errands the day of to make everything perfect. So 24 – 48 hours in advance, start having the things you need delivered to your house so all you have to do is unwrap it and set it up. You’ll save precious time and be able to enjoy your toddler’s celebration.

Fun and Casual Toddler Birthday Party Tip #7: Make It A Day of “Yes!”

We toddler parents spend a lot of time saying “No,” coaching our toddlers through temper tantrums, and trying to get our kids to recite the ABCs and 123s on command. While I get why we do this… I also get why maybe, just maybe… this is not how a toddler would want to celebrate his or her birthday. So on this day, make it one of “yes!” Say “yes!” to literally everything he or she asks for and talk about how fun it is, how today is special because they are special, and enjoy those moments of “yes!” We’ve all got years of parenting ahead of us so for one day embrace all the toddler craziness and just say, “yes!”.

I relish feeling productive and knowing that I’ve made the most of my day. Nothing bothers me more than when the day has come to an end and nothing on my to-do list is crossed off. Of course there’s always balance between a to-do list that’s 20 items long vs. a to-do list that’s actually accomplishable in a day (especially a day that involves the cutest little baby). I’ve made some adjustments to what my list looks like and how I plan out my tasks. Since doing so, I’ve discovered how to be effective and productive in five minutes or sometimes less. These are things that make a difference and allow me to cross something off my to-do list, leaving me with that oh-so-amazing productive feeling.

Here are five things you can do in five minutes while you’re at home. 

1. Laundry. Let it be known that I do not like doing house chores, but I do like the feeling I have when house chores are done. A conundrum, I know. This means that I often over-dramatize how long they’ll take which prevents me from getting them done and often leaves me without clean underwear or wearing the jeans I hate. Not any more! Since buckling down on my day, laundry is a task that I can get done (throughout the day) in five minutes or less. In my first five minutes, gather all the laundry and sort. In my next five minutes, throw in one load. In the five minutes after that, switch from washer to dryer; hang up the clothes that must air dry; add the next load. You get the idea… essentially going through the paces of laundry five minutes at a time. It makes me dislike the task less and it is done by the end of the day. Win, win. 
2. Move your body. Since Hudson was born, I find that I’m often sitting. I’m sitting while feeding him, playing with him, etc. So, sometimes, when I have five minutes free I make it a point to move my body. Sometimes that’s just stretching (because holding a baby makes your muscles cramp up!). Other times it’s a series of Chaturangas to get my blood flowing. You pick what it looks like, but move! 
3. Empty the dishwasher. My husband recently told me that running the dishwasher every night, no matter how full, is actually more efficient than hand-washing dishes periodically  and running the dishwasher every couple of days. I bought into this hook, line, and sinker… no clue if that’s actually true. This means that the dishwasher must be emptied daily and guess what, it’s completely accomplishable in five minutes or less and is yet another thing that’s helpful to both of us. 
4. Recognize gratitude. I keep a daily journal and one of the things I write in my journal are my gratitudes. Five things I’m grateful for. I learned about and took on this practice after reading and hearing about it from folks far more accomplished than me. These things aren’t necessarily ground breaking. Most days, coffee is on my list along with other things like my health and sunshine. Of course, there are always a couple of things that are much bigger and more impactful, but the point remains that recognizing gratitudes doesn’t need to be mind blowing, just there. This practice fills my heart and reminds me of all the good that’s going on in my life. 
5. Reach out to someone. Do you ever randomly have someone pop into your mind? You wonder how they’re doing or maybe it’s because you haven’t spoken to them in days / weeks / months. Take your free five minutes to send a text, write a thoughtful email, or even pick up the phone and say “hi.” Since I’ve been intentional about this I’ve noticed how much it has impacted me personally and how meaningful it is to my friends and family that I’ve contacted. Give it a shot… I think you’ll feel the payoff tenfold. 

In Wisconsin (where I grew up), Spring can mean any type of weather. It could be a 70-degree day or snowstorm… maybe even in the same week. I’ve also lived in Chicago and Washington, DC where Springtime can be equally volatile. My transient experiences have given me the expertise to say that Georgia, where I live now, truly has the best Spring.

Georgian Spring means the weather is cool in the morning, hot in the afternoon, and cools down at night, usually with a breeze. You can wear shorts, be embarrassed by your white legs, and enjoy refreshing cocktails as you bask in the sunshine. Springtime also means that everything is budding and bright green.

My husband and I recently hosted my parents for Easter and we were fortunate with the most perfect Georgia spring days, which served as the inspiration for this topic: Making the most of Spring.

There are varying statistics, but on average it’s told that Americans spend 90% of our life indoors. Let me spell that out: N I N E T Y P E R C E N T. That means that on average we only spend 10% of our life outside. To break that down, of the 168 hours we have in a week, that’s 151 of them spent inside; not outside. Of the 730 hours in a month, that’s 657 of them spent inside; not outside. That’s too many inside hours, folks. So, how to make the most of spring?

Be spontaneous with your life. Springtime doesn’t last forever and the perfect days that it brings are gone in 24 hours. So when they occur, take advantage. Be willing to drop what you’re doing and go for a walk outside. Instead of eating dinner at the kitchen table, throw it in a cooler and head to a park for a picnic. Call a buddy to grab a drink outside on a local bar patio. Don’t eat inside your office cafeteria or at your desk… go outside! Be spontaneous and go for it.

Explore nature. This may be my personal favorite springtime activity. There are amazing resources available to help you plan a hike, a bike ride, or a drive to somewhere you’ve never been. Take some time, right now, to pick three destinations you want to explore that meet at least two of these criteria: You’ve never been before, are outside, are accessible in two hours or less (because any more than that and you won’t be spontaneous).

Eat Spring’s Food. You know I love to eat and Springtime truly supports that love of mine. With springtime comes an abundance of roadside stands and farmers markets all selling local veggies, fruits, bread, lettuces, and more! As you head out to do your Saturday morning grocery run, first head the local farmers market and stock up on your produce. Be curious about what you find and ask questions. The vendors want to help you and want to help you pick out just the right amount and type of what you’re looking for or will offer a substitute for a typically store-bought ingredient.

I’m taking my own advice, by the way. My husband and I prioritize walks around the neighborhood to see what’s bloomed and move our dinners to our porch. We also jump in the car to our favorite local trail within 20 minutes of us and enjoy the view from the top of the mountain. You’ve got the time, I’ve got the time, so make the most of it!

Need help finding a local hike? Or a state park to explore? Try these resources: All Trails | Trails.com | America’s State Parks