What Is the Appropriate Time for a Toddler's Birthday Party?

Morning Parties

Soon after breakfast might not seem like the ideal time for a party, but when the guest of honor is only 1 or 2, this is the time he is most likely to be happy and alert. After a full night's sleep, breakfast and a morning nap, your 1- or 2-year-old will be energized and content, meaning he is much less likely to grow irritable or fussy. The same goes for other toddlers who attend the party. Another advantage to having an after-breakfast, late-morning party is that unlike other times of day, no food other than the cake and juice is necessary.

The ideal time for a toddler's birthday party is between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Children at this age tend to become overtired, fussy or cranky later in the day, so scheduling the party for earlier in the day helps ensure that young children have fun. If you are going to serve food other than cake, put out kid-friendly finger foods such as fruit slices, sandwiches and cooked pasta. The convenient thing about toddler lunchtime parties is that they're over just in time for nap time, allowing your child to rest from the festivities while giving you some well-needed cleanup or quiet time.

Gatherings that go on longer than an hour and a half are likely to leave your child tired, impatient or cranky. Toddlers do not have long attention spans, and the extra stimulation of a party environment can wear your child out sooner than usual. Keep parties 60 to 90 minutes long so that the affair has a chance to end before your child's energy or patience or pleasant mood does.

Toddlers have limited attention spans that range from two to eight minutes, depending on age and developmental stage. This means that 1-, 2- and 3-year-olds will only be engaged in a particular activity or event for a very brief amount of time. Typical party festivities such as clown performances and magic acts aren't appropriate for toddler birthday parties because these activities exceed the normal attention span for this age group. Stick with a few short, simple activities such as bean-bag toss, sing-alongs and sandbox play to keep kids actively engaged.