2 yr special needs b.day

[ThomCat]

I added the special needs bit in there because the point is that I don't want the mad running around party I had for hr last year becasue she can just about stand now when her legs are placed firmly on floor and she has her arms round my neck - and barely crawls, she sort of drags her self round by using her arms - belly doesn't leave floor - legs drag around afer her!

Anyway - I find it upsetting and she finds it a bit frustrating when there's loads of kids running around and she can't join in. TBH - this is probably more about how it makes me feel - which is gutted to the core.

So I want to do something for her 2nd birthday for a minimum of 12 and a max of 25 kids.

Something which doesn't involve everyone bar the birthday girl being able to run around.

I love in the Pinner / Harrow area.
I'm not sure my house could cope with that many kids.
Her birthday is 17 Dec which is a Wednesday so would probably do something either on the Friday 19th, Sat 20th or Sunday 21st. Having said that as that's the last weekend before Xmas i might be better doing it the weekend before her birthday - Fri 12, Sat 13 or Sun 14.

Any ideas, that won't break the bank just before Xmas?

Thomcat why not a fun factory/ ball pit outing

Cant give you much advice sorry.

I was going to suggest a pantomime but i think they may be a little young for that.

Whatever you plan I hope she has a lovely day

face painting, magician (sorry just ideas coming into my head at the moment.

Some sort of show where the children sit and watch like a mgician or the old fashioned punch and judy - why not type a few things into teh search engine on the internet for your area and see what they come up with.

COuld also try the local council for ideas on where to take them or ask at local toddler groups whether they know of entertainers that hire themselves out.

I hope you find what you are looking for

Sorry about appalling spelling - i never check before I post and live my life at 100 miles an hour......

Would you dd really want that many children around? For my ds's 2nd birthday we invited only friends with children who lived locally - and the focus was cake for the kids and wine for the grownups. I don't think most just two year olds understand the concept of a birthday party anyway - it's really a celebration for you, I think. So I'd keep it small, make food she loves, have her very favourite people there (godparents if she has them, your sister, parents, stepdad, you partner's family etc plus a few children who are rellies or she is fond of) and just let her have a lovely time being cuddled, hugged, played with etc while you have cake and some pre-Christmas champagne. I wouldn't dream of a 'party' at that age with loads of kids, too much work and I don't think ds would enjoy it half as much as a big cuddle with all his family. BTW I went to a friend's son's third birthday party in a hired hall, bouncy castle, big tea etc, and you know what - he simply refused to come!! His dad was gutted! Keep it small and simple, enjoy all the pleasure your gorgeous dd gives you and your family and avoid comparisons that might upset you.

Also we had ds's 2nd birthday at home. I think at that age they just love to be in familiar surroundings.

Agree with Aloha, video it and let her have a lovely time opening pressies I know our kids needs are different so "entertainment" would not be suitable for my ASD son (even at 8) and VERY physical is just the ticket, but at 2, whatever their needs, I think cake, friends and pressies are the best.

Aloha - Unfortunatley they are all close friends who all live locally!!!! I had 30 kids at her 1st birthday!!! It's madness I know.

You may have a point abut just inviting family and God-parents & closest of close mates.

My only worry is my dad and step-father being in same room - in smallish surrioundings. My dad is fine with my mum now and he often pops round for a cup of tea but still can't face, look at, talk to, bear to be near my step-father. I know he wouldn't make a scene of anything but I'd know he felt awkward and that would upset me.

Nothing's ever easy is it!!

I might just cancel it all together and have drinks and cake with just the 3 of us. Then just say that anyone who wants to pop in for a bit is welcome to??? Oh I just don't know!!!!!!!!!I'm never having a winter baby again - it makes it extra tricky.

Then invite your dad separately for lunch or something. I think something small as small, presents cake and champagne and cuddles will be perfect for you all. My ds isn't special needs, but he's no runner-about. At the 3 year olds birthday party he just climbed into a Little Tikes car, sat there, refusing to move while eating an iced cake. He was very happy!

And stop boasting about being so cool and popular !

Thomcat I have always just had family to our dd and ds's birthdays. I don't think they really understand enough at 2 to spend so much money on a party, but thats just me! It was my ds' 2nd birthday a couple of weeks ago and it fell on the same day as my dd's harvest festival. So we opened a few pressies and then went to the Harvest festival with my mum and gran. We then stayed for lunch - all of us - with dd. Then came home opened a few more pressies. He had is favourite tea and played with his toys. Then dad (dh)came home and he opened a few more pressies and was totally shattered and went to bed! Very simple and didn't cost much money For dd's 2nd birthday we just had family and a bit of a buffet and a cake. I remember feeling very emotional on her 2nd birthday much more than any of the others, she had just started to toddle and it just felt like she had slipped that much further behind than on her 1st birthday - sorry you most probably dont want to hear that. My Mum, Step-Dad, Dad and Step-Mum all had to be in the same room aswell!! Just do what you think is best, maybe a trip to zoo just the three of you and then a cake and that later, HTH

Ha haaa - if only that were true!!! fact is they all hate me - they only put up with me becasue I have a great daughter!! Oh no - that's a boast too!!!! Aggggggghhhhhhhh!!!!

I'm sure I'll think of something - I've got a pirate copy of Finding Nemo on DVD - might just stick them all in front of that, parents included and give everyone a sausage roll each!!!!

Failing that I might look into Punch & Judy type idea for my closest closest loacl mates kids and key family! I just feel so mean doing that though - that's my trouble. But I know - stuff everyone else and just do something small that won't daze and confuse the little girl that this is all about.

After the booze on ds's 2nd birthday it was the adults who were feeling dazed and confused

Ha - glad you celebrated it in style

My DS seems to be different to the other kids - he just loves being around lots of children. For his second birthday I had a party at the weekend with lots of toys out and a buffet meal and invited maybe twelve kids, and so probably nearly as many parents. And DS loved it. He couldn't run around because there wasn't the space. He just sat in the middle of the dining room floor in a sea of wrapping paper and trodden in sausage rolls and ate. DH and I gave him nothing to eat but everytime we looked he had a full plate....

He'll be three this time, and all the kids are that much bigger, and I'll be 6 months pg by then so not sure if I can cope at home again. My favourite bit was when we got his birthday cake out and lit the candles and he sang a solo "happy birthday" to himself before anyone else could join in. Anyway after major digression - I think I'm saying just suit yourself and DD. But take lots of photos.

Oh ThomCat, wonderful ThomCat, of course you must choose a celebration that enables you (her proud parents) and L to really celebrate on no-one's terms but your own. Personally, at 2, I would have something REALLY small, or perhaps some kind of outing where all the kids will be in their buggies, or something she would find wondrous (a fairground with very little rides that you could go on with her....have no idea what IS appropriate for L)or even just a walk through some Christmas lights with an in-buggy picnic of mince pies....Does she like listening to music? Are there any shows for really tiny ones near you? Some companies do special work for under threes which is usually suitable for kids of all abilities, and Oily Cart do particular work for special needs tiny ones. Then everyone will be sitting down watching. Not sure what theatre venues there are in your area, is the Bull at Barnet, now changing into the Arts Depot open and near? Does Harrow have an arts centre?
Also, for DS's 2nd I wanted to have a 10 am party, as the afternoon is fraught with sleep times etc. I was over-ruled by DP, but still think it would have worked better. In the end, if ther is no perfect solution, ditch the party and make her special celebration just for you and her: she'll know she's being celebrated.
But we'll keep thinking.

Oh Blu - you're so lovely!

Thanks girls - one and all - you're all fab!
No bloody help whatsoever - but fab!!!!!

Oooh, yes, whatever you do, work around naptimes, that's my advice.