First Birthday Party . Do I need to get a character?

Hi,

I am planning my DS first birthday, for Ava when she was 1, I hired a woman for her birthday, I also did the same when she was 2 (had Dora), but I remember everyone being so scared of Dora, I wondered why I wasted my money.

Now, Robbie is turning 1 and i am iin the process of planning his first birthday. I am wonderign if I should even bother doing a character and save the money and just get games going in the yard. mind you, I have no pool (it will be in Oct), I will have a small bouce house thing (that fits like 3 kids), but i was thinking of mabye getting some arts and crafts to do for the kids? Any suggestions? Someone suggested the Mummy wrap and a pumpkin hunt which is cool.. Now, if I don't get the character (I was going to get Mickey Mouse), I can jsut do a fall theme and do the pumpkin hunt, mummy wrap, and a few games. But I need ideas.. Thanks so mcuh.
Denise

Re: First Birthday Party . Do I need to get a character?

I didn't get a character but I had a woman come to do face painting and make balloon animals.

I don't think a character is necessary AT ALL for a first birthday party because so many kids are afraid of them.

Re: First Birthday Party . Do I need to get a character?

I didn't get a character for DD's first birthday. I'm not getting one for her 2nd birthday either because she is so scared of them. I do want to get her a balloon artist though.

I don't think a character is necessary for a first birthday at all.

Re: First Birthday Party . Do I need to get a character?

I didn't do it for first or second. It's a lot of $$ for something that could frighten the birthday child and some of the guests.

I don't think it's needed at all.

Re: First Birthday Party . Do I need to get a character?

Thank you, Ladies.Ok, so then what should I do for entertainment. What did you guys do? Does anyone know how much it is for someone to come just to do balloons or paint faces??

Re: First Birthday Party . Do I need to get a character?

I didn't get a character for DS' 1st birthday and it was fine. I had crayons, coloring books, pay doh etc set up at a small table.

I went to a 1st b-day party that was fall themed and it was great!! She got small pumpkins and markers for all the kids to decorate. She made cupcakes and had stuff set up to decorate them. And a station set up with a few different print out to color (ghosts, witches etc). Also, she gave out ghost pencils as favors.

Oh....and the kids did a sort of bob-for-apples type thing but it was in like an inch of water so the kids could actually do it. And they all cheated anyway!!

Re: First Birthday Party . Do I need to get a character?