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What’s the theme?

Birthday bashes for kids are getting innovative these days

Kids love it Celebrate your birthdays with Minnie, Mickey Mouse and more

You thought organising your child’s birthday party was as easy as inviting a few friends over for a cake cutting ceremony? Children, and many parents, like it when things are spiced up. There’s no ruling out the regular parties that are q uiet family affairs, but there’s a growing tribe that wants their events to be talked about in social circles.

Theme parties are the in thing. While girls prefer Cinderella and Snow White and Seven Dwarfs, boys want Winnie the Pooh or Noddy. Universal favourites are Tom and Jerry and Disney. These parties are either put together painstakingly by parents or outsourced to event managers. Once a theme is chosen and budget drawn up, the props (2D and 3D cut-outs, posters, festoons, and bags for return gifts pertaining to the theme), the menu and the entertainment are worked out. For entertainment, mimicry artistes, magicians, face painters and caricature artists are roped in.

“For children between the ages two and five who are still to find their own friends, it’s the parents who invite their friends with their families over. The children at the party may not know each other. Here, an emcee helps break the ice and get the children involved in games,” says event manager Archie Paranji, who’s just coordinated a Tom and Jerry party. Many artists have taken to designing props for birthdays. Many mimicry artistes, magicians and face painters specialise in kids’ birthday parties. Finally, the menu and the venue are thought over. Mini kathi rolls, baby-sized pastries, burgers and cakes with smileys are a hit with kids.

And for venues, some drive down to resorts on the outskirts. Others who don’t fancy a tiring drive with young children settle for star hotels and clubs within city limits.

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SANGEETHA DEVI DUNDOO

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