20 First Birthday Party Themes and Ideas to Celebrate Baby’s First Year

Vanessa Leigh's picture Submitted by Vanessa Leigh on

Sure, it looks like baby's party, but it's mostly for the parents at this point, so have fun!

Looking for first birthday party themes and ideas for your baby's first birthday? We rounded up 20 of our favorites!

First birthday parties are a time to really celebrate the successes of a full year of life. Parents, you did it! Since a baby's first birthday is as much for the adults as for the baby, parents want to throw a memorable celebration that the birthday child can enjoy while marking the occasion with friends and family.

But how can you find the perfect first birthday party theme? What should you serve for a treat that will please both babies, older siblings, and adults? We've got you covered with first birthday party ideas that include themes, decorations, and sweet dessert ideas.

Find tons of other birthday bash ideas, including 100 Top Birthday Party Themes, awesome goody bag ideas, and gift guides for all ages, in our Guide to Kids' Birthday Parties and Birthday Party Ideas.

Experience Wild Wonder at the Long Island Game Farm with Animal Encounters and More Zoo Fun

Submitted by Jennifer Voit on

From the moment you step into the Long Island Game Farm and meet its resident baby goats, the animals steal your heart.

Animal-loving kids go wild for an outing to the Long Island Game Farm in Manorville. A visit to the largest combined children’s zoo and wildlife park on Long Island is a day packed with fun and excitement. There are cuddles with furry barnyard animals and introductions to exotic species. My animal-obsessed little ones had a blast meeting, learning about, and even feeding some of their beloved new friends.

Read on for all the details of animal encounters and exotic wildlife wonders the whole family can enjoy during a visit to the Long Island Game Farm, which lands at No. 50 on our list of 100 things to do with your kids on Long Island before they grow up.

Step into the Future at Mercer Labs a New, Mind-Blowing Immersive Museum in FiDi

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Mercer Labs is a brand new immersive museum where seeing is believing.

If you're looking for a totally new experience in NYC, look no further than Mercer Labs in Manhattan’s Financial District. Mercer Labs is a wholly immersive digital experience that is going to leave you and your family breathless and amazed. As you wander from room to room, expect your senses to be engaged, activating a sense of wonder.

See what makes this new immersive museum in NYC a must-visit, and find more local cultural outings in our NYC Kids' Guide to Museums and Galleries.

Climate Change Anxiety in Kids: Expert Advice on Helping Kids Cope

Submitted by Meghan Rose on

One way to battle the climate change anxiety in kids is to talk, research, and take action together.

Climate change anxiety is real, and can feel so scary and existentially threatening for kids that it poses a real mental health challenge. Fires, floods, unseasonal tornados, extreme heat, snowless winters—it's real, and the constant exposure on social media  can lead to worry and depression that lead to what experts call "climate change anxiety" in kids.

It's hard to deal with as an adult, and it's doubly hard to know what to say to your worried and anxious kids that doesn't either belittle the problem or outright lie! So, we went to an expert: Aja Chavez, Executive Director of Adolescent Services at AMFM Healthcare. She answered our questions on why kids are experiencing anxiety, how it manifests, and what parents can do to help.

Keep reading for great tips to immediately calm anxious kids below. We've also rounded up actions kids of any age can take, how to live more sustainably, and more in our Earth Guide for Kids.

Amazing Overnight Summer Camps in California for Kids and Teens

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Kids have a blast in the ocean at Catalina Island. Photograph courtesy of Catalina Sea Camps

Overnight summer camps are pretty heady stuff: Sleep away from home, meet new friends, have adventures, master new abilities, boost social skills, develop confidence, and learn to handle situations without parents around! For parents, it's a chance to have a little kid-free time without feeling guilty, because we know our kids are having the experience of a lifetime—and disconnecting from their devices.

For some reason, sleepaway summer camp isn't quite as big a deal in California as it is in the Northeast, but we've scoured the state and found some pretty amazing overnight summer camps in California, from stunning Catalina Island to the rustic Sierra Nevada mountains.

For more fabulous overnight summer camps, check out our Sleepaway Summer Camp Guide to the Best Overnight Camps in the US. Or if you're looking to stay more local, bookmark our Los Angeles Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and town.

Best Theater Summer Camps in NYC for Creative Kids

Submitted by Rosalind Muggeridge on

Immerse your child in week-long intensives in joyful theater creation for ages 3-11 at Child's Play NY. Photo by Hunter Canning

If you're looking for a summer camp in NYC for your theater-loving kid, we've got you covered. With many world-class theater professionals working and teaching in the city, it's no surprise that NYC offers a stellar selection of theater summer camps for kids of all ages. Our summer camp picks take place in locations from Brooklyn to the Bronx, for kids in kindergarten through high school—ensuring that you can find the perfect theater summer camp in NYC for your novice (or more seasoned) actor.

For more summer camps in New York City, including great arts summer camps and free and cheap summer camps in NYC for kids and be sure to bookmark our NYC Summer Camp Guide and our Camp Directory where you can search for summer camps by type, age, and neighborhood.

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