Unlike a one-year-old, a toddler knows what's going on when it comes to his or her birthday and can communicate excitement about the impending event. With some planning and lots of flexibility, parents can find huge rewards in the inevitable chaos of a toddler's birthday party

Themes
The best way to identify a winning theme is to ask your toddler. Most toddlers have defined interests that can be incorporated into a birthday party. From trains to space travel, an opinionated toddler will inform you exactly what he or she wants.

No matter what theme you choose, keep the event simple and short. A toddler party should last no more than three hours, as the excitement can be wearing on a small child. Save complicated themes, such as a circus, for a few years down the road. A clown may frighten a toddler, who can't always differentiate between reality and imagination.

Still themeless? From invitations to food, the bubble theme is a popular choice for the toddler set. All it takes is an unlimited, creative mastermind - you!

Invitations
Here are some ideas to help you create unforgettable invitations, using a bubble theme for your toddler's birthday party.

• Bubble art: Buy a pot of bubbles and add some water-soluble paint. After printing out the invitation, have your toddler blow various coloured bubbles onto the paper. As they land and pop, your invites will metamorphose into beautiful works of bubble art.
• Bubbly invitation: After you print out the invitations, trace several small round circles onto the paper and cut them out. Flip the invitation over and place a same-size piece of cling film on top. Anchor it to the paper by using glue in all corners. Tape or glue a sheet of pale pink or blue paper on top of the cling film. When you turn over to the front, beautiful bubbles will adorn your invitation.

Activities and games
Toddlers love activities and games, but make sure you don't wear them out. Just the concept of a birthday party - and the anticipation - can be exhausting to your toddler. Here are some easy and quick ideas to help you entertain the crowd:

• Bubbles, bubbles, everywhere: Go outside and give each parent different bubble wands and solution. Count to three and begin the chorus of bubbles. The toddlers below will have a wonderful time scrambling after the bubbles.
• The bubble magician: The key is to use a straw to blow bubbles, making certain that the straw is thoroughly wet before attempting the trick. Using a small, plastic container lid filled to the rim with bubble solution, blow up a big bubble. Without removing the straw, slowly poke it through the bubble and out. The liquid on the straw becomes a part of the liquid surface of the bubble and, with practice, it will not pop!
• More bubble magician: This one requires a few rehearsals. Inside the container lid, put a smaller plastic lid. Blow a large bubble from the outside lid, being sure to use the wet straw. Carefully manoeuvre the straw into the solution in the smaller lid. Blow a second bubble inside the larger one.
• Swimming bubbles: 'Shelly', an iVillage community member suggests filling a washing up bowl with bubble solution. Let the kids play with a number of different bubble tools.