Overview

• The Napiers told Today.com their household guideline is that birthdays stay at grandparents’ house until the kids can plan parties themselves.
• Helen, 7, and Mae, 4, are the focus of the approach, which the couple says differs from large, elaborate parties for very young children.
• Ben described school policies that can turn parties into crowded, chaotic events, calling them stressful and loud.
• Ben cited his own simple park parties with pizza and homemade cake as a model, while Erin now bakes for their daughters, including Mae’s small Christmas-themed fourth birthday with cousins.
• The couple links their stance to a broader preference for simpler childhoods and limited early tech exposure, echoing Erin’s recent posts discouraging smartphones for kids.