| Children's birthday parties can be very | | | | There are any number of themes to choose |
| tiring, both to organise, and to run. | | | | from. If your child is old enough, no doubt |
| Expectations are always high. You want the | | | | they will make their feelings known on the |
| day to go well and without a hitch, whilst | | | | subject. If not, you can choose a particular |
| your child wants to have the best fun | | | | colour or perhaps flowers or horses or some |
| possible. Unfortunately, all too often | | | | other general theme. |
| circumstances often dictate that if something | | | | |
| can go wrong it will. Add to that that the | | | | Invitations |
| children are hyped-up, and by the end of the | | | | |
| day are frequently very tired, and you can | | | | Give yourself plenty of time to get these |
| see that it is worth taking a little time to | | | | sent out. It is surprising how far ahead |
| try and prevent it all going pear-shaped. | | | | other people will be booked up, and you don't |
| | | | want your child's best friend to be missing |
| If you start with the objective of trying to | | | | or you really will start out with an uphill |
| achieve a smooth flow throughout the day, | | | | battle to make it a success. It's usually |
| then you can see that planning is really | | | | worth taking the time to send invitations as |
| going to be your saviour. Planning will allow | | | | then you are more sure of how many will be |
| you to feel happy that you haven't forgotten | | | | coming, and what numbers to cater for. Post |
| anything. Planning will ensure that all the | | | | them at least a month ahead. |
| jobs need to do get done. Planning should | | | | |
| make sure you have sufficient lead time to | | | | Â |
| order goods and have them delivered. Planning | | | | |
| really is key!! At the most basic level, you | | | | Decorations |
| should make a list of the things you need to | | | | |
| do and buy so that you don't forget anything. | | | | You can really go to town with decorations. |
| But remember, the more you plan, the less | | | | Decking the house out really sets the tone |
| chance you have it going wrong on you. | | | | for the party and kids really love it. It's |
| | | | one way to make your party stand out. At the |
| Don't forget though, that as much as you want | | | | least you will want balloons and streamers |
| the guests to enjoy themselves, to get the | | | | which are really inexpensive. If the budget |
| best out of the day, you need to enjoy it | | | | will stand it, you can splash out on scene |
| yourself as well. If you're tired and | | | | setters which cover the whole wall, and |
| stressed you won't be happy, and the children | | | | they're available in lots of themes. |
| will soon pick up on it. | | | | |
| | | | Again, if you can afford it, decorate as many |
| The first thing to do is find out what theme | | | | rooms as you can as it gives the whole party |
| your child would like. I have heard of a | | | | a lift. You can buy party banners for putting |
| party organised around a certain theme, only | | | | on doors, especially the front door. Your |
| to find out that the cartoon character their | | | | entrance is very important, and will help |
| child was mad about for the last 6 months was | | | | your guests find you |
| no longer their favourite!!, Do ask your | | | | |
| child, and get them involved in the planning | | | | One Day Before |
| if you think it. | | | | |
| | | | Your day will go much more easily if you get |
| The Venue | | | | as much as you can finish before the event. |
| | | | This will lessen the pressure on you during |
| Deciding where to hold the party is usually | | | | the party and allow you to enjoy it more. |
| quite easy. If you've got the space you can | | | | Food is usually fairly easy to prepare and |
| of course hold it at your home. If you can | | | | refrigerate or freeze. A better way is to |
| afford it, you can pay to hire somewhere. | | | | share out some of the work among the other |
| Other options are in a park or outdoor space. | | | | parents if you can persuade them to do it. |
| | | | |
| Outdoors | | | | Party Day |
| | | | |
| * How safe is it? | | | | By now it usually too late to do anything |
| | | | other than welcome the gusts and start the |
| * Distance. Can you easily transport | | | | hard work. The emphasis on the day moves from |
| everything? | | | | planning to organising and managing. Keep |
| | | | control of the party or it will control you!! |
| *Fall back plan if the weather turns bad | | | | This means being firm with your guests, |
| | | | making sure they behave, letting them know |
| Indoors | | | | what you are going to do and also what is |
| | | | expected of them. If bad behaviour starts, |
| * Which area will be used and is it suitable | | | | nip it in the bud before it gets out of hand. |
| | | | It rarely needs more than a firm word to sort |
| * Keep some rooms closed so that you know | | | | things out. |
| where all the guests are and can keep an eye | | | | |
| on them | | | | Photos will give you and your family |
| | | | something to remember the day with. If you |
| * Remove any ornaments | | | | have family members who can't make it, then |
| | | | you can send them a photo or two. Polaroid |
| Timing | | | | cameras used to be good fun because you could |
| | | | show everyone the photos before they went |
| Young children need their sleep, so plan it | | | | home. These days digital cameras fulfil the |
| around likely sleep patterns. Lunchtime | | | | same function. If you haven't got one, you |
| parties allow you to have some fun, feed them | | | | should be able to borrow one, or ask one of |
| and then either say goodbye to them, or give | | | | the guests to do it all for you. |
| them a quick nap. For school age children, a | | | | |
| weekday after school can work well as it | | | | |
| allows you to say goodbye to them with the | | | | |
| excuse of it being a school day tomorrow. | | | | Safety |
| Don't forget, you will need to allow time to | | | | |
| clear up afterwards. | | | | Safety comes first when holding a party. Make |
| | | | sure you have a well stocked first aid |
| When to finish | | | | cabinet. Excitable groups of children running |
| | | | around means that there is always the |
| The best advice here is less is more. You | | | | possibility of a minor accident, or even a |
| don't want to allow the party to run on too | | | | major one. So be prepared. |
| long. The downsides can be many. Tired | | | | |
| children, tears, over-excitement, and | | | | You are responsible for the safety of the |
| sickness to name but a few. Make sure | | | | children in your care. Make sure you have the |
| everyone knows when the party will end, so | | | | contact numbers of all the parents just in |
| that they are there promptly to pick up their | | | | case you need to call them, if only to get |
| children. | | | | them picked up early if all else fails. |
| | | | |
| The younger children up to 4 years will often | | | | Entertainers |
| have had enough after only a couple of hours. | | | | |
| It is a good idea to try to get the | | | | Party entertainers are few in number and |
| children's mothers to attend with this age | | | | consequently get booked up well in advance. |
| group as toddlers are much more labour | | | | Book early!! The good thing is there are lots |
| intensive. It also makes you life much easier | | | | of different entertainers these days so |
| | | | you're not stuck with a clown or magician. |
| For older age groups, you can extend it to 3 | | | | Now you can get jugglers, face painters, |
| or 4 hours, but really unless you've planned | | | | activity organisers and a whole host of |
| a full day with an excursion, you should be | | | | others. |
| definite about keeping it shorter... | | | | |
| | | | Bouncy Castles |
| Guest Numbers | | | | |
| | | | These can be great fun if you can squeeze one |
| With younger children, keep the numbers down. | | | | in to your garden. Make sure it has suitable |
| Not only do they require more supervision, | | | | to be used in the rain. |
| but some children get upset with too many new | | | | |
| faces. Older children are less of a problem, | | | | Lately there has been a case of a guest |
| indeed quite often bigger groups almost run | | | | successfully suing the party organiser after |
| themselves, but it takes a brave parent to | | | | an accident on a bouncy castle. Make sure you |
| try it. Either way, make sure you have enough | | | | have adequate supervision if you hire one of |
| help to run it | | | | these. |
| | | | |
| If your child is at school, you will need to | | | | Presents |
| be sensitive to the fact that class mates | | | | |
| need to be invited even if they aren't 'best | | | | These days, everyone expects to go home with |
| friends'. If you don't invite someone, be | | | | something, but that doesn't mean you they |
| discrete about it. | | | | have to be expensive. A piece of cake, a few |
| | | | balloons and some small toys is often enough. |
| With sleep over parties, numbers should be | | | | Remember, the fun in a party is in the games |
| kept down, impose strict deadlines on the | | | | they play and the fun they have whilst they |
| guests unless you want to be up half of the | | | | are at the party. The presents are something |
| night. | | | | they take home at the end of it. |
| | | | |
| Cost | | | | Planning the party games can save you some |
| | | | money. Pass the parcel is easy, but takes |
| It is all too easy to let your wish to have | | | | time to wrap up the gift in all those layers |
| the biggest and best party, run roughshod | | | | of paper. Treasure hunts are great, but take |
| over the cost. Parties can be expensive, but | | | | time to set up |
| the cost can be kept down by careful | | | | |
| purchasing, good planning, and doing some of | | | | Candy |
| the work your self. | | | | |
| | | | Make sure you have some sweets, but don't |
| * Home cook the food | | | | overdo it. To many sweets means you run the |
| | | | risk of sick children!! Any you have left |
| * Use your own home or garden. | | | | over can be divided up at the end for them to |
| | | | take home. They don't have to cost a lot, opt |
| * Make your own party games. | | | | for small chews and sweets as it makes them |
| | | | go a lot further and small kids love them. |
| Birthday Party Themes | | | | Also, chocolate bars tend to melt and make a |
| | | | mess. |