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