Want to throw a great birthday party without a lot of stress? Now your child can have a wonderful birthday when you follow these tips.
Timing is Everything. A children’s birthday party can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. If you’d rather not go through the fuss of serving a meal, schedule your party to start right after lunch time and ending before supper.
Invitations. Make it easy on the other parents with clear instructions. If you don’t want people to spend a fortune on gifts, say so in your invitation. Let parent know that they’re welcome to stay for the party. Unless you are very cramped on space, the extra adults will help keep the kids safe.
Invite Early. These days kids have so many scheduled weekend events it is hard for many families to make it to a party without sufficient notice. Try to get your invitations out at least 6 weeks in advance.
Keep It Simple. Don’t invite the entire world. If the birthday child is under the age of 3, seriously consider keeping the number of children invited very low. Toddlers are still developing social skills and a very crowded and noisy party can be traumatic for little ones.
Make it easy to RSVP. List your email and telephone number on your invitation. When possible, use online invitations too. Ask for an RSVP at least two weeks in advance. Having the precise number of guests will make planning easy.
Bigger isn’t always better. Would you rather go to a great small party or a big boring one? By keeping your invite list small you can afford to give your guests live entertainment and gourmet food. Think smaller but better.
Plan your party activities. Don’t wing it. A party of adults doesn’t need structured events. Grown ups will find a way to amuse themselves. Children, on the other hand, will find mischief.
Variety. Every party should have dynamic rhythm. Quiet periods and noisy moments. Time for conversation and time for movement. Time for food, time for laughter. Orchestrate the party to end on a high note.
Entertainment. Most experienced party planners suggest a group activity or live interactive entertainment to create a wonderful party experience. A party DJ can organize a line dance or a party magician can perform tricks using audience volunteers.
Food. Children get excited at birthday parties, often too excited to eat. It doesn’t matter how delicious the food is, children won’t sit still for very long. Place lots of healthy snacks within reach of the kids. Avoid foods with sauces unless you want to clean your carpets.
Location. The location you choose for your child’s birthday party has a major impact on the behavior of the guests. Play rooms tend to bring out aggressive and hyperactive behavior. A party at home tends to put the birthday child in a more relaxed state of mind.