As is the case for any other successful party, planning is the key to a great birthday party. By making and sticking to a plan, you can come up with a successful strategy that helps you stay within your budget, allows you to keep your sanity and most importantly pleases your child. When it comes to parties, planning makes perfect. So, before you blindly promise a birthday party to your child set some guidelines that both you and he or she will be happy with. Then plan your party within the guidelines so that everyone, including you, has a great time.
Here are 5 keys to birthday party success for your child:
1.) Let your child help pick the theme. Keep in mind that the theme can revolve around anything your child loves. If she is ballerina, loves purple or is into ladybugs there is a way to incorporate all of that into a party theme. Do not force yourself to be limited to what is in the store. Use your creativity to design things around your chosen theme and not the other way around. And unless you want the party to be a total surprise, you will want to involve him or her in the planning and preparation, too.
2.) Set some guest guidelines. You should invite a number of guests equal to your child’s age, plus one or two. For example, if your child is 7, the ideal number of guests would be 8 or 9. It is important to try to keep the guests in the same age range, or at least provide alternate activities for any older or younger kids. Remember that kids have pretty loose schedules when it comes to parties. One overly ambitious mom granted her son’s request to invite everyone he wanted. After sending out 22 invitations, the mom was then overwhelmed to find 22 8-year olds at her door at party time. You should also write on the invitations whether parents are invited or if kids are to be dropped off. Parents should be expected to stay with children who are under age 5. If parents do attend the party you should provide a snack for them as well.
Kids Birthday Party
3.) Set some time constraints. You should plan to keep the party 1-1/2 to 2 hours long, and indicate on the invitation at what time the party will be over. Letting the guests and the parents know how long the party will be is an important element of a successful party. No matter how much fun might be being had, be prepared to wrap it up and send everyone on their way at the end time stated on the invitation.
4.) Plan on what food you will be serving early in the planning process. Children are less able to go with the flow. For example: if you are planning on buying pizza for the birthday party you should order it early and keep it warm in the oven. Waiting to order the food could bring unforeseen delays. In addition, be sure to ask parents about any food allergies their children might have. Having an alternative lets you include the child who might otherwise have to forgo the food and the fun.
5.) Have things for the kids to do. If the kids at the party will be making a craft project, create a sample for them to see. This will also help you gauge whether the project is age-appropriate. Plan on having plenty of adult help for supervision no matter what the project. This way you will not have to respond to simultaneous cries of help all by yourself. In addition, avoid party games that require kids to wait a long time for their turn or at least give them something to do while they wait.
Following these basic tips will make the party a success and will make party planning enjoyable and successful as well.
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