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Do you have a big kid’s party planned? Before you go too crazy, try to consider the main tips that we are going to suggest below. These tips will guarantee that you’ll manage an amazing kid’s birthday without going wild.
PLAN
The first tip is to plan! Make sure you always start to plan a few weeks before it’s party time. This way, you’ll get an indication of what the children are going to eat, what games you may want to have at the birthday party, party bags for the children, music, etc.
It’s essential to collect ideas and everything you need a couple of weeks before the party, so when it’s finally party time, it’s all ready for you.
INVITATIONS
You can either personalize your invitations or buy them from a shop. The right amount of time to send out the invitations is around 3- 4 weeks before the party. A lot of hired venues provide invitations, so if you’re having a party away from home, ask the venue that you’re hiring and see if they provide them.
GUEST LIST
Preparing a guest list can be difficult, but remember, its not the quantity that matters. If you’ve invited everyone you and your child want at the party, then that’s all that matters.
When it comes to a birthday party, one of the biggest things to consider is food. If you went to a birthday party and there was no food available, you’d be quite annoyed.
For those wanting to serve food but only have a small menu, the best thing to do is to keep the food options simple and not time-consuming. Especially for a child’s party, the menu doesn’t have to be too extravagant. Food like pizza and sandwiches are always a favorite with children, and if you wanted to jazz them up a bit, you could always cut the sandwiches into different shapes for a fun effect.
When making children’s party food, you always must consider allergies and dietary requirements, so make sure you make sandwiches that cover everything. If you feel like you haven’t got time to make sandwiches, or if party food isn’t your thing, then you could always order them in from a supplier, which will save you time but will potentially cost you more money.
VENUE
Hiring a venue can be costly, so having a party at home might be the ideal situation if you want to save some money. It also allows you to have the party at whatever time suits you and your guests, and your family is free to stay until the time you suggest. However, if you were to hire a venue, it can be less stressful and can be more exciting for the children, as they may be going somewhere they have never been before.
PARTY ENTERTAINMENT
Entertainment at a child’s party is essential. If you hire a venue, they may provide entertainment for you, such as soft play. It all depends on the place you hire. You could also hire entertainment, such as a magician or a bouncy castle. Just make sure your entertainment is suitable for the ages of the children that you’ve invited to the party.
GAMES
If you don’t know what entertainment to provide, or you find it too expensive, playing games with the children can be just as fun, especially when they are younger. Games, such as musical chairs, musical statues, or pin the tail on the donkey, are always great for younger children.
OPENING THE PRESENTS
A lot of people do not know what to do when it comes to receiving presents from party guests. Do you open them at the party or not? Opening presents when the party has finished, and you are back at home is a lot less stressful. Also, there is less chance of any presents going missing. If you feel bad for opening presents when everyone has left, then you can always send thank you notes to express to people how much you loved their gifts.
TIMING
As a lot of children attend school during the week, a weekend party is a lot better for most children and parents. However, if your child is older, having a party after school is also manageable.
The time that you should start your child’s birthday party all depends on whether you a serving food, or if you’re having a slice of cake at the end. If you don’t plan on having any food at your party, make sure the time is a couple of hours before or an hour after mealtimes. This way, none of your guests will arrive or leave hungry, and everyone will be happy.
