When it comes to planning a party, everyone’s tolerance is different. However, a lot of people become stressed out with planning a kids’ party. Some people love it, while others aren’t a fan, and some people only want to keep things small and simple.
A lot of kids are fine with whatever celebration is thrown for them. They tend to be happy by getting attention from their parent/parents. However, nobody knows your kid more than you, so it’s completely up to you how to go about things.
Let’s not lie, anything is going to involve putting in some sort of work. At the end of the day, it’s all about making sure your kid and the other guests have a great time. With that said, read on for some ideas, tips and advice that can help you enjoy the big day.
Invitations
Who is going to your party? Will it be young kids? If so, then have your party take place before one in the afternoon or after three in the afternoon.
Trust us when we say you’ll be kept less stressed out if you have a set time on when your party will start and when it will end. As for the invitations, customize them by adding your child’s hand-print to the outside or inside of the card. Let your child decorate the invitations, as this will give them a personal touch.
See Who Is Coming
Another thing you can do is throw separate parties for the adults and the younger crowd, such as cousins, your child’s class and their friends. Different celebrations need different things, such as adults tend to want adult food and they like to catch up and spend hours among other adults. However, kids on the other-hand enjoy nonstop games, food that is kid-centric, as well as parties that are not that long.
The only exception to the rule is a baby’s very first birthday. The chances are there will be a mixed aged crowd. Nobody expects other babies to play games or spend hours catching up.
Gifts
Do you want your child to only have a few toys? If so, then suggest gift certificates or books to guests. Try to wait until guests leave before opening gifts because this will prevent jealous among younger guests in the 2, 3 or 4-years-old range. If someone wants to see the child open the gift, then have them do it in a different room, as this will prevent conflict from occurring.
Another thing you want to do is jot down the names of who gave gifts and then you can send thank you cards or notes. Doing this might seem like a hassle if you’re busy, but your guests will appreciate the effort.
A good idea is to head over to this website and take a look. You can register your child’s gifts there. This is a great way to ensure your child doesn’t receive inappropriate toys or duplicates.
Cakes & Goodies
If you want to use a boxed cake, but make it taste like you created it from scratch, then you’ll want to get rid of the oil and about 1/3 of the water. Next, add a cup of mayonnaise to the mix. Trust us when we say this will make the cake taste amazing.
Furthermore, you’ll want to whisk eggs and the mayonnaise together, and then you can throw them into the other dry ingredients. Top off the cake with buttercream icing. You will be impressed with how the cake tastes, and so will your guests.
Make The Cake Into A Game
You can make the cake a game. Make a tray of plain muffins, cupcakes or mini-cupcakes, and then add cream cheese to the top of them. Place a bowl of sugar, sprinkles and chocolate chips out. Then, let the kids create their own stuff.
The Goody Bags
Kids can’t get enough of goody bags because they love getting gifts. Don’t go broke buying expensive items to put inside the bags. Instead, go with inexpensive items such as sidewalk chalk or markers and a cheap coloring book. If you wish, decorated paper bags can be used, but plain bags will be suitable too.
However, if children are at least four and up, then you might need to include candy or other sweets inside the goody bags. If kids are younger, then go ahead and add food like Goldfish crackers or Teddy Grahams. Of course, you’ll need to have a goody bag for the birthday boy/girl.
Prepping The Child
The birthday child will be overwhelmed if they are one or two years of age, and this is regardless if you told them what will be happening. A child slightly older will be over-hyper due to the excitement. Whatever the case is, you’ll want to speak to the birthday child a day before the party.
Some kids will play with their toys, while others kids will have a look at their room, which will probably already be decorated. Also, you’ll want to hide your child’s special toys, that way they won’t share them with other guests. Remember, tell your child that when everything is over and done with, they will receive presents.
Let The Fun Being
As your child gets older, you’ll have to sort out activities for them and their guests to do at the party. You might have to organize birthday activities for their first birthday. There are a number of things you can line up, such as:
. Warm Up Activities- You can have warm up activities. This can be having them color in birthday hats or place stickers on a sign that read happy birthday.
. Decorate- Another good idea is to decorate the kids. This can be done using hand stamps, face and body painting and tattoos that wash up. Not all kids will like this, but many kids will love it. Set a corner up where kids who want this done, can have it done.
. Scavenger Hunts- These are fun, and kids of all ages love them. Plus, scavenger hunts can be done all year around. Simply hide items and tell the kids what they have to find.
Music Works Too
Let’s not forget about using music for fun. You can have a performer do a circle time or musical chairs. However, if you don’t want to hire a performer, then do this:
. Noncompetitive Musical Chairs- All you do is set up several chairs in a row. Throw on some music and stop the music at some point, but have the kids walk around the chairs as the music plays. When the music stops, have them sit down or freeze in their spot.
. Freeze Dancing- This includes having kids dance to music, and then stopping it. When the music stops, the kids freeze. This is a huge hit at kids’ parties.
. Musical Hot Potato- Have the kids sit in a circle and then play music as they pass a toy around to one another. The child holding the toy when the music stops has to go somewhere fun. The winner is the last child with the toy.
If you want to throw a great kids’ party and make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible, then keep the above tips and advice in mind.
