| DO | | | | example, 'the first one to find five chocolate eggs |
| - Find the time to organise the party yourself. Get | | | | gets...' |
| help from family or friends if you need it, because | | | | - Aim to have the children go wishing the party |
| a child's party is at least a two person job. | | | | had never ended. The end is all about show biz |
| Parents know that it takes time to organise a | | | | and pizzaz. Have the pile of coats and goodie bags |
| child's party, which has lead to the trend for hired | | | | all ready before this final activity, then fill the final |
| party organisers. But such events lack the | | | | minutes with spectacle. You could release helium |
| personal touch and cost a fortune. A good kid's | | | | balloons, or run a silly race. Do anything that will |
| party should not cost a lot: it's your love and | | | | send the kids off with smiles on their faces and |
| imagination that will win the day with your child, | | | | leave one on yours. |
| not your money. | | | | - Stay relaxed and enjoy yourself. Yes, you have |
| - Let your child in on the planning. Learning to plan | | | | to make the whole thing run smoothly but make |
| is all part of growing up, and who better than | | | | sure you enjoy yourself. You are running a |
| your child to tell you what children like. | | | | birthday party not a trade conference. |
| - Think twice before running an activity party | | | | DON'T |
| such as rock climbing at the local gym/sports | | | | - Let your child pressure you into an overly |
| facility. The cost can be very high per head, and | | | | complicated or expensive event at a local |
| you'll often find kids who are not interested in the | | | | restaurant complex, with all manner of fee |
| activity. Then what do you do with them for the | | | | charging special entertainers. Your child is a |
| next hour? | | | | consultant, you are the parent. Have the party at |
| - Have a theme and stick to it from the | | | | home, space allowing, where you can control it, |
| invitations, to the children's dress, the decorations, | | | | and have maybe one entertainer if you think it |
| through the fun and games and into jelly and ice | | | | necessary. Remember that you can create |
| cream. You need to create a unified experience, | | | | sufficient fun and excitement in your own back |
| whether it is super heroes, outer space, dinosaurs | | | | garden with careful planning and high energy on |
| or cartoon characters. A themed party will | | | | the day. |
| definitely streamline your planning and it will give | | | | - Greet arriving guests at your child's dinosaur |
| you ideas for activities, whereas running an | | | | themed party by charging out the front door |
| unconnected series of games is to invite chaos. | | | | dressed as Godzilla, roaring like a formula one car. |
| Being a parent is hard enough. | | | | If you do, things will most likely start with tears |
| - Consider your child's interests when picking your | | | | when some of the more nervous guests don't |
| theme. Horses, rockets, cartoons, football... Let his | | | | see the funny side of this six foot terror coming |
| or her interests be a guide. | | | | down the garden path. |
| - Spend time thinking about the birthday | | | | - Forget to write down your plan. Know where |
| invitations. See the invitation as the first party | | | | you're going and what's next. As any teacher will |
| activity and set up anticipation and excitement. | | | | tell you (your author has ten years teaching |
| Invitations with a gift are a good idea. A pirate | | | | experience) once a child loses confidence in the |
| party invite with an eye patch, or football party | | | | games master, non-cooperation and trouble are |
| invite with a football chocolate. Balloons with | | | | never far away. |
| hidden invites are always a winner. | | | | - Forget to add a bit of make believe. If your |
| - Dress for the part. Where is the magic when | | | | theme is pirates and treasure, build up the story. |
| the pirate games master is dressed in jeans and | | | | 'You are shipwrecked, but all is not lost because |
| a t-shirt? Or worse, in a shirt and tie? | | | | you have found a clue to the location of the |
| - Set off with a bang. A good idea at the start, | | | | magic coconut. Find the coconut, knock it off the |
| when everyone is gathered round, is to reinforce | | | | perch and...' |
| the theme with something visual, and incorporate | | | | - Forget to allow enough time for jelly and ice |
| a little gift. For example, pirates get a pirate | | | | cream. Twenty minutes should be fine. |
| medallion, cowboys get neck scarves. Then it's | | | | - Try to reinvent the wheel. The tried and tested |
| into something energetic like a relay race, obstacle | | | | party games like relays and treasure hunts are so |
| course, followed by something creative and | | | | popular because they work. You can always build |
| calming, then something active, and so on. In this | | | | in more novel ideas around them, but have the |
| way, you can to moderate energy levels during | | | | tried and tested activities central to your plan. |
| the party. | | | | They will save the day. |
| - Let the children have a small snack early on to | | | | - Don't listen to anyone who tells you nonsense |
| keep energy levels up. | | | | rules about how many children should attend for a |
| - Keep your party short, but active. Two hours is | | | | 5 year old, how many for a 6 year old. Ask your |
| fine. If you keep it short, the children's experience | | | | child who they want to invite and take it from |
| will be richer and they will enjoy things so much | | | | there, keeping things manageable. Make sure that |
| more than if you drag things out. Your child has a | | | | no one important is left out due to a recent |
| reputation to keep after all, and having parents | | | | children's argument, and make sure you don't |
| who throw a good party is important, stupid. | | | | have a room full of strangers. |
| - Plan for quick changes in activity and focus. Kids | | | | - Forget to ask the invitees' parents for an RSVP |
| will love it if there is always something new to do, | | | | reply by a certain date then follow up with a |
| so plan a selection of activities. Jumping from one | | | | phone call. |
| to the next is the key to success. As a guide, | | | | - Panic. Expect the unexpected because it will |
| plan for one activity for each 15 minutes of party | | | | happen, and you will just have to adapt. Such is |
| time, and have two or three as backup. | | | | the lot of the parent. |
| - Keep the prizes and surprises coming, and give | | | | Okay, that is your lot. If I have missed anything |
| the children a goal in doing the activity. For | | | | out, let me know. Good luck with the party! |