The only down sides are the fact that much time will be spent cooking and tidying up afterwards, but these simple steps show it need not be nightmare it is often perceived as.
Selecting a Theme
To make a house party a success, a theme is usually a winner. Kids love to dress up so why not give them a reason to do so. Once the theme has been agreed, decide on the food to match the theme. For example a beach party theme can invite hot dogs, burgers or barbecue food. In some instances, a themed party can utilise you child's toys, reducing the need to buy new equipment.
Getting Prepared for the Party
Aim to send invitations out around four to five weeks in advance and include your address and telephone number for the replies. Chase any outstanding replies two weeks prior to the party and make sure you know exactly how many children are coming. During this period, search for the appropriate decorations and music. Almost any piece of music can be downloaded from the internet, which is a lot cheaper than buying an entire CD for just one track. Another thing to think about is prizes and party bags. Most supermarkets sell reasonably priced gifts for pass the parcel or best dressed monster and they also now sell small presents to go inside the party bags at an affordable price.
Assign Roles
It may sound like a military operation and in some ways it is, but deciding on roles is probably one of the most important tasks. There are generally two roles on offer: To cook or to entertain. To cook’s job, obviously will be to cook the food, but also entertain adult guests. The cooks should also make themselves aware of the cooking time for the food and make a list of the order in which to cook it. The entertainer will concentrate solely on arranging the games and keeping the children entertained. It might sound like an easy role but trying to organise ten or more kids into a line for a game of pin the tail on the donkey requires a fun personality and a great deal of patience.
The Night Before
It is normally best if the room where the party is mainly to be held is decorated the night before. The last thing a parent wants is to be rushing around at the last minute trying to get everything ready, so having the house sorted early is a must. Although the child is excited, an early night will be called for. The next day will be very exciting for hi, with all the running about he will do, treats he will be eating and of course, all the presents to open. If he gets over-excited on the day, it will be made worse by tiredness.
Having Fun Yourself
Parents are often too busy to enjoy themselves, but that needn’t be the case. Although it is a child’s birthday, it will be much more of a success if the parents join in with the games, so make time to take part and it will be a party your child will remember for years to come.
