Top 10 Kid Birthday Party Tips
Having hosted my children's birthday parties for the past eight years and counting, I have learned a few tips along the way. Here are my suggestions for hosting a fun and seamless party:
1. Online Invitation: Use a paperless birthday party invitation like Evite. It will save you money having to purchase invitations and pay for postage. Plus, your guests can see who is attending. This is important if your school is anything like ours in that it's too large to invite all children in the grade. This helps other parents know which kids are invited so there are no hurt feelings. Plus, if the children are going to be dropped off at the party, it allows for carpooling to and from the event. Also, if guests have not responded, it is easy to keep track of who has not and allows you to send a follow-up.
2. Add an R.S.V.P: If you are hosting a party at your house and plan on feeding lunch or dinner, you will know how many people are attending and can plan the menu accordingly. Or if your party is at an offsite venue, more than likely they will ask for a head count a week in advance so you will need to know the number of guests coming.
3. List Foods Served: Make sure you write in your invite, what food will be served including the dessert. Several kids have food allergies and it's important to tell parents up front what will be at the party. If there are foods that attendees can't eat, it allows their parents to let you know and pack an alternative meal.
4. Attach Waivers to Invites: If you are hosting a party at a bounce house place, trampoline facility or any venue with climbing structures, chances are your guests will be asked to fill out a waiver to participate. Instead of wasting party time with a backlog at the front desk, attach a link to the wavier in an online invite so parents can fill out the paperwork in advance.
5. Dress Code: Depending on what type of party you are having, let the parents know what their children should wear. For example, a painting party, even though there will be art smocks provided, it's a good idea to wear something than can get dirty. If it's a gymnastics party no jewelry and if it's a bounce house party, loose fitting clothes. Also, include any details from the party place itself. For example, we had a party at a trampoline place that stated children had to jump barefooted if they didn't have a pair of grip socks.
6. Party Time: If some or most of your guests are still napping, make sure you are choosing a time around these schedules. This sounds simple, but planning it even too close to nap times, can ensure some crabby party guests! Another time-sensitive issue involves hosting offsite. Some venues allow you to rent out their entire facility, but most will not. This means your party guests will be intermixed with the public playing at the same venue. I have found choosing a Sunday and the earliest time slot is usually the lowest volume of outside traffic. Lower foot traffic allows you to keep track of your guests better and allows them more playtime.
7. What Venue Provides: Some party places provide utensils and paper goods to party guests. It is a good idea if you are hosting a party other than at your home to call and find out what comes with your party package. Also, other items like to do they have a knife to cut the cake, a lighter for the candles and do they include goody bags all good questions to ask.
8. Contact Information of Parents: For children who are older and will be dropped off at the party, it's important to ask for the parents or guardians' cell phone numbers before they leave. Offsite parties are usually an hour and half to two hours. Often times parents will run errands or grab lunch with siblings while the party is going on versus going all the way home. Having their cell phone numbers handy, will ensure you can reach them if needed.
9. Bring Activities During The Meal: Younger children are hard to occupy for too long. Several of these party venues will have an allotted half hour or even 45 minutes for lunch/dinner and cake. This is an eternity for children to stay seated after they are done eating. I have found if you bring a simple craft and spread it out at each table, this will keep them busy and seated until this portion of the party is complete. In the past I have used cups of markers to color: bookmarks, wooden statues and place mats. Plus, these items can serve as part of the goody bag.
10. Bottled Waters and Stickers: If water is not provided during an active party, bring small bottles of water for the children. I have found it's easier than trip to a drinking fountain. I also suggest labeling the waters with each child's name.
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