Birthdays are always special. Each passing birthday gets inscribed in our memory. What makes this happen is probably the birthday party and loads of surprises.
Wow, what fun!
Glitterball hanging from the ceiling, pizzas and ice creams, shiny dresses everywhere, dancing shoes, hooting, dance moves, games, and the big cake, wow! And your child is in the spotlight.
But wait – just when you though it was ‘the’ memory that you wanted to create for your child, some aunty starts doing some drama or a guest has an allergy to pizza or your child’s best friend doesn’t show up – all this can spoil the mood of the whole day in the blink of an eye. The spotlight shifts.
Birthday parties for children are memorable events only when they are done right because a single mistake can spoil not just the party but also mood, and that special day can become a day you never want to remember.
Don’t worry as it here are some do’s and don’t to keep in mind when planning for your child’s birthday party.
Do’s to keep in mind when planning for your child’s birthday party
1. Do send invitations
To ensure maximum attendance send out early invites to the parents. Sending an invitation to guests you want to join you for the celebration is better as it’s a formal way of asking them to come to the party.
Send the invitation a few days in advance so guest can plan their schedules accordingly. The last moment invite is a strict no. When you send out invitations early, you get confirmations from guests in a timely manner which will help you make arrangements accordingly. Make sure your guest list is appropriate for your child’s age and includes their closest friends.
2. Do pick a venue
Take your time to finalize a nice venue for the party. Make sure the venue is big enough to fit the number of people you invite. Its ambiance is nice and inviting. Ensure the venue meets your taste, preference and budget, the food is good, and the environment is child friendly. Also, ensure that the location is accessible from all parts of the city.
Book the venue a few days in advance. Once the booking is made, you can plan for the decoration, entertainment options, and amenities. Ensure the venue has a kids friendly menu. If you can’t find a venue, you might consider hosting the party in your garden or at a relative’s house with their permission. With a nice gazebo shelter or balloon columns to welcome people in, you can ensure the space feels magical.
3. Do pick a theme
Birthday parties are not just about invitations or venue or just friends but also about decoration and theme. Do pick a theme that suits your child’s expressed interest and temperament.
Choosing a theme will escalate your birthday party, make it more fun and make your efforts worthwhile. The theme could be Harry potter or Pirates or fairytale. Hire a professional decorator to bring the theme of the party to live.
Alternatively, you can go for cost-effective DIY party decoration themes. Remember child’s birthday party need not be expensive. So, set a budget and make plans accordingly. Most of the decor items are for one-time use. Also, your child may not prefer to repeat the same theme for their future birthdays. It is not a good idea to spend heavily on theme-based decor items instead go for colored paper goods.
What is a kids’ party without return gifts! Plan for purchasing and packing the return gifts. Hand out gifts that represent the party theme and are useful for the kids. For eg., you can give theme-based stationary, story, or color books.
4. Do plan activities
It’s a kid’s birthday party. So do plan games beforehand. Keep it fun and entertaining. Identify who will be conducting the games. Keep in mind the safety aspects when panning for games. You can opt for musical chair, hot potato, dumb charades, etc. Do keep prizes for the ones who win the games.
You can hire magicians or face painting artists or caricature artists for entertainment of guests. Create the playlist for the party beforehand. Ensure that the songs in the playlist are age appropriate and do not have any cuss words or obscene lyrics.
5. Do plan with your child
Involve your child in the planning process to keep them engaged and help them understand what goes behind hosting a successful party.
Discuss with your child what will be there at the party, how the decoration will be, and which friends are being invited. Allow them to share their perspectives, suggestions, and opinions. Hear out their preferences and expectations.
Remember, allowing children to share their inputs does not mean you will need to do everything they ask for or give in to all their demands. Incorporate their suggestions wherever feasible. For all their expectations and suggestions that cannot be included in the plan – be it for financial reasons or anything else – help them understand your rationale.
Recommended reading: Birthday Party Themes For 5-year-old Kids
Recommended reading: Planning to Throw an Eco-Friendly Party for Kids: The Ultimate Guide
Don’ts to keep in mind when planning for your child’s birthday party
1. Don’t plan too many activities
Yes, it is right that it’s a party for kids and there must be games and activities. But make sure that you arrange for only a limited number of games. Too many activities may lead to chaos and leave no time for kids and adults to talk to each other and socialize. Don’t extend party hours to accommodate activities. Young children start to get cranky and it becomes difficult to manage them. Keep time-restricted activities to keep the party well organized.
2. Don’t miss the safety and security aspects
It’s a birthday party for young children. Be vigilant about the safety aspects as well. Ensure that there are no hazardous, inflammable objects or sharp objects at the venue. Also ensure proper security measures, including watchman and CCTVs, are available at the entrance of the venue.
3. Don’t forget about gifts
Gifts are an inevitable part of a birthday party; your child will receive many of them. Teach your child not to open the gifts at the party. Even if they open the gifts at the party, teach them not to comment on the gifts as it would hurt the sentiment of the guest who has given the gift. Don’t forget about return gifts. Return gifts act as a token of gratitude and appreciation for the guests for taking the time to join the birthday party.
4. Don’t overdo
All the glitter is not gold; hence focus on simplicity and taste. The greatest moments in life are the simplest. Recreate your childhood memories with your kid’s birthday party. Don’t fall prey to comparisons because there will always be someone better. Do not overdo the cake with artificial flavors and colors to match up the theme. Opt for no-cost activities like freeze dance, musical chair, storytelling, etc. Avoid food wastage at the party. Feed the needy by offering leftover food.
5. Don’t get lost
Enjoy the birthday party yourself. Don’t juggle with playing the right music, serving the right food, seeing who is doing what, etc. Ensure that you plan everything – from food to music to activities to decoration – beforehand. Delegate responsibilities to professionals or divide the responsibilities among family members. This will help you connect with guests better and enjoy the party yourself.
Now in case if there’s anything does not go as planned, don’t fuss. Keep your calm. Look at the problem objectively with a solution-focused mindset and get the issue fixed.
If you are looking for ideas for birthday party themes or planning to host an eco-friendly party, check out our next few articles.
If you have more birthday party tips, share them with us in the comments below.
