HELP! My child’s birthday is coming up and I simply do not have the money or the know how to plan an exciting and memorable celebration!
Sound familiar? It’s ok! You are NOT alone! Many parents are overwhelmed by the whole “party planning” concept! There is so much information out there for you to use! But where do you start? What if you don’t have a lot in the budget this year? How many kids do you invite and how do you keep them from getting bored?
First; RELAX! You are mom! You can do this! And I’m going to help!
When planning a child’s birthday party there are a few basic, tried and tested, guidelines I ALWAYS follow!
1. Start Early & Get Organized!
Avoid the stress! Create a “planning schedule” for yourself and avoid last minute mayhem! It is never too early to start brain storming ideas. A good rule of thumb is to be prepared to start your preparations at least one month before the party date. This gives you plenty of time to make all of the necessary decisions, buy the supplies and send out the invitations.
2. Budget!
Decide on a budget. A budget will help keep you focused and help you decide on things such as numbers and venue, or entertainment options! Try to be generous when estimating costs. This way you will be less likely to come across unexpected expenses and pleasantly surprised when you have money left over!
3. Guest List & Party Date
This is the hard part! Some experts say that it is not fair if you do not invite your child’s whole class. Others say to take your child’s age, add 1 and that is how many kids to invite, otherwise you will be spoiling the child. So which is right? Simply put, neither.
Most classrooms consist of 20 or more children! Planning a decent party for that many kids AND maintaining control on your cheque book is simply unrealistic! If you can manage it and would like to do this then try to keep this type of party for milestone birthdays. That said, you are NOT going to spoil your 4yr old by allowing them to have more than 5 children at their party! Find a happy medium that works for your family! I usually allow 10-15 invites. My children usually find this fair and these numbers help me maintain control while keeping my overall costs down.
Now pick the date – parties are usually held within 2 weeks (before or after) your child’s actual date of birth. However, before settling on a date, make an effort to check the calendar to see if there are potential clashes, such as standard holidays, Easter, Mother’s Day etc, this small step will help ensure that most invited guests will be available.
4. Choose a Theme!
Choosing a theme for your child's birthday celebration will provide you with an easy, basic guideline to follow and will make shopping for supplies much easier. There are sooo many great ideas out there that you will likely find yourself overwhelmed or unsure what to choose. Remember to stick firmly to your theme and you will be ok! Plan the decorations, games, food and loot bags, etc around the theme to create an exciting party environment. Choosing 2 colours to go with your theme will help you with finding items you cannot find to fit your theme. For example: For a western themed hoedown I used red and white (checker when possible). This trick makes it easier for you to follow your theme while providing you with an alternative choice whenever it is difficult to find the themed items you are looking for. Talk to your child for inspiration. Consider his/her favourite activities and entertainment and let them help with the planning!
5. Choose a Venue
Choose a location that fits your theme AND your budget! Home parties allow the most freedom in terms of food and decorations, but the limited space is a problem for a large party. Remember too that a home party will need more creativity and supplies so your costs can add up if you’re not careful. Parks, zoos, children's play areas or a party room offer more space if you have a large guest list. Most children’s party places will offer an all inclusive package for about 10 children (additional children are usually an additional cost.) Many of the popular locations for children's parties also have built-in entertainment options; however you are limited in your choices for food and decoration. Consider your Theme, Budget and Commitment Time when choosing your venue.
6. Invitations Set the Stage!
Create unique invitations! The invitations are the first introduction to your child’s party that your guests will see. By sticking to your theme and creating a completely one of a kind invitation you will be adding a sense of excitement and anticipation to the celebration. For a mall scavenger hunt, I designed invitations on the computer that looked like credit cards. I printed them out on business card printer paper and placed them in wallets I bought from the dollar store. It was cheap, easy and fun! The girls loved them! Remember to include who the party is for, the date, the location, and rsvp by date, name and phone # and any necessary special instructions. Try to give about 2 weeks’ notice, and send simple and polite “reminder notes” 3 days prior if necessary.
7. Decorations
Decorations add to the excitement of the birthday party. Balloons, streamers and confetti are common decorations. But consider add bit “more” to create your atmosphere. Again, stick to the theme when choosing the decorations. For a Magic themed party consider using balloons of your color choice (I used black, white and purple) Hang them from the ceiling using ribbon, then add playing cards hung from fishing wire between the balloons! Also make sure to decorate your tables to tie the room together nicely. If the party is held away from home, ask the venue about restrictions on decorations before buying your supplies. Many don't allow confetti or other messy decorations.
8. Party Favours
Party Favours such as loot bags add to the decorations and provide the guests with a nice thank-you gift as they leave. Choose items that fit your theme AND are appropriate for the age of the kids. General rule of thumb here is around $5 per bag for example you could include 3 small toys or activities and 2 treats for each loot bag. Or, for an outdoor winter adventure party consider rolling up a magic carpet $3, Tie with a ribbon and attach a colourful loot bag filled with the ingredients for some yummy hot chocolate $2!
9. Party Food
Stick to your theme; are you seeing a pattern yet? J But keep in mind the age group you are planning for. While nutrition is something to consider remember it IS a party, so let them bend the rules here a little. Going overboard and planning elaborate choices will sometimes cause young children to turn their noses! Remember too that many children won’t eat a lot with all the party excitement. Finger foods such as sandwiches, hot dogs and pizza are usually a hit. For a 50’s & 60’s style dinner bowling party I chose Hamburgers, Fries & Milkshakes. I also added simple snacks such as chips, pretzels and popcorn. This kept with my theme AND provided simple food that most children love! Some public venues may limit outside food, so check their policies first.
10. Enlist Help!
Birthday parties for young kids are a lot of work! Especially if you plan to keep your costs down by being creative and doing a lot of the work yourself! Include the birthday child in the planning and expect to be exhausted at the end of the day! And when possible, enlist the help of your friends and family members. Don't forget to enjoy the party yourself!
Children’s birthday parties today are a lot different than they were when we were kids. In many communities, throwing a child’s birthday party has almost become a competitive sport!
Remember your child’s party should be about fun and celebration, not competition. So do what will make your child happy and keep in tradition with your family values. Many families chose alternative birthday celebrations such as special dinners or birthday cake with family only, measuring to see how much they've grown, reminiscing about "the day you were born" or by watching videos of younger years. Whether with a party or not, the object of the day is to make your child feel special. ENJOY!
