Party On Down

Whether you view them as an occasion to be enjoyed or endured, there’s no doubt that children’s parties have now become big business – and expensive! But, with some inspiration – and a little lateral thinking – you can create the perfect children’s party!

Party on down!

The first thing that you need to remember when planning a children’s party is that it doesn’t have to be perfect to be fun for all involved. All of the children will (hopefully!) be there to enjoy themselves, dress up, play some games, get over-excited, eat all types of the wrong food and then go home tired but happy!

You don’t have to call in party planners to make sure that everyone has a good time, nor do you have to create a schedule akin to that of a military operation; all that is necessary is a little forethought.

Children’s birthday parties have become increasingly expensive and it can be easy to be caught up in the ‘who has the best birthday party stakes’, but some of the best parties are not the most expensive, but rather the more creative, home-based, original type. Two years ago, for example, I held my daughter’s birthday party at one of the local adventure playgrounds, where I stumped up almost £100/100euro for ten kids to sweat their way around a ball pit, with what seemed like 300 other kids and then sit down to a plate of ‘chicken’ nuggets and disgusting chips. Totally disgusted with the price and the standards (not to mention the air conditioning and smell), I resolved to host my own parties in future.

Last year’s birthday party saw 30 kids wrapped up warmly ‘on safari’ in my garden, seeking out 30 small toy animals, which I had hidden around the place. The winner was the child, who found most animals. This took a good half hour and everyone enjoyed the novelty factor of the activity. I then followed up with a clown and balloon act, which I’d roped a friend in to do, and finished off with a feast of sandwiches, fruit skewers, popcorn, marshmallows and sweets. Everyone agreed it was one of the best parties that they had ever been to and, even better, I spent less than half of the previous year’s total and had entertained three times as many children.

Age appropriate parties

When you’re planning your child’s party, make sure that you take their age into consideration. For toddlers of two or three, a party is more for your benefit as a get-together with other parents or immediate family, so keep it simple. Activities such as playing with balloons, bouncing balls and playing with favourite toys are all it takes to keep littl’uns occupied.

By the age of four or five, most children will have a wider circle of friends as, by now, they should have started playgroup or school. It’s at this age that parties now being to assume great importance in their social lives.

By six or seven, kids’ imaginations go into overdrive and it’s at this stage that you can really include your child in the planning. Their social skills will also have improved, so you’re sure of a couple of hours of frenetic activity and high spirits. Space is vital for a party at this age, so that they can burn off some of their energy (rather than yours!)

For older children of around nine or ten, it’s really important to take their likes and dislikes into consideration. Activity-related parties outdoors or in another location are good options. One new favourite in the party line at this age is the ‘girls’ night in’ or ‘sleepover’. A few DVDS and a bag of popcorn are all that’s needed – the excitement of having friends to stay, or staying over will alone be enough fun for most kids!

Running order

Although you don’t need to run a party along military operation lines, it can be useful to have a running order. This will ensure that the party progresses smoothly and avoids those ‘what do we do now’ moments.

During the first 30 minutes, as your guests arrive, have an activity organised that they can all join in with. Crafts are a good idea for this section – card making or painting a plate will provide everyone with an opportunity to become immediately involved and allow children, who perhaps don’t know each other, to become familiarised.

The next hour should involve structured games and play, whether you provide the activity yourself or bring in an act, such as a clown or a magician.

Once the structured section is over, serve the birthday tea. This should take up another half hour, and should be followed by 30 minutes of quiet games, present opening and the distribution of the party bags.