Depending on your child’s age, they may prefer a theme that centers around something they are passionate about, like princesses or dinosaurs. This makes it easier to plan entertaining activities and gifts that relate.
For mixed-age parties, stick with games that are cooperative rather than competitive. This also helps prevent kids from being exhausted by the end of the party.
Set Up Games
Theme-appropriate party entertainment for kids is fun, educational, and a great way to unite guests. For example, a three-legged race is a classic school sports day game that can be adapted for parties by dividing kids into teams and eliminating the weakest link after each round. Depending on where your party is held, there may be restrictions on the types of games you can play — stick with ones that don’t require much setup or materials. Also, keep in mind that a lot of children’s entertainment professionals get booked up early. Hence, you need to note on your invites if siblings are welcome if the venue can only accommodate a certain number of kids.
Set up food and drinks that won’t spoil one to two hours before guests arrive. Ensure you’ve bought necessary supplies, like plates, napkins, cups, and utensils. Set out any decorations that will go with your theme, then prepare to have some fun!
Pick a Theme
Before the big day, deciding on a theme is one of the most important things. This can be as simple as your kid’s favorite movie, video game, or cartoon. Once you have a theme, you can make your guest list and shop for supplies. It’s also important to remember that toddlers and pre-schoolers may nap during the party, so it’s wise to plan accordingly. It’s also a good idea to set a budget and stick to it. Otherwise, it’s easy for costs to get out of hand. And while kids love getting their little gifts, parents may not appreciate having a ton of tiny plastic trinkets cluttering up the house. Instead, consider giving each child a small item that fits the party’s theme, like a book, a box of crayons, or a bubble wand.
Serve Food
It can be challenging to decide whether or not you should serve food at a kid’s birthday party. It depends on many factors, such as the age of the children and how long the party will last. If you are serving food, make sure it is simple to clean up and does not stain or spill. Finger foods, food on a stick, or muffins are all great options. If you plan to have a cake, ask the child whose birthday it is and what they would like. Younger kids may not know, and getting them involved in planning is a great opportunity. Ensure you have any items for the gift table ready to go and that you’ve settled any bills with entertainers or venues. Ask the birthday child to help write and send thank you cards if they can. And, of course, remember to store or throw away any gift bags or wrap.
Decorate
Make the most of your venue with inexpensive and easy decoration ideas. Hanging paper lanterns, streamers, and a themed backdrop will transform your space. You can also set up a photo booth for guests to snap insta-worthy pictures. If you want to save even more on supplies, ask your friends and family to contribute to the gift bag or send their child with something simple from home, like cookies or kindness rocks. Also, remember to write thank you notes to your guests for their thoughtful gifts and presence. Pulling off a kid’s birthday party without spending a fortune is easier.
