Revel Without A Pause – Planning Great Kids’ Parties
Great children’s parties do not happen by accident – oh no! Behind every great kids’ party, a well-organised and creative parent has spent a great deal time and effort crafting a memorable event for their child. Here we reveal the essential elements of a successful children’s party so that you too can throw a party that your child and his friends will remember for years to come.
If you begin the planning stage by choosing the party’s theme, the rest of the planning will be much easier. So, does your child have a favourite book, movie, or television show? Maybe they have a fascination with fire fighters or cowboys? Discuss theme options with your children – maybe they would like a birthday adventure with Rhino and Mittens (from Bolt the movie), or a 1960s psychedelic extravaganza or a murder mystery event.
Next, involve your child in designing the party as much as possible. Chat about the invitations, the guest list, the menu, the program, the décor and the goodie bags. All of these are great opportunities for your kids to learn about what goes into organising a party. It’s about making decisions, about how much (or how little) things cost and best of all, it’s an excellent opportunity for any parent to understand their child better. For instance, you may find that your little one prefers small parties of five or six friends as opposed to the banquet you were planning or that he or she is very thoughtful about everyone’s beliefs and asks for no pork or beef to be served when food is discussed.
Once you have decided on a theme and a date, it is time to create invitations – these should include the date, time and venue of your party as well as a date by which you require RSVPs. This date should be set 4 or 5 days before the actual party to give you time to shop for the appropriate amount of food, prizes, party-ware (such as straws, plastic plates, cups etc) and goody bag contents.
When shopping, always purchase more than you think you will need. It is not part of every culture’s ‘protocol’ to RSVP, so expect unexpected guests!
The games, food and fun activities you have planned may well fail if the atmosphere is not welcoming. Good decorations that are centred around your theme (whether it be a colour or a character) are pivotal to a successful party. Use bright colours and upbeat music to set the stage for an energetic disco party or dim the lights, scatter beanbags and have the smell of buttery popcorn greet those who are attending a pre-teen movie marathon party.
A successful party has age-appropriate games and activities to keep the children entertained, young children love the old favourites such as musical chairs and pass-the-parcel, while older kids enjoy scavenger hunts and murder in the dark. Kids are unpredictable so have more games/activities planned than you think you need. If a certain game is not working out or is causing conflict, having an alternative on standby will be a great help.
Make sure you have a 2:10 children/adult ratio meaning that for every 10 children there are at least two adults present – this will ensure that the party will run as safely and as smoothly as possible.
On the day, start the party with an un- structured activity like coloring in, so that any early kids have something to do and late kids do not feel like they have missed anything by arriving on time or a little late. So for example, if you’re hosting a Hello Kitty themed party, at sites like Hello Kitty Coloring Pages you’ll find the best Kitty coloring, while little boys would perhaps enjoy the coloring sheets at Disney Coloring Pages if they were having a Disney themed party.
Have a plan regarding when you’ll play games and when you’ll break for food, cake and the opening of presents but be 100 percent prepared to ditch it. The idea is for everyone to have fun and you may well have to sacrifice the plan to achieve this. Not all children will want to play all the games. You may find that some kids will happily play with toys or colour-in, while the others compete in an egg and spoon race – and this is okay.
Entertainment other than games could encompass arts and crafts, gameshow style quizzes or perhaps you would consider hiring a professional such as a magician, a Bratz, a clown or a puppeteer. If you opt for the latter, ensure you book these entertainers well in advance and make a note of this on the invitation – not all children enjoy clowns for instance and a word of ‘warning’ on the invitation will be much appreciated by the parents.
Party food is at its best when it is kept simple. Teens love pizza, garlic bread and soft drinks while toddlers love tasty finger foods and ice cream. You cannot go wrong with snacks and treats such as crisps, cookies and chocolate but bear in mind that it is likely some of your guests will have dietary allergies or requirements that you will have to cater for.
Children love the idea of a bag full of sweets to take home and party goodie bags are universally expected these days. However, they do not have to be a complex or expensive affair.Simple bags that contain a few sweets and chocolates plus a couple of small toys are always well received.
All through the party, do not forget to record the event by taking many photographs and footage. Perhaps a capable friend could be assigned this task so that – for a change – you and your family members all appear on the photos and in the footage as well.
How you close the birthday party is just as important as how you begin it. As much emphasis should be placed on the farewell as was placed on greeting and welcoming your guests when they first arrived. Brief your child beforehand about the good manners required when parting with guests who need to be handed a goodie bag, thanked for attending the party and for the gifts they brought.
After the party, tidying-up can wait. Instead, spend some quality time with your child to chat about the party. Chat about his favourite highlights, the games that were played, the gifts and the lovely friends who attended.
Toddlers and Preschool Arts and Crafts “By Angel”
CY BEGINNINGS COLOR ME A SONG
$80.99
Crayola Beginnings Color Me A Song helps build toddlers’ creativity, confidence and independence through creative experiences. Helps develop fine and gross motor skills. Allows toddler to create original music with their scribbles. Music will change based on speed of coloring, the faster you scribble .. the faster the song. Four instrument buttons (piano, banjo, trumpet or drum) can be activated to layer in sounds and create unique music. Plays 4 original songs: salsa, rock, swing & country. included! Combining Picasso and Miles Davis, tots can strike up a band and create their own tunes while exploring their first artistic expressions. Toddlers can mix sounds from a piano, banjo, trumpet and drum, while switching between different musical styles such as salsa, rock, swing and country. Built-in storage for eight triangular crayons allows kids to take their masterpiece-making-band on road trips. From its earliest beginnings, Crayola has been a color company. Crayola came into being when cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith took over Edwin’s father’s pigment business in 1885. More than 120 years later, color – along with creativity, learning and most of all, fun – is the hallmark of Crayola’s company. Crayola has called Easton, Pennsylvania its home since the early 1900s. Today, the Crayola’s world headquarters and major manufacturing facilities are located there. And downtown Easton is the home of The Crayola FACTORY, a one-of-a-kind celebration of creative fun for everyone. In 1984, Crayola became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hallmark Cards and has since Crayola has played the lead role in Hallmark’s personal development strategies.
Chenille Kraft Company CK-4070 Modeling Dough 3.3 Lb Blue
$8.63
Chenille Kraft modeling dough is ideal for toddlers and young children. Our modeling dough is soft and very pliable which makes it easier for small hands to use. Non-toxic and will not stain hands. Dough comes in tubs with secure fitting lids to help keep dough soft.
Chenille Kraft Company CK-4074 Modeling Dough 3.3 Lb Red
$8.63
Chenille Kraft modeling dough is ideal for toddlers and young children. Our modeling dough is soft and very pliable which makes it easier for small hands to use. Non-toxic and will not stain hands. Dough comes in tubs with secure fitting lids to help keep dough soft.
Chenille Kraft Company CK-4075 Modeling Dough 3.3 Lb Yellow
$8.63
Chenille Kraft modeling dough is ideal for toddlers and young children. Our modeling dough is soft and very pliable which makes it easier for small hands to use. Non-toxic and will not stain hands. Dough comes in tubs with secure fitting lids to help keep dough soft.
Crayola Beginnings TaDoodles Washable First Marks – Red, Green, Brown
$469.35
Designed to fit small hands, these egg-shaped markers will help bring out artistic expression in any toddler. Available in two animal-inspired assortments, toddlers can make their first marks with a green frog, brown puppy or red monkey. A second collection allows them to express themselves with a pink pig, yellow chick or purple hippopotamus. Also, TaDoodles Washable First Marks won’t topple over, don’t have caps to lose and are specially formulated to easily wash off of skin and clothing. No batteries required. Ages 18 months and up.From its earliest beginnings, Crayola has been a color company. Crayola came into being when cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith took over Edwin’s father’s pigment business in 1885. More than 120 years later, color – along with creativity, learning and most of all, fun – is the hallmark of Crayola’s company. Crayola has called Easton, Pennsylvania its home since the early 1900s. Today, the Crayola’s world headquarters and major manufacturing facilities are located there. And downtown Easton is the home of The Crayola FACTORY, a one-of-a-kind celebration of creative fun for everyone. In 1984, Crayola became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hallmark Cards and has since Crayola has played the lead role in Hallmark’s personal development strategies.
Leisure Arts-Wee Wonder Quilts
$9.38
LEISURE ARTS INC-Wee Wonder Quilts includes 5 playful projects for infants and toddlers by Valerie Bowman and Debbie Foley of Cotton Pickin’ Designs. These 5 projects are bunny hop duck duck goose hearts aplenty hop skip jump and peek-a-boo. All projects are quick little rotary-cut quilts that will make a perfect baby shower gift. Sizes range from 42in to 53in. Three of the patterns even include fusible applique shapes! Softcover: 44 pages. Made in USA.
Lift and Hide Bookcase Storage Chest with Pink Lid
$89.97
This handy storage chest and bookshelf will house toys and games and stuffed animals galore and also provide a nifty bookcase for storing toddlers reading literature. It is sturdy and will provide storage for years. Easy assembly by an adult. It has a back panel in the bookcase to prevent books and other items from falling off the back side of the unit.
MR. MEN LITTLE MISS 3PC. TABLE
$69.75
The Mr. Men Little Miss 3 Piece Table and Chair Set is perfect for toddlers and friends. Ideal for arts and crafts or activity play, this table and chair set is easy to wash, sturdy and comfortable for toddlers. Assembly required.
MY FIRST EASY REVEAL MARKERS
$9.01
Drawing and coloring is a great way to develop your toddler’s creativity, but the activity can often be messy, but not with the Crayola My First Mess-Free Marker and Paper Set. It’s a colorful marker for toddlers…but without all the mess! The mess-free marker fits neatly in small hands and instantly reveals brilliant colors only when used with the magic paper. Includes 1 ergonomically designed mess free character marker and 15 sheets of magic paper. From its earliest beginnings, Crayola has been about color. They came into being when cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith took over Edwin’s father’s pigment business in 1885. More than 120 years later, color – along with creativity, learning and most of all, fun – is the hallmark of the Crayola company who stands out as the premiere name in crayons, markers and paint for kids.
MY FIRST STAMPERS
$5.64
Toddlers can stamp out some colorful fun with these adorable, Crayola My First Washable Stampers. They’re just the right size and shape for busy little hands. Plus, there are no messy ink pads or caps to lose! Includes 2 ergonomically designed character stampers. From its earliest beginnings, Crayola has been about color. They came into being when cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith took over Edwin’s father’s pigment business in 1885. More than 120 years later, color – along with creativity, learning and most of all, fun – is the hallmark of the Crayola company who stands out as the premiere name in crayons, markers and paint for kids.