START PLANNING EARLY
A great birthday party can take as long as a month to plan at a stress-free pace, so start early. Be sure to get your child in on the act, from making invitations to choosing the crafts and games. Instead of a one-day event, the party turns into a month of fun.
"My son helped plan the activities for his backyard carnival birthday party. He made the booths and then was proud to be the 'ticket master' at his party."
-- Carol Ann Labonte
PICK A THEME
Kids' parties are fun when they reflect your child's personality or interests, whether it's pirates, crafts or swimming. A theme also sparks your imagination when it comes to invitations, decorations, food, favors and games. Check out our Party Central for some ideas.
"My son's aquarium party was his best party ever. The kids each brought a fish to stock his new tank. At the party, they stenciled fish T-shirts, made paper fish and ate an aquarium cake."
-- Patty Reasinger
CHOOSE A LOCATION
Home parties, either inside or in the backyard, are nice for any age. But out-of-home parties might spare you the wear and tear on your home and help you accommodate more guests. Try a pizza parlor, farm, kids' gym, nature center or the local playground. Call in advance to see if the place has any birthday packages and inquire about the fees.
"We held my stepdaughter's sleepover party at a local hotel. Staying in the hotel, swimming in the pool, and playing peewee golf was a real treat for the kids."
-- Toni Kay
WRITE THE GUEST LIST
When deciding whom to invite, consider the size of your house (or yard) and how many guests you can comfortably manage. You can use the traditional formula that the child's age determines the number of attendees (a five-year-old would invite five friends). Invite the entire class only if you think you--or the birthday child--can handle it.
"My girlfriend and I planned a dual party for her son and my daughter--princesses and knights--and invited both "sirs" and "ladies." We decorated the party room like a medieval castle. The girls made damsel hats, and the boys made shields of armor."
-- Deanne Dwyer
SEND AN INVITATION
An invitation sets the tone for a party, establishes the theme, and gets guests excited to come. Send invitations two weeks in advance. This allows guests plenty of time to respond while giving you the chance to finalize the amount of food and favors you need. Don't forget to include what the theme is (if any), the location, and the starting and ending times. Be sure to request an RSVP (include your phone number and a date you would like a response by). When parents call, ask if they plan on staying and if their child has any food allergies.
"For my daughter's fourth birthday, we had a Peter Pan party. I made rustic invitations and filled them with pixie dust (glitter) for the guests to sprinkle on themselves before arriving."
-- Amy Hardman
DECORATE THE PARTY PLACE
A party calls for a festive atmosphere. When purchasing decorations from a party store, keep in mind that a little goes a long way. A few balloons and streamers say "It's a Party!" In addition to these classics, have your kids handcraft banners, set out toys as props (such as dump trucks for a construction party), and spiff up the table with napkins and novelty plates. To order supplies online, check out these online party resources.
"My sons love sports and so do their friends. So at their party, we hung a giant cardboard cut-out of Michael Jordan--with a party hat on his head. Everyone came dressed in their favorite sports attire, even the parents!"
-- Belinda Mercer
