How to Plan The Perfect Child’s Birthday Party

How to Plan The Perfect Child’s Birthday Party

Children grow up so fast, and with every birthday that passes you have a chance to celebrate with them and make lasting memories. Not to mention that planning your child’s birthday party can be great fun. It gives you a chance to get creative and to get them involved in organising a fun day for all of their friends and family.

There are a number of party must-haves you need to think about if you want to organise the perfect day. This guide will take you through those all-important steps to make sure the day is a total success and that your little one has a birthday party they’ll never forget. Read on to get planning!

1. Settle on the basics

Firstly, you need to settle on the basics before you can get down to the creative stuff. You need to choose which date you’ll be hosting the party, you might not be able to have it on their actual birthday and may want to choose a date (perhaps a weekend) that is most convenient to you. Next you’ll want to settle on the venue. Will you be holding the party at home, booking a hall or choosing an activity centre? Once you know this you can get the date booked in and set in stone.

2. Choose a theme

Once you’ve sorted the basics you can let the fun begin. Think about what your child likes and even get them involved in picking a theme. For example, you might choose Disney, pirates and princesses, circus, under the sea, football or a woodland theme, depending on where the party is being held and what sorts of things they like. Choosing the theme will help you to organise the rest of the details. This will shape the decorations and entertainment that you choose for the venue.

3. Sort the guest list

Next up you need to put together your guest list and write out your invitations. You might want to buy packs of invitations to match your theme, or perhaps even have some custom made. Be sure to include an RSVP slip or your phone number so you know how many children and adults will be attending.

4. Organise the entertainment

If you’ve chosen a play area or activity centre then the entertainment may already be set for you. If you’re hosting the party in a hall or at home, you’ll need to make sure there’s plenty of fun and games to keep the children occupied. Party games like musical chairs always go down a treat, plus you could put together a round or two of ‘Pass the Parcel’ using children’s toys from suppliers like Card Party. You might also want to hire a children’s entertainer or DJ if you’re planning a disco style party.

5. Arrange the food

Once you know how many guests will be attending your child’s birthday party you can organise the food. As previously stated, some party organisers or activity centres might provide food for you. But if you’re doing the catering yourself it’s best to stick to classic child-friendly finger foods such as pizza, crisps, fruit kebabs and sausage rolls. Just be sure to run this by the parents in case any of the children attending have any allergies or other dietary requirements.

6. Order a cake

Of course, no good birthday party is complete without cake! There are so many options out there for children’s birthday cakes that this could be one of the toughest decisions you make about the day. If you’re a dab hand in the kitchen you might want to make it yourself. Alternatively, there are vendors out there who can put pictures on cakes if you wanted a cake with a picture of the birthday boy or girl on it. Finally, you might want something that matches the theme, for example a superhero cake, treasure chest or football. You can choose from a great selection in most supermarkets, but there are also many independent companies that can make custom cakes to your requirements.

7. Prepare party bags

The final step before the big day is to sort out the party bags or boxes to say thanks to all the young partygoers for making it a great day! Fill these with things you know the kids will love and that will also keep them entertained. Look for retailers like Card Party which sell multipacks of toys you can include, such as yo-yos, crayons, balloons and bouncy balls – and of course, don’t forget to add some sweets!

8. Hire a professional photographer

Photos galore are typically taken at parties. Why have the stress of taking these yourself?

Hiring a professional event photographer will ensure you enjoy the party more and have great photos to look at afterwards. A good photographer will capture both candid moments and posed moments, such as blowing out the candles on the birthday cake.

Some event photographers can even print photos instantly for guests to take away with them which is a great touch. Having a gallery to share of quality photos with the other parents is a great way to finish off the party and for it to be remembered.

Guest Article. Contains a sponsored link.