| Most parents find organizing their child's birthday party | | | | budget? Do you want to spend it on an entertainer, |
| a daunting experience you may still feel this even if | | | | expensive food or really upmarket party bags? To |
| you have previously organized parties. For your child | | | | keep spending in control set your budget before you |
| this is a major and very important event in his year. | | | | even start planning. Avoid giving in to your child's |
| For the first two years of your child's life you have | | | | tantrums or sulks and spend more than your budget. |
| been able to organize exactly what you want for his | | | | The amount of fun children have at a party does not |
| party as he has had no opinion as to what he wanted | | | | necessarily relate to how much money you spend. |
| you to for this event. A third birthday is different; your | | | | Aim for the FUN factor. |
| child will express his preference as how the event | | | | 6. Organize help |
| should be organized, what food he wants and where | | | | Organize friends and other family members to help |
| he wants it held. This will all be influenced by the parties | | | | you. Do this well in advance, making sure you have |
| he has recently attended. | | | | extra pairs of hands as someone is bound to be |
| You have an enormous role to play in this important | | | | unavailable on the day. Assign jobs to your helpers |
| celebration. You are the person who has to organize | | | | well in advance of the actual party day. Make sure |
| entertainment, food, the guest list and invitations and | | | | they understand what you need them to do to help |
| many other little things. You don't want other parents | | | | you. |
| to judge your party and not think it is good enough. | | | | 7. Make the games short |
| 1. The Fun Factor. | | | | Bored children get into more trouble and mischief than |
| What is the point of a party? | | | | entertained ones, watch them and see. Parties are |
| To celebrate your child's birth and to give him FUN | | | | exciting occasions and children's short attention spans |
| time. This should be your highest priority. It doesn't | | | | can become even shorter, therefore have short fun |
| matter if you have an odd cup or party bag this will | | | | games. Children like to win so try and make sure that |
| not be remembered for very long. What will be | | | | everyone wins something. |
| remembered is how much FUN the children had and | | | | 8. Have a quieter activity during the party |
| this is what your planning should be centered on. Plan | | | | Prepare a craft or other quieter activity that the |
| his party with one thought in mind "FUN". | | | | children will have FUN being involved in. The best time |
| 2. Don't start too late | | | | for this activity is before just before eating or after a |
| Start early with your planning and avoid some of the | | | | noisy game. Children enjoy taking the finished article |
| stress that comes with leaving things till the last minute. | | | | home and will often talk about this activity a long time |
| Remember entertainers get booked early, some need | | | | after the party. |
| booking months in advance and if you want a | | | | 9. Keep control and have fun |
| particular one then book early. | | | | It can be very tempting to loosen your parental control |
| 3. Don't be pushed by anyone into having every child in | | | | because it's a party. Don't do it. Control and fun are not |
| the class to the party. | | | | mutually exclusive; children will have more fun if there |
| A teacher at my local preschool informed the parents | | | | are boundaries in place. Don't just stand and watch |
| that all 25 children in the class should be invited to | | | | instead have fun by joining in the activities; this will also |
| every party otherwise it would be unfair. Parents were | | | | help you keep control. |
| placed under pressure to invite more children than they | | | | 10. Get help cleaning up |
| really wanted to the party. You know what finances | | | | Cleaning up after a party can be one worst parts of |
| are available and how many children you feel happy | | | | the whole event. Organize friends or pay local |
| having. Stick to this and don't be pushed by anyone. | | | | teenagers to help with this and do it well in advance of |
| 4. Have a set number of guests in mind before | | | | the actual party day. Write a list of all the jobs that you |
| speaking to your child. | | | | know will need doing and allocate these to the people |
| Have a number in mind means you are less likely to be | | | | a couple of days before the party. Have them written |
| pushed into having more children than you really feel | | | | and attached to a surface where they can be clearly |
| comfortable with. Be willing and open to a little | | | | seen by everyone, this way you won't have |
| negotiation. | | | | remember everything once the party is finished. |
| 5. Plan your budget before you begin | | | | Above all a party should be FUN and EVERYONE |
| How do you want to spend the major share of your | | | | should enjoy it. |