For every parent, throwing the perfect birthday party for their kid is a big deal. But memorable birthday parties don’t just happen. It takes more than a few decorations and a yummy cake to get it right. They involve some effort, thorough planning, a bit of inspiration and more stress than we care to admit. After all, it’s not a party like any other. It’s a special event and you want everyone to have a great time, children and adults.
But how do you plan the most amazing birthday bash for your little one without burning a hole in your pocket and wearing yourself out? Is it even possible? We dare to say it is. Birthday parties shouldn’t be regarded as a nerve-racking chore. On the contrary, they should be a fun and exciting time for your little one and for you as well. Not sure how to cut stress out of the equation? We’ll share some of the best tips and tricks with you to make birthday party planning a piece of cake.
Budget first
You don’t want to put a price on your child’s happiness, but you must be reasonable and act like a responsible adult nevertheless. It’s easy to get carried away when planning a dream party for your child. There are so many cute items that you could buy and you want the very best for your kid, so you can go over budget without even noticing. It’s best to decide on a number first and then start your shopping spree. You have to consider all the expenses, big and small when planning your budget. Resists the temptation to buy everything you see on the internet. You only have one birthday party to organize, not ten.
Create a guest list
How large is the party going to be? This is a question you have to ask yourself when creating the guest list. Will you invite everyone you know or are you going to keep it simple and have just a few family members and friends over? Since it’s your kid’s birthday party, you might want to ask him who they want at their party. You don’t have to feel bad for not inviting everyone. Even if your child is outgoing and social by nature, it doesn’t mean he’s friends with everyone and inviting people he doesn’t feel comfortable around will ruin the whole experience for him.
When it comes to sending out party invitations, we warmly recommend going paperless. You can create wonderful electronic invitations that look just as cute as printed ones and save some money in the process.
Decide on the location
It’s important to choose the right venue for the birthday bash if you want everyone to feel comfortable. You might think that throwing the party at home is the best idea since it’s much cheaper, but that’s a great choice only if you are ok with cleaning and tidying up after your guests leave, and believe us, you’ll have a lot of cleaning to do. Also, you must consider if you have enough space to welcome all the guests. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a large house or a backyard.
However, if you want to be more practical about it, and save yourself the trouble, you can choose to hire a venue. Just make sure it’s the right size (look at that guest list to help you decide) and it’s suitable for kids – a play area is a great bonus.
Choose a theme
Here comes the fun part: choosing a theme for the party! The options are endless, which makes it both exciting and hard to decide. If your kid has a favorite cartoon (hello Frozen fans) or is passionate about something in particular such as astrology or ballet, you can make that the theme of the party and you’ll know for sure he/she will love it. Having a theme also makes decorating so much easier. You can buy all sorts of decorations related to the theme, from balloons and banners to printed birthday ribbons, tablecloths or party hats and create a dream world for your little guests. The best part is you won’t have to run around shops and wait for inspiration to strike or create decorations yourself which can be time-consuming.
Serve the tastiest food
Now let’s talk cake! Easily the most exciting moment of every birthday party is the serving of the cake. That’s what all the kids are waiting for (and some of the adults, to be completely honest), so no pressure! If you want to make it really special, you can bake the cake yourself. You don’t have to be at Martha Stewart bake level to make a delicious cake. However, if your baking skills are not something you can brag about, this is not a good moment to experiment, in which case it’s best to leave it to a professional.
If you’ve decided to throw the birthday party at home, you’ll have a bunch of hungry kids in your backyard and you must keep their tummies happy. Keep it simple with some sandwiches or pizza if the kids are older. Also, don’t forget to ask about food allergies or dietary restrictions to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Fun filled games and activities
Now that you’ve got the menu covered, you have to think about how you’re going to entertain your guests, both little and big. No birthday party can ever be complete without fun games and entertaining activities. Classic party games are always a great idea to get the party going and make sure there’s never a dull moment. There are lots of activities you can plan, for both indoor and outdoor settings. Some lively music in the background will also help to set the right atmosphere. If you want to keep the kids busy at all times and you’ve got the budget for it, you can hire a professional entertainer. And just like that, you’ve found the recipe for a successful birthday party.
