Planning a party....
....... for your child can be fun - or it can be a minefield of political correctness and decisions! We've made it easy by producing a checklist for members of pleasemiss.co.uk. For those of you who haven't joined our club yet, here are some tips and some useful websites:
The venue
The choice is home, hiring a hall or a professional party venue. Most children's restaurants, play centres and attractions will offer a party service. They do everything for you, including provision of invitations. This is hassle-free but can get pricey if you are inviting lots of children. Expect to pay between '7 and '15 per head. Book your party well in advance, especially in the cooler months when partying in the garden is not an option! If you're hiring a hall, check it out first and make sure their fire inspections etc. are up to date. Make sure they have insurance too. Check out parking and catering facilities before booking.
The invitations
It's often difficult to decide who to invite, either because you don't know everyone or there are simply too many. Older children can pick a certain number of special friends or you can invite the whole class. But don't expect everyone to RSVP who turns up on the day is usually a surprise. For younger children in big classes, you can opt for the 'girls/boys only' rule to get the numbers down. Make sure the invitation is really clear about all the details and give people at least 2 weeks notice.
Games and entertainment
If you're using a professional entertainer, it makes sense to see him / her perform first! And don't be afraid to ask for changes in their routine for your party. You may still need other games or attractions such as pass the parcel or a bouncy castle. If you're doing a traditional party at home, make sure all of the games are well-prepared in advance and that you have a few extra ones up your sleeve. The old games still work the best and children will be happy to play the same one more than once. And even 8 year old boys like 'pin the tail on the donkey' (or similar!). Parties usually last for about 2 hours, but don't be afraid to go for longer especially for older children.
Food
Keep it simple. You don't want to miss anything so the best advice is to prepare everything in advance. Try and avoid pork as many children can't eat this for religious reasons it's easier just to leave it out altogether. And of course be careful not to include anything with nuts for obvious reasons.
Party Bags
You don't HAVE to do party bags if you want something different or you're on a tight budget. A lucky dip on leaving is fun and a bit different and of course don't forget the birthday cake!
But if you do want to impress your friends then check out the The Party Bag. They provide a range of made-up bags from just ?1.05. My favourite is the Bath Party Pack - full of bathtime fun and a few sweets too.
Useful links
Party food:
Early Learning Sheets
