| The work-hungry family-commitment scales of life | | | | Plan the party food to be served near a time when |
| are weighted towards the pressures placed upon the | | | | children would normally eat. Take this into |
| ever extending hours at the office job. Many seem | | | | consideration when initially deciding the start time to |
| to believe this balance can be reset every few | | | | the party. |
| months by throwing the credit card at a special | | | | Games |
| event. And it's not just family time that is shrinking | | | | Plan a number of individual and team games |
| but with the ubiquitous broadband and mobile | | | | throughout the party, however make the final game |
| technology, the home is reducing in size as mini | | | | reveal a prize to share with every child. We conclude |
| office-extensions now appear in the spare-bedroom | | | | with pinata. Children take it in turns to break the |
| and office filing cabinets under the stairs. | | | | party centre-piece. Once broken the floor is |
| Websites such as Birthdays without pressure and | | | | showered with prizes to share and everyone goes |
| social experts try to calm the money spenders by | | | | home a winner.dressing up |
| promoting interaction and play rather than looks and | | | | If you have organsied a pirate or a wild west party |
| splendour. | | | | at your home, a number of the invited may arrive |
| With families seeing both parents in full-time work, | | | | dressed the part. You may then have concerns |
| many are turning to party organisers and outside | | | | about children swinging their plastic swords at your |
| caterers to arrange the children's birthday party. Small | | | | newly decorated room or firing guns at your best |
| Important People, a midlands-based party-organiser, | | | | china-wear. Have an empty box ready to store all |
| have seen a continual jump in the average cost | | | | armory during the party. |
| spent on each party for the last 3 years "we | | | | Ages |
| frequently receive calls to organise large scale | | | | Having a party with mixed ages works really well. |
| parties..." explains party organiser Sarah Rose "Don't | | | | Just add an extra hurdle in some of the games for |
| make arrangements to impress other parents but | | | | the older children. For our pirate party we play a |
| remember who the party is for". Their website has | | | | simple find and collect the hidden treasure. We |
| party tips for all party planning parents. | | | | stagger the start time on this game so the youngest |
| Saftey | | | | children begin collecting first and oldest last. |
| If you are to hire a room, ensure it meets safety | | | | Distractions |
| requirements. Children will run around. | | | | Clear away items that will distract children from the |
| Remember who the party is really for | | | | main party. A nearby football may interest a child |
| Grand ideas designed to impress other people don't | | | | away from the main party game. When one person |
| work. Keep it simple. Children will enjoy playing with | | | | starts others will then follow this distraction. You can |
| balloons and empty boxes. | | | | organiser too much entertainment! |
| Invite a family friend to help | | | | Start the party |
| Most people will be thrilled to be asked. | | | | Start the party with a quick game, to allow for |
| Food | | | | late-comers |
| Follow the eating with a sit down entertainment such | | | | 5-10 minutes into the party when all your guests |
| as a magic show or craft. (i.e. not running around). | | | | have arrived. Sit them in a circle, explain your planned |
| Sweets | | | | party and any "no-zone areas". |
| Hand out all the sweets at the end of the party. It's | | | | Tidy up Time |
| easier to control 30 children who are not pumped | | | | Parties always take 3 times longer than you |
| high on e-numbers. | | | | expected to tidy up. If you are hiring as hall, Allow |
| Party Numbers | | | | time. |
| If it's your first attempt at running a party, keep the | | | | Party bags To prevent party-bags shortages, errors |
| numbers to a minimum - below 20. | | | | and mix-ups, add a gift tag or sticker onto the party |
| Time | | | | bag with the name of the child the party bag is |
| 2 hours is adequate | | | | intended for. |
| Time of party food | | | | |