Your child is the most beautiful thing that happened to you and it still brings tears of happiness in your eyes whenever his/her birthday is around. All the kids want their party to be more fun than their friend’s and you want your kid’s party to be different from other parties with lots of food and fun. And making it different might cost you lots at times, but for any party to be a success you might not only need money but efficient planning too. So, the next time you want to make your child’s birthday a day to remember, remember that sufficient planning is the magical key to success.
1. Budget: Draw up a budget for the party and stick to it. Plan things with your child who suits your budget as well as go with your child’s desires.
2. Right Timing: Make sure that the party does not clash with your husband’s outstation trip/your wife’s monthly kitty do/the day your maid is on leave.
3. Party Venue: A party at home is usually the most economical, but you can also rent a hall or command your own building's play area for a bigger bash. Take kids on a picnic, complete with picnic baskets. Such creative ideas will not only be very economical but very different for the kids to enjoy.
4. Theme: Theme parties are exciting because you can involve your kid in think up creative ideas for dressing, games and decoration. Some of the best-loved themes include Barbie, Superheroes, Jungle Book, Lion King and Star Wars.
5. Invitations: The invitee list will depend upon the number of friends your child has and of course the number of families closet o yours. Make sure you do not invite more grownups than children to your child’s party and send the invitations at least five days in advance.
6. Fun Games: Fun games are the highlights of any kid’s party. Plan them and get prizes for the winners.
7. Decorations: Avoid stationery stores for this and hit a party store instead. You will get everything under one roof. You will not only get variety but also will save the energy for looking for them elsewhere.
8. Return Gifts: Return gifts are important, but think this through carefully. Whistles, funny masks, color pencils and bubble blowers all work well with kids. Make sure that they are age appropriate. Ensure you have some extra return gifts for surprise.
9. Cake: Order or bake the cake in advance.
10. Menu: Plan the menu in advance keeping in mind the vegetarian/ non-vegetarian components. Balance the menu with care. Check in advance for any food allergies children may have. Plan extra food for parents who may drop in.
Keep your child’s birth day party short. Do not tire yourself or the kids out too much. Keep a pre-school birthday party limited to 90 minutes. For school-going children, three hours should be the upper limit. Just for that day, focus less on tidiness and more on fun.