Top Tips for Party Sucess!

Some tips to help make you child's birthday party go smoothly and is enjoyed by the children and grown ups.

• Check the suitability of the date, avoiding school holidays and special days such as Easter, also check that your child's best friends can make it.
• Don't make the party too long 1 ½ - 2 hours is fine (it's quality of time not quantity!). Always have a specific end time.
  
• Ask for an RSVP on the invitations and specify by when.
  
• Make sure to enrol the help of family and friends, so there's a good grown up to child ratio.
  
• If the party's not at home always make sure you have plenty of kitchen roll and wipes as well as dustbin liners, a bag to take home the presents, a knife for the cake and matches.
  
• Consider sharing your party with one of your child's friends, this helps reduce the cost and halves the workload.
  
• Name the party bags and have a couple spare just in case.
  
• Tie up any balloons - balloons on the floor are just to tempting not to pop!
  
• You don't have to have expensive gift bags, depending on the time of year, a selection box or Easter Egg are great to take home or simply a big bar of Chocolate works wonders.
• If you're planning an outdoor party always have a contingency in case of bad weather.
  
• Plan a few extra games (better to have too many than too few) and have some extra prizes.
  
• Try and have some games (e.g. pass the parcel) where everyone can win a small prize.
  
• Make sure you have the camera on hand and give someone else the responsibility of taking the photos.
• If the party is for very small children (under 4) state on the invitation whether or not you need parents to stay for the party (if parents are staying you may want to provide refreshments). From the age of about 4 most children will stay on there own. It's a good idea to get a contact number from parents who are leaving their children.
  
• Don't forget to relax and enjoy the party.