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Party

10 Steps for Successful PARTIES
By Jamie Jarvis

1. Involve your child. Party planning is a great opportunity to share a fun time with your child. Including your child in the process will ensure that the party reflects your child’s interests.

2. Prioritize. Focus on the key things that create party fun and are most important to your child. There are so many fun things you can do, buy and make for your child’s party that it can sometimes become bigger and fancier than it really needs to be, creating extra work and cost. When in doubt, put your efforts into games and activities instead of food and decorations.

3. Budget. Don’t spend more than you want or need to. Look for low-cost party supplies and favors at discount stores. Have the party at a one-stop party place, such as a kids’ gym, museum, indoor play center or restaurant.

4. Plan. Identify the date, time, and location for the party and develop the guest list with your child’s help. Create an agenda for the party, including time for games, crafts, entertainment, and refreshments. Develop a checklist to determine what preparations need to be done when.

5. Prepare. Do as much ahead of time as possible. Then you won’t be in a panic if you get the flu the week before the party or have a huge work project dumped in your lap. Prepare party favors, and games and activities a couple of weeks ahead. You can then spend the days before the party focusing on the things that absolutely must wait until the last minute.

6. Use shortcuts. Look at your planning checklist and identify the things you can purchase ready-made or pay someone else to do. Your “I’ll do it myself” list should focus on the things you have to do because they’re either not available or too expensive to purchase.

7. Get help. Give everyone in the family, including the party child, some responsibilities. Dad can pick up the balloons, brother can make the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and the party child can set up the obstacle course.

8. Be realistic. Don’t think everything has to be perfect—it won’t be. Some game you thought would be a big hit will be too easy, too difficult or too slow. Help your child be sensible. Remind her that she can have a great time even if she doesn’t win every game and doesn’t receive every present she wants.

9. Be flexible. Don’t stress out when things don’t go as planned. Be ready to shift gears and go to Plan B if a game or activity isn’t a big hit. Alternate rambunctious games with quieter ones to keep the children’s energy at reasonable levels.

10. Have fun. Parties are a great opportunity to share a memorable time with your child. Keep in mind that it won’t be too long before your child thinks he is too old for parties or just wants to be dropped off at the movies with friends. Enjoy the silly games and sprinkle-covered cupcakes while you can

Courtesy of Jamie Jarvis of www.kidspartyfun.com