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How To Plan a Birthday Party

By Jolly Holly the Clown
www.jollyhollytheclown.com

7 Ideas to help with party planning

• Plan Ahead - It is the attention to detail that makes a difference. Check your school and community calendars to make sure that the date you have selected does not conflict with other community activities.


• Most parties last about 2 hours. Although there are no ‘hard and fast rules,’ the most successful parties have entertainment in the beginning to the middle of the party and the cake-and-ice-cream and opening up of gifts towards the end of the party. Adjust the length of the party to fit those activities.


• Provide a guest book and encourage children to write something for the guest of honor.


• Finger snacks are more affordable than pizza - or a full meal. Pig ‘n’ blankets and chicken nuggets, are always big hits. Allow 4-6 pieces per child and avoid drippy, gooey or highly seasoned sauces.


• One fun break-the ice activity - ask each guest to bring a tasteful joke to the party. Children can tell their jokes while waiting for the other guests to arrive.


• Make sure that games and crafts are age-appropriate. Not sure about this? One web site that can help you with this is www.amazingmoms.com.


• Consider removing all the chairs from the party area. This allows for more room for games. If you are hiring Professional Entertainment, take care of this early in the planning stages. Good entertainers book up quickly. A good way to find an entertainer is to ask around: Your child's school. PTA, and other parents might have some input into this. Here are some good questions to ask your entertainer: What do they do in their show? How long is their performance? What age group is this best suited for? What do they charge and is a deposit necessary? Do they accept credit cards and.. Do they have references?