Kids Party Etiquette

An enormous amount of energy and time goes into selecting the perfect theme for a kid's party, complete with matching decorations, cake and invitations. Some basic rules of etiquette should be followed to ensure that the event is enjoyable.

Invitations

To avoid hurting the feelings of someone who hasn't been invited, party invitations should be mailed instead of giving them to your child to hand out at school. It is also a good idea to discourage the child from talking about the party in advance.

Guest

When deciding how many children to invite, kids' party planning expert Lisa Kothari advises, "Invite the same number as the age of your child will be, plus one." Prepare for a few extra guests, as some parents may bring an uninvited sibling.

Entertainment

Games and activities should be designed to include even the shyest kid. If prizes will be given out, make sure no child leaves empty handed. Perhaps goodie bags for everyone would fill this need.

Gifts

Children can be brutally honest. For this reason, it may be a good idea to reserve gift opening for after party guests leave. If you have decided to open them, you should explain to your child beforehand that it gracious to respond with gratitude to each gift, even if he already has two of what he opened.

Considerations

Having a child sending thank you notes teaches politeness. Shama Narang, of Scholastic Parent, says, "Even pre-literate kids can draw a picture or 'autograph' a note you write as a thank-you."

References

• Scholastic Parent
• Hostess with the Mostess