How to Throw a Stress-Free Kid's Birthday Party

Your child's birthday is probably the high point of his year, as no matter how young he is, he'll be able to figure out that all of the fuss is about him! The cake, balloons, and presents are always much appreciated, as well. The trick is in throwing a birthday party for your child that won't have you tearing your hair out or busting your budget. Do you really need clowns, face painters, balloon artists or pony rides? Or will your child be just as happy with a couple of pals splashing around in an inflatable pool or playing pin the tail on the donkey? Make a plan you can work with, as your child will only truly enjoy the day if he sees that you are having fun, too.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Pick a date that works for you and for your guests. Saturdays and Sundays usually work best, even in the summer, as in summer many children will still need to be in child care or a camp of some sort. Unless you are absolutely certain that all of the children you plan to invite have at least one stay-at-home parent or guardian (or nanny), avoid planning weekday parties.
2. Determine how long you'd like the party to last, and include the time frame very clearly on your invitations, e.g. “Jeannette's party will be from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.,” instead of leaving things open ended, e.g. “Party will start at 2:00 p.m.” You want your guests to be aware that they are expected to leave at some point, and you'll need to specify that point. For most young children (up to age 4 or so), a 2-hour party should be sufficient. For older children, you may need to budget for a bit more time, especially if you have some particular types of activities planned.
3. Decide on the number of guests you'd like to invite–being aware that for each child you invite, there will be at least one accompanying adult who will also be in need of sitting space and refreshments. Young children usually do not need particularly large parties, and may in fact be overwhelmed if there are too many guests, so many party planners suggest that you invite a number of children equal to the child's age, plus one.
4. Pick a theme for your party. Your theme can be as simple as your child's favorite color, or you could use characters from your child's favorite book, movie or TV show. Involve your child in this discussion, but before you make any clever suggestions, do a little research to make sure you can easily find (or make, if you're the creative type and/or have a lot of free time) party supplies that go along with this theme. If your child is crazy about Batman you're in luck, but if she's crazy about Noddy (the little elf from the TV show of the same name), you may have a much harder time finding Noddy plates, cups, and party favors, at least in the U.S.
5. Plan the menu for your party. Simple, easy to serve foods such as pizza and hot dogs are traditional, and many kids will prefer frosted cupcakes to a slice of layer or sheet cake. If you do want a big cake, you could always plan to have some cupcakes on the side. Make sure that you have some healthy snacks as well, such as whole wheat crackers, cheese and fresh fruit.
6. Refresh your memory about how to play a couple of standard party games. How long has it been since you've played pin the tail on the donkey or musical chairs, anyway? Make sure you have the space and the equipment to play any of the games you select.

Tips & Warnings

• The pinata game can be fun, but make sure there is ample space (preferably outdoors) and adult supervision to make sure that everybody gets a fair share of the candy and nobody gets trampled or whacked with the stick
• You may wish to save any presents to be opened after the party to prevent jealousy if you do open them in front of guests, or even if you don't, it is always advisable to offer “goody bags” filled with small toys and treats for all of the children

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