How to Plan a Surprise Birthday Party

A surprise party can be a great way to celebrate your child's birthday. Planning a surprise party takes a lot of work, but it can be well worth the effort to see the unsuspecting guest of honor's face as they enter the room and everyone yells "Surprise!" If you are looking for a special way to celebrate your kid's birthday, consider throwing a surprise party.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Pick a theme that your child will love. Give some thought to your child's interests and pick a theme that celebrates him or her. You can incorporate food, decor, music, activities, invitations and a cake to go along with the theme.

2. Plan the logistics. Decide on the location, menu, invitations, activities and guest list. Solidify the details 2 to 3 months before the party.

3. Invite people that your child loves but doesn’t get to see often. Friends from different schools, family members from out-of-state or other people that your child would love to see but wouldn't expect to be there are great people to invite.

4. Enlist the help of a friend. You'll need a friend or a friend's parent to help you pull of the surprise. They can be the dedicated person to get them to the surprise party.

5. Do your planning when your child isn't around. You don't want to ruin the surprise by getting caught as you plan.

6. Be sure to tell everyone it's a surprise. Tell them twice. You don't want a well-meaning person to accidentally spill the beans and ruin the surprise by asking about party details. Mark the invitations clearly that it's a surprise.

Tips & Warnings

• Have a video camera ready to capture the expression of your child when they enter the room!
• Avoid telling siblings about the party.