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Child Party Ideas
by Brittany Michaels
Organizing a party for children used to be a simple affair. You made some buns and hot dogs, ordered a clown and you were in business. The bar on child parties was raised some time ago and kids are more sophisticated and demanding now. They almost expect to have jumphouses, those extremely large inflatable 'houses' where the kids jump up and down inside, at every party or outdoor event. Ten years ago, a jumphouse provider was booked solid for parties every weekend in California; now, even with close to a dozen jumphouse providers in the area, a jumphouse provider can still earn a decent living.
The first thing to do when organizing a party is to remain calm and don't panic! It's the same advice the boy scout masters give their scouts: stay calm, don't panic, and above all, be prepared. As long as you prepare some good child party ideas and plan ahead, everyone will have a great time.
The party needs to be appropriate to the time of year and to the age of the children. Most parties cater to mixed ages, and the range of child party ideas starts at newborn age and goes up from there. If it's summertime, you may want to hold the party event in the garden but make sure you can easily move inside if the weather is less than favorable.
Some food can be prepared in advance and frozen, saving time on the day. Be sure to ask the parents if there are any special dietary requirements that you should know. You should also know about any medical conditions of children, e.g. epilepsy or asthma. A medical emergency can ruin any party.
Some parents may want to stay at the party, especially if a child is very shy or new to the neighborhood, and it's important to make them feel welcome. This may work out to your favor, with the parents lending a helping hand and becoming your friends. Time the party to last between two and three hours and even less time for children less than 8 years old. A longer time will result in overtired children and arguments may break out.
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Party Themes Can Insure Your Guests Arrival
A lot of parties these days have themes. It has almost become a necessity, and especially so for child parties. The best ones reflect the personality of the birthday boy or girl. If they want to grow up to be an astronaut, a pirate or a cowboy, they can dress up as that. What kids want to be is a great party theme.
When deciding on a good party theme, consider common themes. If you make your theme a little too wild and request that everyone dress up as an animal from a safari, you may get a lot of confusion and complaints about how to fulfill your request. Keep your party theme simple. The simpler, the less confusion. The less confusion, the more people will come to your party.
Party Themes Set the Mood and Tone
Whatever the theme, the party food and decorations revolve around it. For example, a climbing frame in the garden could be adapted as a pirate ship with the aid of an old sheet as the sail. The children could fight with cardboard swords before settling down to skull and crossbones decorated cakes. Child party ideas could revolve around a favorite cartoon character or a figure from literature.
Party Games Are Often Remembered
Everyone likes games and children and adults can enjoy party games together. You can't beat the old favorites such as pass the parcel, blind man's buff and pin the tail on the donkey. It's better to organize the party games so that each child receives a small present, not just the winner. This avoids tears at bedtime. Child party ideas such as a treasure hunt are ideal for getting everyone involved, of all ages. When the fun is over, you can send the kids home with a goodie bag as a memento. The party gifts don't have to be expensive; they will be often be content with some cake and a balloon.
For more information on party themes, party food, especially healthy party food that tastes good, party games and more, see The Party Solution Handbook Child Party Ideas
About the Author:
Brittany Michaels has thrown over 150 parties in her lifetime and now writes as a freelance writer on the subject.