SOME mums relish the up and coming birthday party. Others cringe when their child announces.

” I wanna party, a big party! Can I invite everyone in my class?!”

The sweat beads roll down the side of my forehead.

Either way, children’s birthdays will occur and the party will take place. I personally believe DO the party that you can manage. And remember these two words:

Budget

Prepare

My parties for 4-10 year olds usually equate to inviting a small number of children to our home. Ten, max, and the possibility of siblings too. This is relatively small. With games arranged and more backup games when they have run out.

Here are some simple tips to make The Party a success.

Contact big dinosaur cardboard footprints to the floor in the direction of your choosing. Whether it be towards the cake or in the entrance hall towards the party. Just wherever you have a surface that some homemade large footprints will stick.

Have a V.I.P homemade card that comes with the invitation.

Have tea and coffee ready. For parents that will stay.

Milkarrow root biscuits for any younger siblings on a mums hip. Also these biscuits make a great party activity. Spread with frosting and allow the kids to decorate with lollies

Make your own pizza is always a hit! Use breakfast muffin. Children can spread on sauce. Sprinkle on cheese.  Add other ingredients, then cook and eat

Have music playing,  as this makes a great atmosphere. Especially when kids arrive and hear their favourite singer/band.

Themes are a great way to get into the spirit of the party. Colour theme. Disney or Pirate theme.

Have a black marker ready to put names on plastic cups, for refills.

Games like musical chairs, pass the parcel and pin the tail on the donkey are classics. If the children are chomping at the bit, try these.

Musical statues is an oldie but goodie – when music stops the aim is to be still as possible. Or you’re out.

Throw dice and a child who throws a six has to put on dress up clothes like dads buttoned shirt, big work boots, Mums scarf on top of their clothes. When another six is thrown, another child starts dressing. If someone is fully dressed, they win.

Of course straight out dancing is fun.

Jelly cups ready in the fridge with whipped cream on top is a great way to get everyone to stop and sit to have something to eat. Nice weather is always a bonus. Sit outdoors with jelly to avoid mess!

The important detail of the party is time. Put a time on the invitation. From: time and To: time.  Allow enough time for games, food, cake time. And then they leave.

 Party bags for the end of occasion is always a favourite.

Ultimately there will be mess, there will be the unexpected, like the dog eating unsupervised jelly parfaits outside.  Or a child  falls off a seat in musical chairs.  But it IS a kids party and it does not come with a money back guarantee. Nor a warranty that the dress up game’s shirt will still have all the buttons it started with.

And Finally, have fun or at least fake it!