Kids birthday party planning guide

FOUR WEEKS BEFORE

1. Choose a theme with your child
2. Determine the guest list
3. Reserve your party venue and/or hire a party entertainer
4. Prepare your invitations
5. Ask for an updated class list from your child’s teacher
6. Determine games, activities, and menu to match your party theme
7. If ordering a cake, place your order

THREE WEEKS BEFORE

1. Mail invitations
2. Purchase party supplies, especially if ordering online
3. Arrange for extra help, if necessary

ONE WEEK BEFORE

1. Create a party flow schedule
2. Purchase more party supplies as needed
3. Call families who have not yet responded to your invitation
4. If you are going to have the party outdoors in your yard or lawn, clean the area and prepare it for the event

THREE DAYS BEFORE

1. Purchase food
2. Make sure your camera is charged and ready to take photos/videos
3. Call entertainer to confirm appearance and expectations
4. Call party venue to confirm all details
5. Assemble party favors

ONE OR TWO DAYS BEFORE

1. Bake cake or pick up the pre-ordered cake
2. Confirm help if using extra help
3. Decorate a home or gather decorations for the party venue
4. Prepare “make-ahead food” if any will be served
5. If you are going to hold the party outside, make sure there is some shade where the kids can sit and also for the performer
6. Check weather forecast information and plan accordingly

DOs AND DON’Ts:

• Don’t: invite more kids than you can handle.
• Don’t: let just the kids run wild, have a set party schedule for them to follow.
• Don’t: make regular balloons into toys, they can pop which will make loud noises and scare the kids. Balloon animals are great for play.
• Don’t: load the kids with sugar. Sugar makes most kids hyperactive and harder to control.
• Don’t: serve foods that may trigger allergic reactions in children, such as peanuts, shellfish, milk, etc.
• Don’t: distribute anything to the kids during a performer’s show unless pre-arranged with the performer ahead of time.
• Do: decide early on a party theme.
• Do: serve a variety of food, not all people like the same thing.