It’s hard, isn’t it?
You want to throw the perfect party for your child, but the very thought fills you with dread!
You’ve seen the perfect Pinterest parties and the beautiful Instagram stories and if you’re honest, you feel overwhelmed before you even start!
I’ve been there.
Planning a kid’s birthday party can be one of the most stressful things a mum can do. It might even leave you wondering if it’s even worth it…
But what if I told you there’s another way? What if I told you, it doesn’t have to be stressful, that it can actually be enjoyable!
I’m going to share with you planning tips to make your child’s party special without feeling overwhelmed and stressed out with every decision. And not just that, I want to show you how to have fun planning your child’s party!
Plan Ahead as much as you can
You may be tempted to think that your child’s birthday is quite a way off yet and you don’t need to worry about it for a while, but you mustn’t forget that you will need to send invites out ahead of the party. So you already need to know your venue, the time, and even the theme if you want to include this in your invitations.
This can seem a little overwhelming but so long as you start thinking about these things a month or two before the party, this gives you time to enjoy the process without any pressure. This also allows you to include your child in choosing what kind of party they want. Remember, this party is all about your child and at this point, all you need to concern yourself with is what will make your kid happy.
Get inspired
Now is the time to get on Instagram, use Pinterest, read blogs, and scroll through the endless ideas.
But my all-important tip here is to use the words simple, easy, and quick in your searches. These will give you plenty of ideas that aren’t going to take up all your time, they aren’t going to require loads of added extras, and they aren’t going to leave your feeling overwhelmed by the task ahead!
Choose your theme
Once you’ve got a string of ideas, it’s time to narrow down to the theme for your party. Having a theme makes everything easier!
Once you have a theme you can choose your venue based on the type of party you want to throw. So if you’ve decided on a sports-themed party, then a sports hall seems like a good option. If you’re having a pamper party, then perhaps a party at home works best.
The theme will also determine what decorations you need, what cake you will have, how many guests to invite and what kind of food you will serve.
Consider everyone who will be at the party
So once you’ve planned all you can beforehand, it’s about planning for the actual day. One of the best ways to do this is to consider who will be there and what they will be doing.
Your child is the one who matters most – it’s their party after all! So make sure your child is happy and having fun!
Next, you will want to think about the other children, make sure you’ve planned some backup activities if they get bored – it’s likely you won’t need these if all they want to do is run around together (especially if you’re in an open space) but it’s always best to be prepared.
And finally, think about the adults who will be there – what will you have for the parents who are coming, the family who might be helping and anyone else who is there other than the children.
You don’t need to go all out, just providing hot drinks or nibbles for the grown-ups can go a long way to making them feel comfortable and included.
Thank-yous
So you’ve got to the end of the party, and it’s time for everyone to leave. You hand out the party bags (or a simple alternative you came up with on your search for inspiration!) and you thank everyone for coming to the party along with your child.
This is such a simple gesture, but thanking the guests personally is a great way for you to finish off the party, and it keeps the focus on the birthday boy or girl and how grateful you are for those who have made it a special day.
To wrap it all up
- Planning is key, give yourself time to plan ahead, get the basics sorted and then dive into the inspiration phase!
- Be sure to search for simple and easy ideas so that you don’t become overwhelmed.
- Choose a theme, this is vital to keeping things simple, it will help make all your decisions easier.
- Ensure you’ve catered for everyone at the party, so you don’t have to worry about it on the day.
- Thank everyone for coming and give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done!
- And at every point make sure it’s all about your child, if they are happy, you will be!
What is it that you find most stressful about planning a party for your child?
Do you have any tips on how to make the process less overwhelming and more fun?
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!