What are the best tips for planning a memorable party for your child?
Planning a birthday may seem easy, but there are several aspects that should not be overlooked. In order to celebrate in the rules of the art, here are some unwritten laws that will be of great help to you.
Guest List
Who to invite? More complicated than it looks! First, set a number of guests. A good trick is to go there by age: 3 years old, 3 friends; 4 years old, 4 friends; 5 years, 5 friends… The older the children, the less management you will have to do, so you can accommodate more. If you decide to have more guests, make sure you have someone to help you.
Don't invite the whole class, lest you upset someone. Just because Elliot invited your son to his birthday a month ago doesn't mean you absolutely have to invite him back. The important thing is not the quantity, but rather the quality. In this sense, we favor friends who already know each other and who get along well: a great way to avoid crisis management during the party!
In the same vein, we explain to our child that he should not worry too much if he is not invited to such and such a birthday party. Indeed, most invitations are passed from hand to hand,recess or daycare, and not receiving one could upset your child, who may feel rejected.
Reply quickly
Respond quickly to invitations. For hosts, it makes party planning a lot easier. And if there is no indication that parents are welcome, do not dwell on the premises. Also, make an effort to pick up your child at the indicated time: too early, you could interrupt him in the middle of a game or activity; too late, you are encroaching on the time of the parents who received you… and who are no doubt eager to find a little calm!
When it's for one, it's for two?
Don't impose the little brother or the little sister when your child is invited to a party of friends! Yes, the youngest will want to be in the party too, but most of the time birthdays are planned around a specific age group. Not only would he risk being bored or rejected there, but his presence will add to the hosts' already long list of responsibilities. Why not take the opportunity to spend some quality one-on-one time with him instead? That way, he won't feel like he's missed anything, on the contrary!
Meals, allergies and restrictions
Most of the time, parents of children with allergies will come forward without you having to ask. But, in order to ease your mind and feel reassured, ask directly onthe invitation to report any dietary restrictions. And for the menu, think of something simple. Since the children will be excited, there is no point in preparing a hot, elaborate meal, during which the children will have to sit. You can make snacks that are eaten with your fingers, nothing too complicated. Anyway, let's be clear: the important thing is the cake!
Gifts
Children get many, many gifts! In order to limit the one-upmanship, you can write on your invitation card that your child is already pampered and that the mere presence of his friends will be a present in itself. For example, a friend had received my son for his birthday with the following invitation: “Beatrice already has everything she needs. If you still want to celebrate her birthday with a gift, she invites you to make a donation in her name to the Maison du Père, or to bring her items that will be useful for the homeless (stockings, toothbrushes, -clothes, soaps…) and that she will hand over to the organization. »
Guest Gifts
Did we ever say that children get a lot of gifts? Well, that's not just true on their birthday or at Christmas. The guest gift is appreciated, but not worth spending a fortune on. Instead of opting for a bag full of trinkets that sooner or later will end up in the trash, it is better to offer a single present, but more durable. And we always give the gifts of guests to thedeparture time (another way to avoid crisis management!)
Also, instead of investing a fortune in guest gifts, you could invest that money in activities. For example, by offering children a jewelry making workshop, which they can take home. Or by setting up a photobooth, whose photos will be sent by email, in the evening!
Activity Planning
Have games planned. It is mistakenly believed that a group of children together will not be bored. However! Left to their own devices, children are likely to make mistakes and, often, to argue. To avoid conflicts, activities are therefore planned, depending on the age group of your child and his friends: from 5 to 6 years old, 7 to 8 years old , 9 to 10 years… It's better to have too much than not enough: at worst, you'll have some left over for next year!
Be prepared for anything
It's party time. Everyone will have fun. Everything will go like clockwork… At least that’s what we hope! That being said, with children, we always let a lot of the unexpected into our lives. Be ready. Be sure to replenish your bandages before the event and ask the parents to leave you a number where you can quickly reach them, just in case.
