Collaborative Post¦ Planning a children’s birthday party might sound easy to those who’ve never done it, but for us mums, it can be a stressful time.
These parties often require a lot of organisation and can be difficult to get right, especially as you have to please not only your child but also the kids who will be attending and their parents.
Hosting a child’s birthday party doesn’t have to be stressful if you go about it the right way, which is why we’ve put together this list of tips to help you make the process easier and more straightforward.
Set A Budget
With the average child’s birthday party costing as much as £500, it’s clear that it’s easy to let cost get away from you when planning a celebration for your little one. While you might want them to have everything their heart desires, you also need to remember that the price you pay to host their party doesn’t necessarily equal how much they enjoy it. Kids can still have a bad time at an expensive party if it’s not to their tastes, and equally, many children enjoy simple parties. So, when you’re planning the party, make sure you set a budget. Break it down into how much you expect to pay for every aspect of the event so that you know how much you have to spend and where the money will go. This approach will reduce your expenditure and put less pressure on you, as you’ll know that when you add up the final cost, it won’t be excessive.
Lay Down Ground Rules
Birthday party etiquette for hosts, parents and children can be a minefield, and there are many unspoken rules out there. To make things easier for everyone involved, make sure that you spell out what you expect on the invitation without being too demanding. So, you should discuss whether you want parents to stay, or if they can leave their child at the party. You should also explain if there is anything that kids need to bring, such as swimsuits for a pool party. Be kind but also set boundaries so that parents don’t take advantage and use your child’s birthday celebration as free childcare. Other parents might have requirements for their kids, such as dietary restrictions, so be open and communicative to make sure everyone stays safe, feels respected and has a great time.
Create A Gift Wishlist
Most guests at children’s birthday parties bring a gift, but many parents might not know what to bring or be scared of duplicating presents. As such, they might start calling you to ask for gift-giving advice, which will be tedious and time-consuming. To save time and ensure that your child gets fun gifts that they love, use sites like GiftWhale to create a gift wish list. This tool is completely free and allows you to share your child’s dream gifts, so the parents of attendees can easily choose from the list and find the perfect present.
Planning a child’s birthday party can be fun if you do it right. This list of tips should help you to find simple ways to save time and effort while still stage-managing the perfect celebration for your precious little one.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.