Whether it’s their first birthday or their fourteenth, making your child’s party as special as possible is at the top of every parent’s to-do list. Birthday is always a big deal and event for your kids, and there will be some grant celebration with gifts, flowers, food, and friends. You need to plan the parties meticulously so that everyone enjoys them thoroughly at home. It would need an eye for detail to organize a very lively party.

1. Choose a Theme

Photo: iStock

The first step to planning a kid’s birthday party is choosing a theme. While not all parties have to have a theme, it’s encouraged to think of one to make the party more unique and align with your child’s interests. Think about your child’s favorite activity or movie as a starting place. These can make great party themes. Other areas to think about when choosing a theme are favorite places to visit, toys, or characters they look up to. Some themes will be easier to find party accessories for, more than others, but it makes for a good opportunity to get creative and get the whole family involved in the brainstorming process!

If you’re having trouble figuring out a theme your child will love, here are some popular party ideas to consider for your kid’s birthday party:

1. Unicorns

2. Superheros

3. Mermaids

4. Video Games

5. Llamas

6. Princesses

7. Dinosaurs

8. Pirates

9. Favorite movie or TV show

2. Check for budget constraints

Photo: Shutterstock

Set a budget before you start with the birthday planning. Setting up a budget will help you identify how much you can spend while organizing the party. Out of the total budget that you have set for the party, you can assign different budgets as well. Setting a budget is crucial as it may have a direct impact on the food you serve and the number of people you would like to invite.

here are a few helpful tips on how you can save money, and not use credit when throwing a party.

Have it At Home

Renting out a venue or paying for a meal at a restaurant can get quite expensive. If possible, consider having your party at home. This might not work if you live in a small space or if you are having a larger event, but it is certainly a terrific idea if you can swing it. If you want to do something special or do not want to handle all these arrangements, you can hire a caterer and or an entertainer. It will still likely be cheaper than holding your event somewhere else.

Limit the Guest List

No matter what type of party you are having, a large guest list will mean large costs. When you have more people coming, you will have to buy more food, more drinks, and even possibly need a larger venue. Limiting your guest list to those who you really enjoy being around and those who mean the most to you may be a smart way to keep costs in check.

Shop at Discount Stores

Discount stores and dollar stores are perfect options for affordable decorations and other party necessities. You can buy balloons, napkins, tablecloths, utensils, and everything else you need at most dollar stores, and you will save a lot of money at the same time.

Consider When to Have the Party

If you do not want the extra cost of serving a full meal at your party, consider the timing of it so it falls outside of a regular mealtime. For instance, you can make the start time after dinner, and then you will only need to serve drinks and snacks, instead of more substantial meal service.

3. Determine the Guest List & Send Invitations

Photo: SK art and craft

The next step is to determine who you’re inviting and then send out invitations. While this may seem like a fairly easy step, it can actually be rather difficult. The best way to decide who is on the guest list is to determine a budget and how many children can come within that budget. This makes it easier to start choosing the main guests, such as close family and friends. From there, if there is some wiggle room, go ahead and add others. Also, some parties may be for friends only and others may be a family party. It’s important to know what kind of party you want before you make your guest list.

Things to consider when making a guest list are:

1. How many guests does your budget allow?

2. How big or small do you prefer it to be?

3. Will the party be for your kid’s friends or only family members?

4. Does the party venue or your house have enough space for all the guests you want to invite?

It’s also important to determine what kind of invitations you want to use for the party.

Three invitation types to consider are:

1. Store-bought: Store-bought birthday invitations will be fairly cheap, however, there are a limited number of options. There may not be invitations available that suit your party theme if you do choose to have one.

2. Custom made: Custom-made invitations can be made on a number of different invitation-making websites. You can make the exact invitation you want with design, color, and theme. However, these tend to be a little more expensive than store-bought invitations.

3. DIY: Sometimes with custom-made invitations, they may not have what you’re looking for in their options. Making DIY invitations will give you the exact invitation you want and at a fraction of the price of custom-made invitations. You do, however, have to make these yourself, which can be time-consuming but also a ton of fun!

4. How to select a date and day

Most parties are enjoyed best on Friday evenings and Saturday the whole day. Keeping this in mind you can organize the party on the nearest Friday evening or Saturday after the birthday. However, you can also plan to organize the party on the same day as your child’s birthday if the date falls mid-week.

5. Prepare a cake

Now you have your numbers and your theme, it’s time for the ultimate decision…..it’s cake time. Yes, of course, you can go for a perfectly fine, shop-bought chocolate caterpillar or a traybake with cut-out stars, but it’s just so dull. You could also DIY your own cake but should you not want the added stress or last-minute panic of a flopped cake we really do recommend outsourcing to a professional!

Choosing a kids’ birthday cake that your guests will never forget is far more exciting. And these days, you don’t even have to hunt around for a local baker as you can buy cakes online and have them delivered directly to the venue. Whether you want a magical unicorn cake, an Alice in Wonderland-themed treat, or a cascading cookie cake, Anges De Sucre combines elegance with fun, deliciousness with decadence.

6. Entertainment & Games

Photo: Mas&Pas

Clowns, magicians, DJs, Disney princesses, a bouncy castle….the options are endless. Costs for a good entertainer can reach up to £300 per hour but keeping those mini party guests entertained is priceless. If you are thinking about hiring a professional entertainer, make sure you book early to avoid disappointment.

Or, if you want to keep things a bit lower-key but just as fun, planning some party games will keep things ticking along nicely and get the party into full swing. Here are some low-cost yet super fun ideas for party games. Don’t forget to buy prizes!

7. Pick the Location

There are plenty of great places to have a kid’s party, but there are also many things to take into consideration before deciding on a location. The first thing you should decide is if you’ll throw the party at home or if you want to hire a venue. Throwing a party at home can sometimes save money (other times more once you add it all up), but most party venues include things like games, activities, taking pictures, plus setting up and cleaning up, which can save a lot of time and stress. A party at home can also make it impossible for you and your family to enjoy the party and spend time with the birthday boy/girl because you are busy hosting and getting things ready for the next activity. Hiring a venue that includes a host will allow you to relax and take in the special moments.

If you choose to go with a venue, it’s important to take into consideration the season and weather. Both of these will determine where your party will take place. If your child has a winter birthday, an outside venue isn’t the best idea, but a climate-controlled venue with indoor party rooms would be a great option. As a tip, it can be important to choose a venue that has indoor and outdoor areas available, in case of unexpected weather.

Once you determine the type of venue, there are a few more decisions to make.

1. Budget: It’s smart to set a budget because this can help eliminate options out of your price range.

2. Private or public: Some will be private party venues and others public (this means more than one party might be going on in the same room). Private venues are the safer choice because there’s no chance a child will run away or get lost in another party, but public venues could offer lower prices.

3. Age: Lastly, check age requirements for venues. Your child might be too old or not old enough for some venues due to rides or activities they offer, so it’s important to check the limits before reserving.

8. Purchase (or Make) Decor & Party Favors

Photo: Parties With A Cause

If your party is at a rented venue, there’s a good chance that they will decorate for you – and might even supply party favors. However, if you need to supply favors and decorate yourself, you can do that a couple of different ways.

Buy decorations/party favors

• Balloons
• Streamers
• Tablecloths
• Centerpieces
• Birthday banner/sign

Make decorations/party favors

• Centerpieces
• Birthday banner/sign
• Party hats
• Confetti
• Ribbons
• Other DIY decorations

Making decorations can save you some money and let you get creative with your theme, but some decorations will have to be purchased, such as balloons or party horns. If you have less time, buying is a great option, just a bit more costly.

9. Food and Snacks

Photo: DNA Kids

This is one of the most crucial factors while planning the party. Food and snacks leave a lasting impression on the guests. Also include beverages in your food and snacks list. If you are planning to do a full in-house party then you can also cook some frozen food such as Wedges, Chips, Fries, and much more.

Create a menu before you start cooking and try to make limited quantities of food as it is the most wasted thing at any party.

Experts: Useful Trekking Tips For Beginners You Should Know Trekking is one of the best activities for adventurous people who want a little bit of challenge. But it is also important to know the ...

Simple Guide: Safe And Easy Tips To Fly With Your Baby Traveling with your baby can be stressful, especially if you are a first-time parent. Here are some useful tips that can help you and your ...

How To Find A Good Restaurant While Travelling It is not easy to find a good restaurant in any place where you travel, but there are several ways and tips for you to ...