I love parties! Just weeks ago, I went to a friend’s five-year-old daughter’s birthday party. It was beautiful. The whole party was Disney-themed and the whole atmosphere felt so magical. Both the children and the adults (read: overgrown kids) enjoyed themselves.
While this party worked on so many levels and everyone had a great time, I have heard of parties that have fallen apart. Parents were stressed out, kids were crying even at their own parties and guests have left the event frustrated. It is never easy to satisfy everyone.
In view of this, I would like to share a few unconventional but really important tips on how to organize and manage the perfect party for kids. In fact, it applies for all other events, including those for overgrown kids as well!
- Get Everyone Involved
Sure, you may be the mom, or you may be the one that pays the bills so you would expect to be the one that calls the shots right? Wrong! Please don’t forget whose party it really is. Get your child to make the decisions. Do they want blue balloons or polka dotted balloons? Do they want a chocolate cake or a cheese cake? When you give kids the opportunity to make choices, they will appreciate the outcome more. Also, when they are involved, it makes them enjoy the party more and will feel proud of the roles they played. Another plus point from getting them involved is that you teach them decision-making skills.
- Learn To Outsource
Do you remember when you single handedly tried to organise your wedding, making sure everything went well that night but still had to look elegant for the photos? Your friends probably called you “bridezilla” and you probably stepped on many people’s toes; your husband’s included. Don’t let that happen again. You are not a superwoman. Enlist the help of your friends to with the party organisation. Ask your girlfriend to help design the invitation cards, get your sister to go buy the buntings, or ask your husband to be the official usher for the day. If finance is not a problem, pay someone to buy and design the dessert corner. This will enable you to relax a little and enjoy the party.
- Relax and Have Fun
One big mistake parents make today is that they forget how to have fun with their kids. They become too “parent- like”. They may take on the organiser role and be a little too uptight with food arrangements or be too busy entertaining the guests. Worst of all is that they get too obsessed with taking the perfect Instagram photo of the party deco. Relax. Take a break. Bounce the balloons with the children. Run around and play musical chairs with them. They would remember how mummy played with them. But no one would remember how little Tommy had some cake smeared on his shirt (so don’t be so uptight and scold him for it!)
- Plan In Advance
Birthdays are not something that happen suddenly. You will have ample notice given to you to plan the perfect party. So don’t leave it to the last minute to plan for it. If you are rushing for a deadline at work, having other issues and hurrying through the party planning, you will definitely find it a big hassle and start to dread the task. Start planning at least two weeks in advance. Discuss with your child and build up his excitement for it. Use the event as a bonding session when the both of you can go shopping for superhero-themed cutleries.
- Remember They Are Kids
They will get tired much easier. They will get bored faster. They will get cranky after too much “aunty talk”. Don’t let their emotions affect you and the party. I’ve heard of parents scolding their child because he was tired before the party. Why let moods get in the way? Allow your child to take a nap before the party. Give him some snacks beforehand. Limit the party time to three hours so they don’t over tire themselves.
- Don’t Compare
Nowadays, adults compete in everything ─ who has the flashiest car or who throws the best Instagrammable party. It doesn’t matter. It really doesn’t. The party is about the children, it’s not about you. The most important thing is that the kids have fun.
