How to Actually Enjoy your own Child’s Party!
Nowadays kids’ parties can feel like a lot of pressure! We not only have the expectations of our little birthday boys and girls to contend with, but also the constant stream of perfect images on Instagram and Pinterest.
Here at Hooray Day, we are firm believers that children’s birthdays are a time for mums and dads to celebrate too! After all – it’s your ‘parenting anniversary’. Congratulations!
Here we share our best tips and tricks to make sure that your child’s birthday is as fun and relaxing as possible for you, as well as for your little one and their guests!
1. Be organised – Organisation is truly the key to being able to relax at your own child’s party – start by sending invitations out one month in advance. The earlier you plan the food, decorations, games etc., the longer you have to get it all ready, and the less that’ll need to be done on the day or just before. Do as much as you can beforehand – pick foods you can freeze, games that can be prepped early (e.g. pass the parcel) and write as many lists as you need to ensure the day is not too stressful for you!
2. Don’t go overboard – You do not need to try to make eight different pirate themed snacks, turn the whole backyard into a magical fairy wonderland, or plan a dozen games for your little one and their guests. If you’re the type to get carried away, be firm with yourself! Stick to decorating one area, plan a few themed food choices and pick a couple of games – simple is always best when it comes to children’s parties.
3. Keep party time free! Try to plan food and activities that won’t require a lot of fussing around during the party. Choose food options that can be served at room temperature and popped out at the beginning of the party. You might not think that warming sausage rolls in the oven is a big deal, but you won’t want to be running backwards and forwards to the kitchen when you’ve got guests to chat with. Similarly, pick simple games that don’t need a lot of setting up. You don’t want to spend the party running around with a clipboard barking instructions at people.
4. Have a balance of healthy food and treats – Birthday parties are the perfect occasion to spoil your little one with their favourite treats. But you’re not going to be doing them, or their guests, any favours by going overboard. Too much sugar can very quickly lead to miserable kids and bad behaviour, which no one is going to enjoy, especially not you as the host.
5. Have a drink (if that’s your thing) – Not everyone is into serving alcohol at children’s celebrations, but sometimes it’s nice to have something to take the edge off after all that party planning! If champagne is not your thing, plan a nice mocktail or something else to make it a special occasion for yourself as well.
6. Ask for help – If someone offers to lend a hand, say yes! Be prepared and write a little list of things that people can do to help so that if someone asks, you can allocate a task! Preparing a dish, taking photos on the day, bringing some extra chairs, being responsible for the barbecue, are all examples of really easy jobs that aren’t too imposing.
7. Get some tunes going – Don’t forget about the music – it’s such an important part of setting the mood! Make or choose a playlist with some upbeat tracks ahead of time and set the speakers/volume to the right level so that you don’t have to muck around with it right before the party.
8. Be selective with your guest list. There’s no rule that says that you have to invite all of your child’s friends, or all of your friends that happen to have children. Think about who you and your child really enjoy spending time with, and which friends mix well. The party will be far more enjoyable for all concerned if your guests feel relaxed together and aren’t forced to make awkward small talk.
Happy party planning! To make your next child’s party even more stress free, check out our beautiful party kits – filled with all of the tableware and decorations you’ll need for the perfect celebration!
