Birthday parties are exciting, fun and wonderful. They create memories that will be cherished and are eagerly anticipated by the children. Of course, they also create a great deal of stress for you, a to-do list that’s a mile long and a great deal of anxiety as the big day draws closer. Here are some tips to help you prepare for your child’s birthday party. Your son or daughter will have a great party and you might even get to enjoy it, too.
Control Journal
There’s going to be a lot to remember heading into this party. There will be invitation lists, ideas for themes and decorations. Even if you are planning on ordering pizza, there will still a menu required for chips, sodas and the cake. Start by getting a control journal to keep track of all the party information. It can be as fancy as a zippered binder or a simple as a two pocket portfolio.
Themes
Most people start with the invitations, but its fun if you can match the invitation to the theme of the party. Inspiration for the party is actually everywhere you look. When looking for a theme, consider your child’s passion.
If he loves cars then make it a matchbox party and center the games on the cars. If she’s older and loves dancing then you can move some furniture out of the living room and let her have a dance party. Be creative; let your children help decide on the theme and get ready to have fun. If your little one loves to play in boxes then gather some large boxes from area businesses and let the kids build their own box town.
Whatever theme you decide on, write it down in the control journal. You can then start making a list and assembling the necessary supplies.
Invitations
When sending out invitations, work from a list in the control journal. Include the names and addresses of everyone who was invited. If possible, include a phone number. As the people RSVP, you can easily check off their name in the binder. This will help you plan the food and supplies accordingly. Remember to purchase a few extras because there will be kids who attend but do not RSVP ahead of time.
Menu
Keep the food as simple as possible. The focus will be on the games and the birthday child, not the appetizers that you stayed up all night making. Try to pick foods that the kids can serve themselves and can be eaten while moving around. Pizza, chicken nuggets and hot dogs are easy choices. Add some healthier fare by offering cubes of cheese and sliced fruit.
Cake
Finally, make your life simpler by eliminating the cake. Serve cupcakes, instead. You won’t have to bother with plates and forks. Plus, cupcakes are just incredibly hip right now. Dress them up with decorations that match the theme of the party to truly delight the guest of honor.
The Final Game
Some parties have a mess involved. If you do water balloons, there will be balloon fragments everywhere. Streamers and confetti are fun, but they also leave a mess. Have one final game for the party guests. Offer to pay one dollar to every child who will help with the clean-up. You will be amazed at how quickly those little feet start running and how much those keen little eyes will find to pick up.
With your control journal and a clear game plan, you will be ready for your kid’s birthday party. Make lists for supplies and food items so you can check them off as they are purchased. Finally, have plenty of singles on hand as a quick thank-you to all your little helpers.
Anna K is a blogger and a freelance writer who takes particular interest in 
