A Parent’s 3-Step Guide to Stress-Free Party Planning

The standards of a children’s birthday party has evolved through the years. Parents can easily get overwhelmed with what is expected of them by other parents.

How does a parent plan a party without getting buried under all the tasks and actually giving your child a memorable celebration? You’re one sentence away from finding out!

Prioritize your child.

There are times when parents get caught up planning for what they want rather than what the birthday child wants in the party.

This doesn’t apply to the theme, decors, and food only, but to the date of the party as well. For your birthday kid to enjoy the special day to the fullest, choose a date and time when he/she has had a good rest. If you’re renting a venue, make sure you don’t pick a place that requires a long drive.

The main reason for the party is to celebrate another year in your child’s life. Plan it for your child, and not for anybody else.

Going overboard is over kill

It’s a nice thought to have this extravagant party with a full buffet, a bouncy castle, a magic show, and a petting zoo. But will your child be able to take all of this in within a 2-hour party?

Set realistic goals for the party. How much of your time can you allot for the party planning? Do you want to outsource the planning, or do you want to work on it hands on? What is your budget? Once you know the answers to these questions, you can plan a more achievable and realistic party for your child.

Another tip is to choose one activity and concentrate on that. Do you want to have a magic show that can be enjoyed by both the kids and adults? Hire a talented entertainer. Do you want the party to be more physically active? Rent a bouncy castle. Choose what you want to focus on and stick to it. This way, your child will be able to fully enjoy it and you’ll still have ideas to play with for next year’s party.

Procrastination is not an option.

It couldn’t be that hard when all you need is a couple of balloons and some cake, right? Actually, no, it’s not that easy.

If you want a stress-free process to your party planning, you should start making plans around 2-3 months before your party. This will give you ample time to canvass for materials, food, and entertainment, as well as eliminate the stress caused by time pressure.

One step that could narrow down your choices and save you a lot of time is choosing a theme for your party. Your decors, cake, entertainment, and activities will depend on it, thus bringing your choices down to a specific set of ideas.

Is your child old enough to know what he/she wants? Involve them! Take this opportunity to bond and get to know your child a bit more.