Raring2go! Parties 22 22 raring2go.co.uk 22 .co.uk age to purge the toys they’re not playing with and to give them to someone in need. is for Others. Remind the birthday kid that they will be sharing their special day with other kids, and teach them how to be a good host. is for Photographs. The night before – charge the cameras and the video camera. Also ask other Mums to capture the fun and you can get copies later. is for Queen (or King). The birthday kid is the queen or king of the day, so be sure to make them feel special. is for Resources. Use the resources you have at hand – your family and network of friends, your abilities, and your creativity. is for Silliness. Find ways to incorporate silliness into the festivities. Silly hats or funny songs lead to giggles, which always means a great time is being had by all. is for Thank-you notes. Keep a list of gifts received and then incorporate the birthday kid into the note writing process. Have them design, or at least sign, the card. is for Uncomfortable. At least one awkward situation will occur during the party – someone will wet their pants or someone will make the birthday child cry. The successful hostess manages to deflect the situation and make the best of things. is for Venue. Thankfully in Barnet we are not short of great venues to hold your party – that way you can turn up and leave the entertainment and tidying up to someone else. is for Weather. We can have 4 seasons in one day so if you are planning garden/outdoor fun – ALWAYS have a Plan B. is for eXpectations. Keep your expectations of the event realistic. Things will go wrong, but as long as everyone has a great time, the party is a smashing success. is for Yes If someone offers to help (bring food, chairs, etc.) take them up on it. Delegate where you can. is for Snoooozzzzzzz After a great party you should have a very tired kid. Sit back and relax, you can always tidy up tomorrow. y ys tidy PARTY is for Appetizers. Kids love finger food, so plan accordingly. When The Baby celebrated her fourth birthday, we kept things simple by only serving finger foods: sandwiches sausage rolls, vegetable sticks, fruit dippers, and cupcakes. is for Birthday Kid. Keep the Birthday Kid happy. If they’re little, make sure to plan the party around their usual nap time and make sure they’ve had a snack ahead of time. Bigger kids, meanwhile, will need lots of stimulation during the party to keep them entertained. is for Cost. A kid’s party doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Keep the Birthday kid in mind and plan a special day they can share with their friends. is for Decorations. Kids generally don’t care about elaborate decorations since they’re too busy playing with their friends to care. A clean house and a few well-placed balloons usually do the trick. is for Effort. Have a running order in mind that way your party will run to time and you won’t be like me and get to the finishing time and you have forgotten to cut the cake! is for Food. A seven-year-old will not care what you serve. Serve food that the birthday kid likes and save yourself the aggravation. is for Goodie Bags. It is pretty much a foregone conclusion that you will need to hand out goodie bags to your guests when they leave. Small toys and gifts are a big favourite. is for Hostess. Don’t get so bogged down in minute details that you forget the real reason for the party: your baby is celebrating a birthday! is for Invitations. Send them out at least a month in advance. People get busy and they always appreciate having plenty of notice. is for Justin. How would Justin Bieber or Selena Gomez throw this party? Forget about them and everything else you’ve read in magazines. The party is about the birthday kid. is for Kitchen. Yes, it’s true: every good party ends up in the kitchen. Make sure your kitchen is immaculate and have a few mummy-friendly snacks on hand. is for Love. Not being able to afford to throw an elaborate party, complete with pony rides, caricature artists, and pricey gift bags doesn’t mean you love your child any less. is for Money. Don’t let lack of money get between you and a great party. Any kind of party is do-able, so long as you’re creative in your execution. is for New Toys. One of the best things about a birthday is getting new toys. Teach your kids at a young age to purge the toys they’re not playing with and to Raring2go! Party A-Z
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDA0NjA=