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The ultimate guide to kids’ party planning

Planning a kid’s party can be tricky and challenging, especially if it’s your first time. Mums always want the best for their kids and you might get very anxious trying to come up with the perfect party for your child. However, there’s no need to panic as this guide will help you plan a flawless party for your kid in every stage of their childhood and early adolescence.

  • The baby’s party.

    Invite only the immediate family and your closest friends. Aim for a morning event that won’t interfere with your baby’s nap time. Think of an outdoors breakfast party or a brunch gathering with plenty of finger foods, fresh juices and a delightful cake. Don’t splurge in renting a venue for the event. Host your baby’s birthday at home amidst a familiar and intimate atmosphere, where you can also keep a better control of things and make sure to avoid any hazardous situations that may come with an unknown space.

  • Preschool festivities.

    An ideal party for your toddler should include his closest friends from school as well as close relatives. Make sure the party won’t last over 2 hours and ensure it won’t interfere with the children nap time. You can also try and schedule nap time during the party but I can assure you the logistics of it are more complex than they seem.

    Aim for a balanced menu that includes, pizza, finger sandwiches and pre-cut fruits and veggies. Of course, a delicious cake is a must and you can offer beverages like coffee and sodas for parents and plenty of fresh juices, smoothies and water for kids. If you don’t fancy hosting the party at home, try a kid’s gymnastic studio or another venue that offers children-friendly and safe activities.

  • The childhood celebrations.

    Refrain from inviting the entire class and plan an event for your child and their closest friends. Plan a 2-3 hour event and think that the younger your kid, the earlier the party should be.

    Choose an eye-catching and delicious cake as the center piece of the menu and try keeping things simple and appealing with the rest of the food. Think burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches or pizza and fruit cups to complement. Additionally offer beverages like fresh juices, smoothies and water, whilst keeping the soda to a minimum. Ice cream, fro-yos and other treats are also a hit amongst kids but try to avoid an excessive intake of sugar.

    Kids can be messy, so hosting the party outside your home might be a good idea if you want to prevent them from making a mess at home. Try a sports complex, a pool party, an art center or something else that might go along the particular taste and personality of your kid and their closest friends.

  • A party for your pre-teen.

    As growing pains start, the complexity of planning a party for your child increases dramatically. Henceforth, the first thing you have to set up is a budget for the event. Aim for a guest list that adapts to your venue and a venue that fits your budget. Consider a 15-kids limit as a good group to work with, keeping in mind that it will be your job to oversee and maintain things under control during the event.

    Bear in mind that as your children grow they will be more involved in community and school activities, so make sure to book the party on a date and time that won’t interfere with their other activities.

    When it comes to the menu, food bars are the best. At this point you and your child already know what are their favourite foods so you can plan having a taco bar, a doughnuts bar or food bars of any sort that they can approach, serve themselves or at least choose exactly how to put their plates together with the help of an adult. As for the venue, you can plan a video-games session at home or a sleepover / movie marathon. If you would rather host the party elsewhere, try a laser tag arena, an arcade or a pool party.

  • Celebrations for teenagers.

    Before your kid decides they don’t want any more birthday parties and they would much rather spend their birthday out with their friends without you overseeing their activities, you still have a few years for throwing cool birthday parties for them and sharing the festivities together.

    Once you’ve set up your budget and chosen the venue, make sure to write down a guest list and stick to it. You’ll have to be rather strict if you want to avoid party-crashers that might ruin your kid’s party. If you’re planning an evening event, make sure the schedule is respected and the kids leave the party timely.

    Let your kid choose a theme for the party and help you plan the menu, food bars are always a safe choice, but if you’re aiming for a more snack-based kind of party, you can plan with your kid and choose all kinds of fun snacks for the party and make them match the theme of it all. Depending on the kind of party your kid wants, you can opt for a venue, a restaurant or your own house to host it.

To book a kids party online, visit our Facebook page for daily updates and promotions. LIFE is Westchester’s newest special event location, we offer a modern industrial event space on the cutting edge of special event venues. If you need more info about events, or if you would like extra info on a particular service, please do not hesitate to contact us or call us at 914.591.4400.