Organise the Best Children's Party Ever!

There always seems to be so much to do when trying to arrange a kid's party, and never enough time to do it in. Organisation is the answer when it comes to party planning. Don't worry - Party Magic Box has got all you need.

Take a look at our helpful party checklists. They are printable so keep them somewhere visible, give yourself plenty of time to tick off the different tasks and we guarantee that planning your child’s party will be a stress-free - and, dare we say, fun - experience!

Invitations
About three weeks before the party, you'll need to send out written invitations. They should include the following information:

• Your child's name and which birthday they are celebrating.
• Your address and phone number.
• The date, start and finish times of the party.
• If you're having a themed party, your invitation should make it clear if the guest needs to dress up.
• You may need a small map if you're inviting children whose parents haven't been to your home before - the same applies if you’re holding the party at a venue that may not be familiar to all guests.

It’s also a good idea to ask on invitations for mums to make it clear if their child has any allergies or special dietary requirements – remember to follow this up when you’re organising the party food on with the seating arrangements on the day.

Setting the scene - decor & music
Set the scene with music and decorations, either ready made or, if you’re feeling creative, homemade, for a more unique feel.

Music
A party without music just isn’t a party! If you’re holding the party at a venue away from home don’t forget to take your portable CD player. There are lots of children’s compilation CDs about or you could make your own compilation of your child’s favourite music. Children’s TV theme tunes are usually a popular choice.

Buying decorations
Balloons, streamers, banners, themed paper, tablecloths, paper plates and cups, spray streamers, party hats and so on all help create an instant party atmosphere. Look out for piñatas, a traditional Mexican party tradition in which a colourful papier mache object (such as a star or a donkey) is filled with sweets and treats and then hung from the ceiling to be bashed with a piñata stick until its exterior is weakened and all the goodies fall out. They provide a great end to your party and are available online from various suppliers.

Cake
If you have decided to order a birthday cake from a supplier, contact them for samples or pictures of cakes they have made. Specify the date you need the cake for and order early as for some cakes the icing will need time to set. If the name is to be iced onto the cake, make sure they have the correct spelling!

Food
Think about the timings of the party as well as your catering budget. If it is held at 12 noon or at 5pm, guests will assume you will be providing a meal. If your budget doesn’t allow for this, then hold the party in the middle of the afternoon when you can get away with serving a few nibbles or ice cream and cakes and make sure you say this on the invitation. Decide if you are going to use an outside caterer, and if so, contact them and check their availability.