How to plan a birthday party

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How to Plan a Birthday Party
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Theme

• Many parents feel more comfortable starting with
  a theme around which they can organize
  invitations, decorations, games, crafts and food.
  Both you and your child will enjoy making plans
  that reflect her interests whether it's a
  sports theme, a dinosaur bash, an art party, a
  backyard beach picnic, a trip back in time, or an
  animal adventure.

3
Guest List and Invitations

• You should make the guest list for your
  preschooler, but once your child is over three or
  four, he should be consulted. The invitations can
  be either store-bought or homemade and should set
  the mood for the event. Older kids may enjoy
  making invitations out of paper dolls, puzzle
  pieces or computer templates, depending on your
  chosen theme. In addition to obvious information
  like the time, date and directions, include
  special details like "bring a swimsuit" or
  "parents should accompany children."

4
Place

• If you decide your home or apartment isn't
  suitable for a children's party, there are
  several off-site options that come with obvious
  advantages (including being able to come back to
  a clean home after the children have been picked
  up). For a small fee, you can often reserve space
  in a community recreation center or local park.
  Kid-friendly restaurants, gymnastic centers, fire
  departments and hands-on museums are also
  popular. Parties away from home usually work
  better for children over five since younger
  children may be overwhelmed by unfamiliar
  surroundings.

5
Decorations

• Atmosphere is everything. Once you've chosen a
  theme, use a little creativity to set the scene.
  Ther doesn't mean you need to fly to the Grand
  Canyon for a campout party. Kids are naturally
  imaginative they'll play along when you use
  simple household gadgets to transform your home
  into a national park. Set up a tent, pass out
  flashlights and catch fireflies in the backyard.

6
Entertainment

• Depending on the ages and attention spans of your
  guests, outside entertainment could be a big hit.
  But younger children (those under four or five)
  may be frightened or just plain bored by a
  performance that goes on longer than 45 minutes.
  Before you write a big check to Chuckles the
  Clown, consider looking for some local talent.
  One mother was shocked to hear what the mad
  scientist entertainer she found in the phone book
  charged for a two-hour science party. Instead she
  convinced her girls' favorite babysitter to wear
  a white lab coat and make a baking soda volcano.
  The kids were thrilled with an entertainer who
  they already knew and loved, the teenage
  babysitter was happy to make some extra money,
  and the mom stayed under budget.

7
Organize Help

• Don't go it alone. Everything will be much easier
  if you have help a spouse, relative, neighbor,
  babysitter or friends who can assist with
  activities as well as serving and cleanup. This
  is especially important if you will be
  entertaining young guests whose parents drop them
  off.

8
Food

• For brief parties, cake and ice cream is really
  the only refreshment you need. Many young
  children look at the cake as the focal point of
  the whole birthday ritual, so be sure to let them
  help make it (or select it from the bakery).
  Tradition dictates that the birthday boy or girl
  gets the first piece of cake (and that they will
  probably choose the piece with the most frosting
  and decorations on it). Consider having more than
  one flavor of ice cream on hand, however, since
  young children can be picky eaters and prefer ice
  cream over cake. Older guests may actually enjoy
  preparing the food as much as eating it, so
  consider substituting cooking for a craft. One
  family hosted a Floor Pizza Party by putting
  personal-sized pans of dough on the kitchen floor
  (one for each guest) and letting the kids put on
  sauce, cheese and other toppings. (Pepperoni,
  mushrooms and other vegetables make great eyes
  and noses for pizza people.) As with all aspects
  of party planning, try to give familiar favorites
  a personal twist, turning chicken wings into
  dinosaur wings for a prehertoric feast or serving
  chicken drumsticks for an orchestra party.

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Control Expenses

• You don't need to spend a lot of money to have a
  successful party. This is a party for your child
  and her friends not for other parents. Save the
  fireworks display for your next adult gala. The
  kids just want to play. Controlling expenses also
  means that you should not feel obligated to send
  home goody bags full of expensive toys. While
  some stickers or a craft make nice souvenirs,
  most parents agree that it's time to start saying
  no to elaborate party favors.

10
Dealing with Siblings

• It's the birthday kid's big day but that doesn't
  mean you can ignore her brothers and sisters.
  While you may want to arrange for siblings to go
  play at another friend's house, many kids don't
  want to miss out on the action at home. If that's
  the case, allow the sibling to invite one special
  friend. They can either play in another room or
  help out with the party (as coat-takers,
  present-collectors, guest-greeters, or waiters).

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Birthday party Dubai

• Cheeky Monkeys
• Abu Dhabi, Al Forsan Village Khalifa City A
• Al Ain, Al Ain Mall, 2nd Floor
• info_at_cheekymonkeys.com