Countdown to the big celebration.
4 weeks before
- Mail invites. Let parents know the party’s end time as well as the start time. And include an RSVP-by date-usually two weeks prior to the party. Keep the party 1 1/2 to 2 hours long.
- Bake cake layers or cupcakes and freeze them.
- Enlist any extra help you may need. Figure on one adult for every five kids.
- Shop for tabletop paper goods, decorations, and goodie bags, and order any special supplies.
1 week before
- Buy food and drinks.
- Order cake if you’re not baking your own.
- Call any parent who hasn’t responded.
- Gather everything you’ll need for all of your party activities to make sure nothing’s missing.
1 day before
- Assemble goodie bags.
- Review party manners with your child-especially how to greet her guests and say thank you for her gifts.
- Finish baking the cake if it’s homemade.
- Prepare any food that can be safely made ahead.
- Decorate the house.
- Set the table and organize activity stations.
- Check that you have enough film and extra batteries or that your digital camera is fully charged.
Party Day
- 15 minutes: To keep kids busy as they wait for everyone to arrive, leave out a few age-appropriate toys such as coloring books and puzzles for them to play with.
- 15 minutes: Set up a high-energy game so the kids can burn off some of their excitement-relay race, dance-athon, or limbo.
- 15 minutes: Do an activity such as a craft project or treasure hunt.
- 20 minutes: Time for cake! Gather kids for dessert (and a simple meal if you’re doing lunch).
- 15 minutes: As the party winds down, entertain the kids with a mellow activity-stage a sing-along, read a story, take digital snaps with the birthday star.
- 20 minutes: If you choose, open gifts.
- 10 minutes: Hand out favors and say goodbyes.
Copyright © 2005. Reprinted with permission of Parents magazine May 2005 issue.