When Picking The Perfect Place: Jessica Hochman, senior director of birthday parties at Kidville, suggests looking for cleanliness, brightness and an enthusiastic staff. “You don’t want to host your child’s birthday at a restaurant if the staff doesn’t like kids,” she says. Many venues will decorate the space to your liking and provide food and beverages, but be sure to speak up in advance if you’d like to bring your own.
When Creating A Guest List: Though it may be tempting to cut costs with a shortened guest list, etiquette expert Faye Rogaski encourages parents to invite everyone in their child’s class. An easy way to cut down a guest list is to invite either all the girls or all the boys to ensure that no one’s feelings are hurt.
When Sending Invitations: Send out your cards by snail mail or e-vites, as distributing cards at school means lost invitations, distracted kids in class and hurt feelings.
When Gathering Supplies: No birthday party would be complete without plenty of balloons, says Rosie Weissbart, co-owner of party supply store State News. Instead of buying patterned plates, cups and napkins, mix bright solid color supplies—which are cheaper and more usable if you have extras—to create your own color scheme.
When Choosing Entertainment: Clowns and magicians can keep kids entertained for hours, but if you want to do something a little non-traditional, hire an acrobat or a caricature artist. Research customer reviews or talk to other parents; urbanbaby.com is a great place to get ideas and advice about the city’s best kid-friendly entertainers.
When Finding The Food: For the most part, kids aren’t picky about
birthday party spreads; pizza, chips and pigs in a blanket will usually
satisfy your guests. If you want to serve healthier fare, kids will
still love celery sticks and
peanut butter, carrots and hummus and fruit kebabs. Pick up some
nut-free and gluten-free treats in case any of your guests have
allergies or diet restrictions.
When Taking The Cake: With the right birthday
message or decorations, a homemade confection or cake from Whole Foods
can be just as special as a more expensive gourmet option. Another great
idea is to bake (or buy) plain vanilla and chocolate cupcakes and allow
the kids to decorate their treats themselves.
When You Need a Photo
Finish: When looking for a professional photographer, Kochman
suggests that parents ask to see photos of past parties and kid events,
instead of posed family portraits, to make sure they know what they’re
getting. If you decide to take the photos yourself, make sure to snap up
candid moments and little details, like the cake, decorations and
presents. Take photos from your child’s perspective, instead of always
aiming the camera down at the kids. For a truly unique photo experience,
consider renting a photo booth—kids will love posing with friends and
bringing the pictures home to Mom and Dad.
When Giving Out Goodies: If you don’t
have a big budget for goodie bags but want to send the kids home with a
little something, have guests fill their own bags with inexpensive
treats like gold coins, plastic jewelry and bubbles. A more interactive option
is to have kids make projects—like painting flowerpots or decorating
picture frames—that that they can bring home and enjoy.
When Taking The
Cake: With the right birthday message or decorations, a homemade
confection or cake from Whole Foods can be just as special as a more
expensive gourmet option. Another great idea is to bake (or buy) plain
vanilla and chocolate cupcakes and allow the kids to decorate their
treats themselves.
When
You Need a Photo Finish: When looking for a professional
photographer, Kochman suggests that parents ask to see photos of past
parties and kid events, instead of posed family portraits, to make sure
they know what they’re getting. If you decide to take the photos
yourself, make sure to snap up candid moments and little details, like
the cake, decorations and presents. Take photos from your child’s
perspective, instead of always aiming the camera down at the kids. For a
truly unique photo experience, consider renting a photo booth—kids will
love posing with friends and bringing the pictures home to Mom and Dad.
When Giving Out
Goodies: If you don’t have a big budget for goodie bags but want to
send the kids home with a little something, have guests fill their own
bags with inexpensive treats like gold coins, plastic jewelry and
bubbles. Another
interactive option is to have kids make projects— like painting
flowerpots or decorating picture frames—that that they can bring home
and enjoy.
