Holidays and Celebrations

Plan ahead. Give yourself plenty of time.
Start at least a few weeks beforehand.

Decide how much you want to spend on the party.
Decide who you want to invite and how many guests there will be.
Do you want to have the party at home or somewhere else?
What is the age range of the children you want to invite?
Is there a theme you want for the party?

Your budget for the party will determine your options.

If you have a very low budget then making most of things you need by yourself can save you a lot of money.
Can you bake the cake or have a friend or relative do it for you?
Kids don’t need fancy food. Check out how much it costs for hot dogs and buns, pizza and finger foods that kids like and make a list of the expenses.

If you don’t want to have the party at home, you can have it elsewhere.
Pizza places, restaurants, bowling alleys, ice-skating rinks and a park, if the weather permits, are some of your options.

Choose a place that is close to home, easy for everyone to get to and child friendly.
Speak to the managers of the child friendly establishments you would like to have the party in. Tell them how many guests you have, the age range and the time and date you want. Ask them what they provide and how much it will cost you.

When figuring out how many guests you will have, take into account that if the children are very young they will be accompanied by a parent and possibly a brother or sister. The parents need seating, at least a soft drink or coffee and a piece of cake.

Make a list of the things you need:

What you and your children will be wearing. Plan ahead so you have plenty of time to buy something if needed.
Who can help you, a friend, another parent, your babysitter, grandma?

Party decorations if you are having the party at home or in the park
Invitations
Birthday cake
Food
Paper plates and cups
Treats and party favors
Activities and items you may need for them.

If you are having the party at home, count how many chairs you have. Check out places to borrow or rent them if needed.

If you want to have an entertainer for the party, find out what they provide and strike it from your list.

Make a time line
3 weeks before:
Decide who you are inviting and how many people there will be.
Call or visit local establishments such as restaurants, pizza places, skating rinks, chair rentals, bakery for the cake, entertainers and such. Find out who or what is available for the time and date of the party and get prices.
Make reservations

2 weeks before the party:
Decide on the theme, make or buy your invitations and give or send them out.
Prepare party games and entertainment if you are having the party at home.
Buy the materials you need for decorations and party favors or start making them if you are doing it yourself.
Make a list of food and things that you need to buy. It should include birthday candles, cups and paper plates and treats.

1 week before the party:
Buy the food, treats and paper plates, birthday candles and the party favors - if you haven’t made them yourself.
Confirm reservations including, catering, anyone coming to help and the entertainer if you are having one.
Buy the birthday present

3 – 4 days before the party:
Bake the cake and make food that needs to be prepared, if you are doing it yourself
Clean and iron, if necessary, the clothes you and your family will wear.

The day before the party:
Ice the cake if you have made it yourself
Tidy up and move any furniture needed
Put up the decorations
Take out any materials needed for activities
Put drinks in the refrigerator

The day of the party:
Set the table
Take out the party favors
Put out any finger food
Heat up any food needed to be hot
Put the candles near the cake

And enjoy!