"How to throw an (almost) stress-free kids' party"... I do not know the
author, but there are some great hints and tips below.. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to throw an (almost) stress-free kids' party
The first thing you need to accept is that kids' parties are for kids. Sounds
obvious, but until you have the experience of having 20 six-year-olds
demonstrating the theory of perpetual motion in your living room, it's best
to disabuse yourself of any romantic notions about it being a pile of fun for
everyone. It can be hard work. It can be nerve wracking. Mercifully, it will
be over eventually. Here are some field-tested tips to help you survive
your first or next youthful gathering:

A little planning goes a long way:
A successful children's party owes nothing to spontaneity. Hedge your bets by
planning as much as you can, right down to the last detail. Expect to make a
few mid-course corrections in the script, and make sure you have contingency
plans ready too. Start thinking well in advance about age-appropriate party
activities, party hours, how many kids to invite, and the invitations.

Match the age to the party
There are two things to consider when you're pondering party concepts: what
your child has in mind and the age group of the guests. You'll also need to
decide whether the party will be held at home or at a restaurant, activity
center, or other public place. (If you choose to have the party outside your
home, make sure you line up at least two other adult helpers to help herd the
troops. This guide covers the home-style version).

Tip: Get your child involved from the beginning. Not only will she be able to
offer a window on the expectations of her peers, but she is the guest of
honor. What might seem to be the most creative party theme to you will fall
flat if your child doesn't buy into it.

Here are some general guidelines for age-appropriate party fun:

Age 1-2: Too young to enjoy organized games. Just having enough toys around
for everyone should keep toddlers happy. Short and sweet is the key for this
age group the party shouldn't last more than 90 minutes and you should
keep the guest list to a minimum. Parents should be expected to remain for
the duration.
Age 3-4: Kids in this age group love theme parties. Choose one that reflects
your child's current interests (superheroes, animals, fairytales, etc.) and
decorate the room and cake accordingly. Free playtime is still the best mode,
although simple games are appropriate, too. Have enough game ideas ready so
that if one bombs you can go on to the next.
Age 5-6: Starting at this age, parties need more structure. Themes are still
popular. Games are increasingly the favorite activity, but simple arts and
crafts projects are also a good alternative. Again, have more options than
you'll have time for " some activities will be more popular than others and
kids this age have extremely short attention spans. Avoid competitive games
if possible and have prizes for losers as well as winners. This is also the
age where professional clowns or magicians go over big.
Age 7-10: The biggest mistake you can make with this age group is
underestimating the sophistication of your guests. Children this age don't
want to have a `little kids party.' Skip the cute decorations and concentrate
on team games (variations on races and relays and treasure hunts are the best
bets). Schedule some outdoor time, if possible " preferably just before
parents arrive to pick up their kids. This lets them work off their sugar
high and keeps muddy feet on your carpet to a minimum.

Party hours
Keep it short. Given the fact that most kids have attention spans you can
measure in nanoseconds, they can pack two hours of fun into one. Parties
longer than two hours become an endurance contest, for both kids and parents.

When entertaining children under five, it's a good idea to plan to wrap
things up by mid-afternoon. You don't want to over-ride nap time, and there's
really no such thing as a kids' dinner party. At least not yet.

How many guests?
It's your party, but conventional wisdom holds that you should keep the
numbers down whenever possible. A general rule of thumb is to invite one
guest for each year of a child's age, though it may be difficult to stick to
that limit. Large groups can intimidate younger children. Parties that
involve a visit to a restaurant or other outing should be limited to as few
as you can get away with.

In general, the larger the group the more difficult it is to keep things
running smoothly, to keep track of all the guests, and to provide individual
attention when needed. If you decide on a party of more than 15 kids, make
sure you have an extra adult or two on hand to help.

Invitations
Two words: mail them. Young hearts are broken when the invitations are handed
out at school, unless you're planning to invite the whole class. Get your
child involved with the invites. Even if you opt for the store-bought
variety, kids can enjoy filling them out and customizing them with artistic
embellishments. Don't forget to include directions to the party and get them
in the mail two to three weeks in advance.

A few words on R.S.V.P.s: Perhaps some people are a little rusty on their
French, but many parents neglect to respond to party invitations. Be prepared
to call the holdouts a week before the event so you know how many guests to
plan for.

Four party-day tips
The day is here and the hour is at hand. Don't panic. Controlled chaos and
containment are the operative strategies. Here are four tips to help maximize
the merriment and minimize the mayhem, including an all-important party
timetable, and pointers on the three F's favors, food, and fun.

Game plan
Here are some very basic guidelines on how to manage the flow of a typical
two-hour kids' party. Be flexible and sensitive. All plans, including this
one, need to be adapted to fit the mood of the partygoers.

00:00 - 00:15 Here comes a cavalcade of kids
Some will arrive early. Think of a simple game or activity as an ice-breaker
to get everyone involved the minute they arrive. This is a good time to
explain any rules of the house and to set the boundaries (e.g. which
rooms
are off limits).

00:15 - 00:45 Laissez faire
Plan for free time to allow your guests to get acquainted and get in the
swing of things. The younger the party guests, the longer this period should
be.

00:45 - 01:15 Let the games begin
Party games should be age appropriate and, if possible, non competitive
with
prizes for everyone. Plan more games than you'll have time to play. If one's
a dud, just move on to the next.

01:15 --01:35  Let `em eat cake
Think kids will stay at the birthday table longer than 20 minutes? Think
again.

01:35 - 01:55 Wrappers to riches
The end of the party is the best time for opening presents. Why? It minimizes
PGE (party guest envy) since the gang won't be there for two hours checking
out the haul. It allows you to keep better track of what came from whom. It
provides a natural document for the event " once the wrappings off the focus
of the affair will be on the goods, not the games or food.
Some people advise not to open the presents until after the guests have gone.
Some people are killjoys.

Tip: To help with the thank-you notes, write the name of the giver on each
box as it's opened, or make a quick list.

01:55 02:00+ The wind down
The party will be totally on cruise control at this point. Your job is to
help locate coats, make sure each guest has their party favors (smart parents
wait until each child leaves to hand them out), and begin to regain control
of your life.

Party favors
Allow a budget of about $3 $5 per child. Your party theme, if you have one,
can help dictate the type of trinkets and toys you select. In general, it's
smarter to get the same things for everyone to avoid potential conflicts and
disappointments.

Food:
Keep it simple! If you time your party to take place between meals (a wise
move) you can get by with just the cake and ice cream. Forget about the
crudite " healthy, yes, but kids feel the same way about vegetables as you
do about plutonium. And fresh fruit won't thrill either. The less healthy the
food, the more fun it is to eat. Remember kids don't come to eat, they come
to party!

Fun
To mix a metaphor, this is where the rubber chicken meets the road. Fun comes
in many flavors - keep in mind the age of your guests when planning the games
and activities. In the case of younger children especially, try to avoid
games with winners and losers. Simple craft projects can be a great
alternative. Even having each child decorate their own party favor bag will
keep little hands busy for at least ten minutes.

Piñatas are always a crowd-pleaser. This is largely because kids like to: a)
play with sticks; b) break things; c) scramble for prizes. Outdoors is the
best place for piñatas, but if that's not an option, make sure there's plenty
of room and the good china is put safely away.

The most important advice? Plan more things to do than you'll ever get around
to doing. If the general response to a game is underwhelming, you can always
suggest another. And if things are percolating just fine on their own, know
when to forget the list of games and activities altogether.

Remember, kids are experts at having fun especially in groups and if
something doesn't go according to your plan, relax. They'll never know the
difference.

Survival guide
If there's going to be a hitch in the festivities, it's best to know what to
expect and how to deal with it in advance. Here are some potential party
pitfalls and safety tips to help you avert disasters, large and small.

Problems and solutions
A guest is too shy to participate: Don't pressure him. Have an adult or teen
helper play with the child while you supervise the others.
A guest is being disruptive: Give the child a simple task to do such as
gathering balloons or putting paper plates on the table.
A guest is dominating games or other activities and being bossy: Ask them to
be the scorekeeper or referee.
Two or more guests get into an argument or fight: Don't lecture. Just
separate all combatants and try to get them involved in another game or
activity.
A guest becomes upset or overwhelmed: Escort the child to a quiet room and
talk to him. Wipe away tears with a warm washcloth and comfort him until he's
regained his composure.

Safety checklist
Keep a list of all guest's phone numbers handy in case of emergencies.
For parties of eight or more, enlist at least one other adult as a helper.
Decide which areas of your home will be off-limits to guests. You might even
cordon them off with a crepe streamer or two. Block any staircases and
securely fasten basement doors.
Confine pets to an area where they'll be safe and where they can't threaten
guests.
Remove breakable valuables (and special toys) from the party area.
Remove small area rugs on slippery floors.
In the case of younger children, avoid small party favors that might end up
in little mouths. Balloons are the number one choking hazard for small
children.
Don't let kids run with food in their mouths. Keep everyone at the table when
serving.
Consider serving non-staining foods and clear beverages. Your rugs will thank
you.
Do a bathroom sweep, removing cleaning products, perfume, and prescription
medication.
Keep coats and bags out of reach of small children.
Keep a first-aid kit handy.

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