Planning a children’s party is probably one of the most daunting yet exciting parts of parenthood. Not only are you expected to stay on top of your game and plan the event to be better than your child’s (and his or her friends’) previous birthday parties, you are also expected to look your best during the event itself.
The truth is, you can prepare for a spectacular children’s party without having to go through hell (and look like you did) on the day of the event. To help you out, here are seven hacks you can try for a stress-free party planning.
Face Stamping vs. Face Painting
Whether you’re the artsy type of parent or not, you probably thought about incorporating face painting in your kids’ birthday party because who wouldn’t? Not only will it keep the children occupied for some time, but it also makes for a memorable (and Instagrammable) event.
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Still, there are a couple of things that could go wrong with this activity. Doing it yourself will take a lot of your time and energy, which could be better spent hosting and enjoying the party with your little one. You can also attempt to hire a professional or ask a volunteer among your friends; but the truth is, the actual painting on children’s face may not go very well and inadvertently stress you out.
Taking that into consideration, a new party fad called “face stamping” has come to take away the stressful part of this party activity. Simply procure stamps made from foam from your favorite craft store and some non-toxic, water-based, stamp pads and you’re good to go. The best part is, you’ll have a perfect image on your young guests’ faces every single time.
DIY Photo Booth
Photo booths have become a trendy addition to children’s parties and other events, all thanks to social media. People absolutely love to share their photos which may be why many parents opt to have a photo booth in their children’s parties. Still, hiring a professional photographer with an actual booth just won’t cut it if you’re looking to minimize party costs.
Instead, you can make your own photo booth by gathering up some props, preparing a backdrop, and providing a digital camera for your guests to use. Or better yet, have the parents and guardians snap the pictures themselves since almost everyone owns a camera phone these days.
Here’s a cost-saving tip: if you’re spending the event indoors, you can use balloons, colorful streamers, and tablecloth attached to a wall, but you should also capitalize on nature’s beauty when holding a party outside with good scenery.
Inflatable Fun for All Ages
Balloons are a birthday party staple for a reason. They serve as wonderful party decorations without busting your budget. In fact, they can even double as party favors, invitation holders, and even party game props that help ensure children of all ages enjoy the event.
Inflatables, in general, have a reputation for providing joy and excitement, especially to young children. That said, you should absolutely consider renting a bouncy castle for the occasion. Not only will it keep kids occupied and happy but also offers you and the rest of the parents enough time to eat and enjoy the party.
Digital Invites
There are some considerations to make when creating or having invitations custom-made— they can be pricey and difficult to deliver. Fortunately, social media has paved the way for digital invites—or the so-called “e-vites.”
With just a tap or click, you can inform your guests about the upcoming party while customizing it based on the party theme. The best part is, you don’t have to send them individually, thereby removing the stress inviting people entails.
Forgo with the Cutlery and Buffet
Let’s face it, children don’t like using cutlery and don’t often listen when asked to, so it is best for you to plan your party menu around this fact. That said, ditch spoons and forks by preparing individually packed snacks that hold just enough food for little children to enjoy.
Rather than putting everything in a large bowl or platter, you can use paper snack cones or cupcake wrappers for finger food and small cardboard boxes that have been turned into lunch boxes. This way, you can control the size of the portions served to young guests and minimize the stress of the post-party cleanup.
Food Party Favors
Party favors are one of the elements of a birthday party that many guests look forward to. However, this shouldn’t mean that you have to break the bank for expensive party favors only to regret it later.
Served too many cupcakes, lollipop cakes, and pre-packed snacks? Give the rest away to your guests. Save time, effort and money by letting your child’s guests bring home food party favors.
Third-Party Party Planners
If you already have too much on your plate, no matter how hard you try to avoid it, there is still a big chance that you would feel stress for not being able to properly plan for your child’s birthday party.
This is the right time to hire party planners instead. This way, you know that your child’s birthday will still be a day to remember without feeling guilty of letting such a special day pass without doing anything special.
Ready for a Stress-Free Kids’ Party?
Stress often occurs when you’re unprepared and don’t have the right knowledge in doing something that requires thorough planning—like kids’ parties. Eradicate any source of stress when planning your child’s birthday party by using these clever hacks.
Neha Nidhi
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