by Karen Sibal
So what’s a parent to do? If you decide to have THE party, how do you ensure it’s THE BEST party ever – one that’s a great hit with the kids and not a great hit on your wallet – while keeping your sanity in tact. Here’s a handy party planner that will help make the big celebration fun, original, memorable, affordable, and stress-free.
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Learn how to have awesome children’s parties. With nearly 200 party craft ideas — You’re sure to find the right one for your party! How do you choose the best date and time for a kids birthday party?Table of Contents The article advises picking a date that works for most of your guests first, then checking the calendar for conflicting holidays or events. For timing, consider your child’s needs: toddlers do better at late-morning parties scheduled around afternoon nap times. Also think about how long young children can go without getting fussy — for small children, one and a half to two hours is generally enough. How many kids should you invite to a birthday party?Karen Sibal offers a practical rule of thumb: invite one guest for every year of your child’s age — so a five-year-old gets five guests. That said, the article notes this is a guideline, not a rule; if you and your child are comfortable with more or fewer, that’s perfectly fine. Whether parents stay or drop off their child is also worth deciding early, since very young guests typically come with parents. How should you set a birthday party budget?The article says to decide how much you want to spend — and more importantly, how much you can afford — before you spend anything. Write out everything you’ll need (venue, invitations, food, decorations, activities) and estimate costs before buying. A little planning upfront keeps the celebration on track and prevents you from going over what you can actually afford. 
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General Considerations
Date
Select a date and time that’s most convenient to you and the guests. When choosing the date, think about when your guests will be most likely to come. Check the calendar for important events or holidays that may come into conflict.
Timing is everything. Examine your child’s needs – for example, if you’ve got a toddler, it’s probably a good idea to schedule the party around afternoon nap times: late mornings can be the perfect time. Also think about the time the party will finish. This will depend on how long you think the children can go without getting fussy. As a general guideline, for young children, 1 ½ or 2 hours is probably adequate.
Guest List
How many kids do you invite? The general rule of thumb is to invite the number of guests for every year of your child’s age, for example, if your child is turning five, invite five guests. However, if you and your child feel comfortable having more (or less), that’s ok too.
Are you extending invitations to parents, or would you prefer they drop off their child for the party and pick them up later? If you’re having very young guests, parents will likely stay for the duration of the party.
Budget
How much do you want to spend on the big celebration? How much can you afford? Determining your budget is crucial at the start of your party planning. As you work your way through this party planner and BEFORE you spend any money, make a list of the things you will need and estimate how much they will cost. A little planning will ensure your party stays on track of what you can actually afford.
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