Party Hours

Keep it short. Given the fact that most kids have short attention spans, parties longer than two hours become a nightmare, for both kids and parents. When entertaining children under five, you don't want to interfere with nap time, and there's really no such thing as a toddler dinner party.

How Many Guests?

A general rule of thumb is to invite one guest for each year of a child's age, plus two, though it is often difficult to stick to that limit. Large groups can intimidate the younger children at your party. 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

It is often best to mail birthday party invitations. Young kids 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. Depending on their age, kids enjoy filling out invitations or customizing them stickers. Don't forget to include the directions to the party and mail the invites at least 7-10 days in advance. You can use the following terms to request a response from the invited child's parents:

RSVP: Call if your child will attend the party.

Regrets: Call if your child will not attend the party

Be prepared to call any parent you haven't heard from a week before the party so you know how many guests to plan for.

Game Plan

The day is here and the party is about to begin. Don't panic. Here are some very basic guidelines on how to manage 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 party goers.

00:00 – 00:15
Here comes the 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
Free Time
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
Time for Games
Party games should be age–appropriate and, if possible, non–competitive with plenty of 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
Time for Cake
Kids won't stay at the party table longer then 20 minutes

01:35 – 01:55
Open the Birthday Gifts
The end of the party is the best time for opening presents. It minimizes party guest envy and it allows you to keep better track of what came from whom. This is a good time to pass out the party favor bags, so everyone gets something.

01:55 – 02:00
Party Guest Pick-up Time
The party will be almost over at this point. Your job is to help locate coats and make sure each guest leaves with their party favors.