The Thirty Day Year

10 Tips For Putting On A Birthday Party For A Child

If you are having the party away from your home (as we did), check out the location.

1) Is it easy to get to, is it easy to find?

The place where we just had my daughter’s party had a map on the back of each invitation, which was great because it was tucked away. However, it was a popular enough spot that all the parents knew how to get there.

2) Check out the security.

Another plus of where we were was that there were gates to get in or out, and those gates remained locked until the host of the birthday party told the workers that it was OK to open them, because someone’s parent was there to pick them up.

As well, locate all emergency exits, just in case.

3) Make certain you know exactly where the bathrooms are.

Very important, with a roomful of children.

4) Still on that topic, make certain you have enough adults, if the children are very young, to escort them to said bathroom facilities.

Encourage parents to stay, ask relatives, friends, even your babysitter if you have to. 

This also gives you more adults to keep their eyes on the kids, tend to any minor scrapes/scratches which might occur, and ensure everyone is having a good time.

5) When you book the place for the party, see if someone on staff will be helping, or if it is all up to you.

If someone will be helping, make sure it is understood if they are helping just with lunch and cake, or for the duration.

6) Also see if they provide the cake, invitations, and goody bag, or if this is up to you.

As well, see if any special consideration is given to the birthday child, ie future free admission, etc. Some places we have had parties at do this. Some provide coupons to all who are attending, which encourages them to return.

7) Make certain the place you choose will keep the kids busy.

Kids have tons of energy, and places that host birthday parties for them need to provide them with something to use that energy on from the moment they arrive.

8 )  Also be sure you know if it is your responsibility to clean up, or if the employees will do this for you.

Although our most recent place, and most of those which we have beeen to, provided people to do this with the package, one early excursion did not. We ended up staying almost an hour at that one, cleaning.

9) Make sure you know exactly who will be picking up each child, and that that is the person they leave with.

Because I am a fan of lists, I make a list before the party, of who will be attending, plus a bunch of columns for the following:

phone number

names of parents/guardian/person who will be dropping off/picking up the child

also a column indicating they have arrived at the party, and one for when they leave

That way, I can be certain everyone who arrived safely, has left safely, and with the person they are supposed to have left with.

10) If you have a cell phone, take it to the party with you.

Give every person dropping off a child your number, in case they will be late picking up their child.

Alternatively, you can arrange that they call the place where the party is being held.