Your kids party is a special time to celebrate them and have some structured play time with their friend group. But the importance of planning ahead can’t be overstated. So, today, we’ll give you some tips on how to host kids party activities so you feel more in control from start to finish.
Basics first
Let’s begin with timings. You’ll want to consider weekends and nap schedules for younger kids. Will you plan it on a significant day or a few days before or after? Then, you want to think about your budget. How much are you willing to spend? How many kids will be there, and will you have a limit on adults? What’s on your prep list and your day-of schedule with setup, activities, food, and goodbyes? Who will you have to supervise? Where is your first aid kit, allergy awareness and emergency contact info list? And what’s your cleanup plan? All your answers to these questions are the first step in how to host kids party activities successfully, because they’ll form your event skeleton.
The theme
The next step in how to host kids party activities is to decide the theme. Some popular themes are gaming, superheroes, princesses, space and animals. Having a theme will guide your decorations, activities and food. Your theme will also help you know if you can do the party at home or in a park, or if you need a rented party space. Make a list of any weather considerations and space you’ll need for activities to help you narrow down your shortlist.
Sending invites
A secret hack on how to host kids party activities is that the more information you put in your invites, the fewer ad hoc questions you’ll need to answer. No matter whether you DIY paper invites or use a digital platform, here are some things to include:
- Date of event
- Start and end times
- Location with transport links
- RSVP info and date
- What to bring
- Any special instructions
Decorations
Talk to your party decorator about items that will align with the theme. Think balloons, banners and tableware. It’s always a nice touch to have a mix of DIY vs store-bought vs custom-made items for a truly bespoke-looking party. You also might want to have some small toys, stickers, candy or crafts to include in a gift bag. While not a requirement, a takeaway gift is a very nice touch.
Planning activities
What sort of age-appropriate things could you offer? Is it crafts, an obstacle course, a treasure hunt, a piñata or something simple like the classic bouncy castle? Make sure to have a balance between free play and structured games. You want a schedule, but keep it flexible so you (and they) don’t feel railroaded.
What to eat
Check out this list for kid-friendly snacks and meals you might offer at your kids party. Make sure to ask the parents about allergies and dietary restrictions. Lastly, encourage a quieter activity after eating any main meal so there’s less of a chance of upset tummies and let the little ones know if food is not allowed somewhere upfront, to reduce spills.
More confident in how to host kids party activities, but need more? Check this list right here.
