KIDS PARTY PROTOCOL!
What am I doing for my birthday party
this year?
These are the dreaded words that can send
even the most organised of mums into a downward spiral of stress. Parties
may have changed over the years but one thing remains the same – your
child’s expectation that his or her birthday party is THE most important
and fun day of the year and should be celebrated accordingly. Add to that
the constant reminders of the amazing parties of his / her friends and the
accompanying ‘playground peer pressure’ and it is no wonder that many mums
feel strained as the impending birthday looms nearer.
Parties of yester year
The traditional party of years ago for a
child that has just started school, would generally comprise a simple trip
to the local play centre, with a birthday cake thrown in for good
measure. But as kids have been seduced by the lavish parties featured on
popular children’s TV and influenced by the myriad of themed characters
that infiltrate their daily lives, so expectations of what is acknowledged
as a ‘good’ party have also shifted up a few gears.
Not only has the bar been raised in terms
of the content of the party, so too has the number of children it is
deemed appropriate to invite. Children in reception no longer just invite
a few ‘special’ friends to join in on the celebrations, the norm has now
become a party for the entire year group. With this trend towards ‘bigger
and better’ parties, many parents now elect to club together to host joint
parties, sharing not only the financial burden but also the exhausting
responsibility to deliver a memorable party experience.
What’s hot, what’s not?
As we all know, children can be quite
specific about their likes and dislikes and will generally voice their
preferred choice of party theme in no uncertain terms! Just as children’s
toys can drift in and out of favour, the theming for birthday parties is
equally transient. For the last 2-3 years, younger girls have gravitated
towards fairy and princess parties whilst boys regularly requested pirate
and super hero based parties - but now Mama Mia and disco based parties
dominate for the girls whilst boys
regularly request a Ben 10 or Toy Story type celebration.
The advent of dance based computer games
like the Wii, reality TV shows profiling emerging dance talent and the
growing sophistication of ‘wake up and shake up’ exercise routines that
mark the start of the school day, has created a generation of dance crazed
youngsters, keen to strut their stuff and learn new moves! Whereas a
couple of years ago, young boys would simply refuse point blank to
participate in any dance related activity, times have changed and shows
like Britain’s Got Talent have inspired the male masses to have a go at
throwing some shapes on the dance floor!
But while 9,10 and 11 year old girls used
to be the age group that would love to bop, nowadays, these girls are
simply too cool to want to join in such ‘childish’ disco activities,
preferring the more selective and ‘grown up’ Hollywood themed parties,
featuring the red carpet, walk of fame and of course the essential
glamorous dressing up that is associated with the land of opportunity.
Beauty based fun!
Whilst many parents may shudder at the
thought of their young daughters experimenting with beauty products at the
tender age of five, some are more than happy to indulge their children’s
desire to ‘look the part’. Beauty based parties for very young girls may
include a dab of nail polish, a dusting of glitter and a smudge of lip
gloss but the emphasis should definitely be on less is more – and on
helping girls to understand how to apply make-up discreetly rather than
layering it on for maximum impact. Older girls may want to go for more
of a home spa approach, enjoying a range of treatments such as a mini
manicure, pedicure or facials with their best chums.
Top tips for success
If you’ve got a child’s birthday looming,
here are some top tips to ensure the party is a runaway success:
-
Take the stress out of
hosting a party by hiring in the services of an experienced children’s
party entertainment company – that way both the children and you
get to have fun!
-
Always seek out an
entertainer that has been recommended to you – and ensure they are
CRB checked and have the necessary public liability
insurance. Don’t be afraid to ask for references either!
-
A reputable children’s
entertainment company will operate with teams of entertainers – so in the
event of sickness or an accident, there is always a back up resource to
cover all the party bookings
-
Don’t get sucked into the
‘battle of the party bags’. Parents invest too much time and £££s putting
together party bags only for children to forget about them the minute they
leave the event. Far better to buy one gift (from the Pound Shop) which
matches the theme of the party eg a fairy wand for fairy parties or a
princess book for a princess party. Alternatively a personalised gift
like a chocolate bar with a personalised message can also make an
inexpensive but memorable party take-away
-
Check if any of the children
attending the party have any allergies that you / the entertainment
company should be aware of and follow the trend for putting on a healthier
selection of food rather than the traditional junk. The parents will
certainly thank you for it!
-
If you have opted for an
action based party such as Quad Bikes make sure the company supplying the
bikes include a comprehensive safety briefing and supply the correct
safety equipment as part of the agreed price
-
If you have any children with
special needs attending the party make sure you are able to adapt games or
entertainment to meet with their approval. For example, some autistic
children may be reluctant to join in with the group activities but can be
made to feel very much part of the proceedings by being recruited as the
party leader’s special helper. An experienced children’s entertainer will
be more than capable of adjusting the programme to cater for any specific
behavioural or physical requirements
If
you have a children’s party dilemma and need to talk to an expert, contact
Emporium Parties on 01303 647007 or email
info@emporium-parties.co.uk.
Emporium Parties operates children’s parties in Kent, Sussex, Essex, Se
London and Surrey
