Stanley just turned 5 (eeeeeeeeek!!) so we threw him and his school friend an epic birthday party with Captain Fantastic! He certainly lived up to his name, by rocking the joint with some fun dancing games, pumping out bubbles and setting the ‘disco’ mood with glitter balls and lights.
If you’re planning a children’s party and feeling a little overwhelmed with it all, then here are Captain Fantastic‘s top five party planning tips to help you create a party to remember;
Choosing a date and time
Let’s face it, in an ideal world we would love to throw a party on their actual birthday but the reality is far from it! Before you book anything, it’s wise to check that people you want to be there can definitely make it. Does it clash with children’s nap or feeding time? Think about the time of day you’re planning for because families (especially on weekends) often make lunch plans or have day’s out.
Choosing a venue
Things to consider when choosing a venue – What is the capacity of the venue? How flexible is the layout? How child-friendly is it? Are there lots of steps which could cause an issue with guests? Is it easy to keep all the children in the designated party area or is it open to the rest of the venue/ are there lots of doors? What’s included in the hire price – Tables and chairs, Catering facilities/ access to a fridge? Are you allowed to put decorations up? Another important thing is to find out if you have to take your rubbish with you or whether they take care of this on your behalf.
Choosing a theme
Girls and boys have different preferences when it comes to party time, as do varying age groups. Themed Superhero, Princess, Pirate and Science parties are typically suited to 3-7s; whereas classic and UV discos are better suited to the 7-11 year age group. HOWEVER this is a general guide. Princess Parties bring to life every little girl’s dream of being the Princess on her special day, whereas the Superhero theme or disco parties are less gender-biased and will appeal to a mixed audience.
Choosing an entertainer
Before considering a company for your child’s party, it’s important to ensure that the following basic but essential criteria are met – Are they CBR/DBS certified? Do they hold public liability insurance? Is their equipment PAT tested? These attributes are imperative and should be carried out by any children’s entertainer to ensure safety requirements are met. Some additional questions you might want to ask are – what exactly is included in the price? How much space does the entertainer need? Can the party be tailored to my child’s needs, and what back up do you have if your entertainer is unwell/ unable to attend?
Plan ahead
Do as much of your party preparation beforehand. Most food, especially cold buffets, can be prepared in advance. Blow up balloons, make up the party bags, wrap the pass-the-parcel the day before too. The more you can prepare before the party, the better, as it means you get to mingle with the other parents and enjoy the party with your child. Don’t forget to arrive in plenty of time to set up for your party before guests arrive!
Stanley and his friends had such a fantastic time on Saturday. Parties can often prove to be quite overwhelming especially for the birthday boy/girl, prompting heightened emotions, tears and tantrums. Luckily for us the birthday boy’s were on top form and made to feel very special and loved by Captain Fantastic. We opted for the Disco party theme which was perfect for the bunch of 5yr olds. They were well and truly partied out by the end and the parents were thrilled that all was taken care of and under control!!
Captain Fantastic is the UK’s premier children’s entertainment company – creating happy, lasting familymemories through entertainment and education. Voted the UK’s number 1 children’s entertainment companyby FreeIndex, Captain Fantastic provide 50 children’s parties a week, as well as termly holiday camps,afterschool clubs, and corporate events for companies including Pokémon, Nickelodeon, Great Ormond Street Hospital, BBC, LinkedIn & United Airlines.
Visit www.captain-fantastic.co.uk for more information.
by Laura xx
