Thursday, 7 March 2013

Perfect 5th birthday tips...

The perfect time

Many 5-year-olds have given up their naps, which gives you more flexibility in picking a time.

The perfect length

Two hours is a good length of time for a 5-year-old's party. There's nothing wrong with making it shorter or longer

Two times the fun

If your child's actual birthday falls during the week and you're holding the party on the weekend, you'll need to decide if you want to celebrate twice

Party Themes:

Animal Antics. Either choose your child’s favourite animal, or base the party around a zoo, farm or jungle theme.
Circus Fun. Clowns, juggling, face painting and a chance to get silly. Prepare the games and activities yourself, or hire some entertainment.
Dinosaurs. At the risk of sounding politically incorrect, 5 year old boys love a dinosaur theme.
Pirate Party. Either at land or sea, you can make this theme as simple or as elaborate as you like.
Secret Garden. This is a great party theme for girls, although boys will enjoy looking for bugs and digging in the dirt.
Space Party. You can really let your imagination run wild with this theme. 3, 2, 1 blast off.

Wednesday, 6 March 2013

Toddler Birthday Party Dos and Don'ts:

Do keep it short. Knowing when to call it quits is one key to a successful toddler birthday

Do get your tot’s input. Make the big decisions for your toddler birthday party (like where and when) yourself, but let your little one have a little say

Don’t leave parents guessing. On the invite — along with the who, what, and where — be specific about when the party will end, whether you’re serving lunch

Don’t feel you have to entertain the adults. Of course the Miss Manners in you wants a good time to be had by all, big and small

Do say yes to help. Even Superman had Lois Lane. Enlist relatives and friends to help out on the day of the toddler birthday party

Top tips for a successful party

Toys will be fought over, so keep anything precious locked away and, where possible, try to have at least two of everything.
Have a sit-down party meal rather than a buffet because children of this age just won't understand the
principle.
Ask parents to stay so that any tantrums thrown by their toddler can be their problem, not yours.
Keep games short, simple, structured and fun so that little ones don't get bored or confused.
Put the food out at the last minute and clear away quickly when it's finished.

Don't create a second party for parents, just provide drinks and nibbles.
Make sure you have plenty of spill-proof cups available.
Serve the savoury foods before the sweet.

AND DON'T FORGET TO ORDER YOUR CAKE @ FROSTED DREAM CAKES

Tuesday, 5 March 2013

You have turned 1 today!

Stress-free tips and theme ideas will have you and your bambino tossing your party hats into the air:

1. Watch the clock. Plan the party to last an hour to an hour-and-a-half. Babies have short attention spans and run out of energy and interest quickly. Plan the party for late morning or late afternoon -- pre- or post-nap -- when baby isn't tired.
2. VIPs only. Scale back the guest list to avoid overwhelming your babe and keep costs down.
3. Ask for help. Consider hiring a babysitter or asking a family member to help you balance your hosting duties with enjoying your baby's big day.
4. Babies love balloons. Opt for foil, or Mylar, balloons instead of latex to avoid choking hazards for kids under 8.
5. Create a play place. Many of the babies in this age range are still on all fours, so baby-proof a play zone filled with age-appropriate toys for your little guests. Set chairs around the zone for parents to relax and watch.
6. Check your treats. Ask your guests if there are food allergies to consider. Keep snacks simple, like chopped fruit and graham crackers for the kids, and more grown-up versions for the adults to munch.
7. Don't stress. You're still a few years shy of hiring a D.J. and hosting pony rides. It won't matter to baby whether you throw the party of the season or just celebrate at home with your immediate family. As long as he's with you and feels love all around, that's all that matters.