Planning a child's birthday party can be a stressful experience. Questions arise like: How many people should I invite? What time and day of week is the best? What kind of theme should I have? And the big question, what should I do with a houseful of kids? The simple answer is Just be Awesome. But what does awesome look like?
Just remember, planning an awesome party at your home or local park doesn't have to be daunting. In all actuality, planning your party can be a fun and gratifying experience! It can be made even more fun if you engage the help of a party planning service like Awesome Entertainment.
Common Questions on the Party Planning Process
When Should I Start Planning?
Six weeks out is the ideal time to get planning into full gear. Start to gather the invite list with your child, set the budget, and PICK THE THEME!
Picking the theme will be the basis of many of your decisions from decorations to entertainment to activities. At this time, it is also ideal to contact a party planning service to help coordinate activities with you. Or if you are looking to hire entertainers or rent party equipment, now is the time.
How Long Should the Party Be?
For toddlers, parties should be around 2 hours. Little ones tire out fast and need naps. There is nothing like a fussy toddler to make a parent sweat during an event.
For older school-aged children, 3-4 hours is usually more than enough time for fun and wear them out.
What do you do fo 2, 3, or 4 hours?
There are plenty of activities and options to keep kids, as well as their adult "handlers", entertained. Some popular entertainer options include Princesses, Heroes, and Costumed Mascots. Other popular entertainer options include:
1.) Magicians
2.) Balloon-twisters
3.) Caricature Artists
4.) Face-painters
It is essential when choosing entertainers to ask the company you are hiring them from what tasks and activities characters are permitted to participate in.
Many times characters will sing, dance, and pose for pictures with party guests. However, sometimes a costume may have restrictions on what the entertainer can do. If you have something in mind, make sure you discuss it with the party service in advance.
With entertainers such as Balloon-Twisters, Caricature Artists, and Face-painters, make sure you allocate enough time so all guests can participate. Otherwise, you may want to either extend the time of the entertainer or have more than one available at the party.
What Games and Activities Should I have?
Games are an essential element of any party. Keep little ones occupied and having fun! Some of the best parties have incorporated a carnival theme complete with carnival-style games and prizes.
Other options are over the top, giant-sized classic games such as checkers, chess, connect four and Twister. Art activities are also trendy.
Things like spin art, build-a-bear, and spin art t-shirts can be loads of fun (and they offer great take home gifts your guests).
Bounce Houses and Attractions
Depending on the space you have available, kids always love a good bounce house!
Bounce houses come in a variety of styles, themes, and sizes, and will keep little ones entertained and active for hours. And at Awesome Entertainment, we have the largest selection of bounce houses, bounce house combos, and inflatables in central Ohio. And we even have bounce houses that are designed for indoor spaces like basements and garages.
Other extremely unique options include compact bumper cars, carousels, foam pits, water slides, and hamster wheels.
Do I give my Guests a Take Home Gift?
Don't let guests leave empty-handed. Give them a small token to take some of the excitement home.
If you incorporated an activity or entertainer that provided a takeaway like a caricature artist or an art activity, you are already covered, and you knocked out two items with one investment! Otherwise, a small parting gift like a coloring book, a set of stickers, or other small toy is more than enough.
While there is a lot to think about when planning a party, the rewards and smile on your child's face outweigh the work. And remember, our professional team of party planners are here to help you every step of the way!
For more information about Awesome Family Entertainment and our party planning services, visit us online at columbusparties.com or call 614-224-9568.
About Awesome Family Entertainment Founded in 1996 by Curtis Lovell, Awesome Family Entertainment has been bringing fun to Central Ohioans for over 20 years. The company offers party planning services, live entertainers such as life-sized characters and singing telegrams, party games, carnival-style games, bounce-houses, life-sized board games, build-a-bear machines and more. Guests can contact Awesome Family Entertainment by calling 614-224-9568 or visiting them on the web at columbusparties.com.