1. Stay Local
If space permits host your party at home or in your garden. By staying local you’ll save yourself significant time as you’ll have everything to hand in a familiar kid friendly environment. If your home isn’t suitable to host a group consider using your local park our playground, they often have picnic tables and BBQ’s (handy for cooking Sausages which are always a big hit).

2. Keep the guest numbers down
It's very natural to feel an obligation to invite all the kids whom have invited your child to their party over the last year and all your friends and family. As you make your initial guest list you’ll soon be well into double figures and the longer the list gets the more work, expense and time will be absorbed with organising the birthday party. However hard it maybe our experience suggests that you should limit the numbers as much as you are able, it won’t impact the fun your child and their friends will have but it will significantly ease your stress levels.

3. Serve age appropriate food
The key rule to abide by here is keep the food simple and balanced by providing some good nutritional savoury items followed by the destined to be popular cakes. We have outlines some further ideas here.

4. Fun Party games that involve all the kids
To help keep the kids together and in celebration mood we find quick structured party games work best. The classics like pass the parcel, Treasure Hunt and Freeze when the music stops are constant winners which all the kids will be familiar with or certainly pick up quickly.

5. Engage some help
Enlist several adults to help the Birthday Party run smoothly. For three- to five-year-olds, ideally you'll need around one adult for every four children, and for six-to ten-year- olds, one adult for every six children. For younger children it can be useful to “invite” parents as a way of encouraging higher adult to child ratios.

6. Task List
At least 6 weeks from the date of the party make a list of all the tasks you need to complete to organise the Birthday party. Once you have the list of all the tasks allocate dates against each task indicating by when they need to be completed relative to the date of the party. Check out the planning guide.

7. Party Bags
With a little ingenuity you can create some unique fun filled party bags which your guests will love. A good starting point when thinking about what to put in the party bags is what can you buy in bulk sets and then split up amongst the party bags. A great source of inspiration are craft shops where you can find packs of fun pens, stickers and craft kits which can simply be split into individual items for inclusion within the bags. For ideas by age check out our Birthday Party Bag ideas.

8. Check the Weather
If you are hosting your party outdoors check the long range weather forecast and if it’s looking bad plan a fall back, indoor venue and have the ability to contact all the guests to advice them of the change of venue on the morning of the party.

9. Don’t forget the candles!
The highlight of many Birthday Parties is the blowing out of the candles by the birthday child, so put a packet of candles at the top of your shopping list along with some long stem matches.

10. Capture the moment
You’ll be busy as the party unfolds so nominate an adult to take some pictures/shoot a video of the party for you.