It All Starts With The Plan!

Before you put your plan on paper, you have to think through the basics. 

At the end of this section, I will provide some sample ‘templates’ to capture all the information as you get organized. You can use these to develop your final plan for the party. 

Don’t worry; I’ll help you pull it all together at the end!

For right now, let’s review a general list of the things you have to consider:

• The Budget – Do you want to plan an extravagant party or something simple?
• The Date – Pick your date carefully, so it does not conflict with family birthdays, anniversaries, school field trips, etc.
• Party Location – Is this party at home, in a rented facility or a public place?
• Do-it-Yourself or Buy Services?  – Will you do all the planning and work yourself, with help from family and/or friends, or will you hire someone to plan and execute the party? 
• Number of Guests – How many adults as guests or chaperones AND how many children.
• Age Range(s) - Your child may be 3 years old but if you are inviting older children, you’ll have to plan activities for them as well.
• Menu – What kinds of foods will you serve and what ingredients will you need to buy.  How much food will you need?
• Invitations – Will you send invitations by postal service, email, have your child hand them out at school, or simply call and invite them on the phone?
• Games and Activities – What activities will you plan to keep the children entertained? 
• Do you need special supplies for these games or activities?  Do you need CDs, videos or other entertainment media?  Will you hire an entertainer?
• Decorations and Supplies – This includes items like plates, cups, forks, table cloths, decorations, items for ‘goodie bags’ or favors at the end of the party. 
• This list should also include chairs and tables (either yours or rented, or borrowed).
• Schedule – Finally, to pull it all together, you’ll want to develop a party ‘schedule’

As you develop your plan, be sure to involve your child. 

Of course, the amount and type of involvement you offer is dependent on the age of the child and their ability to contribute to the planning process but even toddlers will let you know what they prefer and what they think is ‘just dumb’.

Finding out in advance that your daughter thinks an ‘under the sea’ theme is a stupid idea is much better than finding out a day or two before the party.  Take not that you should be prepared to handle conflict, in case your child asks for something that is inappropriate or too expensive. There is usually a way to compromise, or another idea that may be just as attractive but not as expensive or unrealistic. 

You can download the checklist from my downloads page. You can use it to track activities and keep you on schedule toward the target date.

I will look at this again later when you are ready to put your own plan on paper.