Kid's Parties- Survival Tips And Tricks

PRLog (Press Release) – Feb 25, 2008 – Planning and structure are the keys to birthday party success. Keep the guest list manageable and age appropriate. 15 guests at a 5 year old's party isn't ideal if over half of them are adults. Keep the activities short and sweet. Games that drag on will only wear out your little guests. If you do have parents at the party, try to include them in games. This will take out the division line between the kid party and the adult party, putting the focus back on the birthday child and her guests. Party games are a parent's dream come true or worst nightmare depending on your confort zone with party planning. Even the best game can get away on you if it is not quite tweaked to your little audience. A treasure hunt is a great way to keep guests busy, and most of all constructively active.
Like the Pinata, the treasure hunt is old hat for most people, but kids love it! Note: treasure hunts are best done outside as they can get fairly rambuncious.
*For non-reading guests, use pictograms for clues. ie:if the clue is in the maibox, use clip art to depict an envelope and a box. Ask the kids "what kind of box does an envelope go in?" Keep nudging until someone guesses and then on to the next clue!
*If you know the exact guestlist beforehand (no surprise brothers or sisters attending) then you could have a personalized clue at each station. The clue could be sealed in an envelope with one guest's name on it and it is up to that guest to solve the clue.
*Variation: do your treasure hunt at the end of the party and have a loot bag at each station (put a guest's name on each bag to avoid the "It's mine song and dance). Great way to wrap up the party while you wait for parents to pick up their children. By doing this at the end of the party, you also avoid the dreaded "party winddown" when the cake is eaten, the presents opened and the guests are getting tired.
For more games and party ideas, visit http://partyswag.net