Tips to a great house/birthday party for kids

1. Only invite as many kids as your kid is old. We often allow for one extra, especially if the numbers are low. This is not an easy thing to do, there is always the guilt "but won't those other kids be sad?" or "will that parent now hate me?". Get over this unless you have the dough to rent out a party place or you have the weather to park it. If it's a house party tell your kid how many kids they are allowed to invite and let them make the list. They can always use the excuse "my parents made me do it" (which is true, you did).

2. Make it simple. Simple food, simple games, simple theme. We did a "superhero" theme because anybody can dress up as any old superhero they want or they make up. We also have loads of dress up and can supply people with capes or costumes should they desire. Added to that party was a 'top your own pizza' and 'decorate your own cupcake'. Even this - if prepared correctly previously - can not only be super simple the day off but also steps in as an added activity or two.

3. Keep it to one floor. Ensure this by having an activities plan and keeping those tiny, yet incredibly loud and fast, people busy. Very busy. If they can, they *will* take over your home and make it look like a bomb exploded inside it.

4. Have your child open their gifts as they receive them. This not only fills up the first few minutes of lag time while you wait for all your other guests to arrive (as it is unlikely they will all show up at once), it also allows the child to thank each guest personally for the gift. Furthermore it prevents the scenario where all the children are forced to sit in a little circle and watch, enviously, as the birthday boy/girl opens their presents in front of them. Cause that is SO much fun for those little guys.

5. Prep that sucker up! Seriously. Better to be tired from a night of prepping and decorating for the party than completely disorganized and stressed out the day of. Children will eat you alive if you show weakness - don't give them a reason. Cook anything that can be cooked ahead of time. Put any snacks in bowls to be plopped onto the table minutes before the party starts. Saving time doesn't just save stress it also gives you the time to get the activities started and keep those little guys busy and happy.

6. Have or hire a helper. We are lucky to have two older siblings available at the ready for my little guys parties. My second oldest was a charm at this last party. She helped organize games, kept kids busy, told funny stories and put on a clown show. She did such an awesome job that I would have paid her if she wasn't my kid! ;)

7. If you have a baby or toddler - get rid of them. Not forever obviously, just for the party. If you can't find a sitter or helper to take them out or entertain them on another level of the house than have a good back carrier on hand. If you have a baby or toddler you understand. If you don't then you don't have this problem. That is all that needs to be said about this.

8. Make the party ONLY two hours long. I can't stress enough: this ain't no play date! These are hyperactive, loud people, at groin level running back and forth looking for you to amuse them. If you decide to go longer than two hours I can't help you, I can just hope for you that your house and your sanity survive it.

9. And this is genius...(my partner came up with this) give each individual child their own cupcake with candle to blow out instead of just the birthday kid! Your kid won't care (adults care, kids don't) and this will prevent any 'over the shoulder blowing out of birthday candles before said birthday kid gets a chance to do it themselves' that often happens by other kids at parties (my kids ok!? Sheesh). Plus it's super fun and original.

So there you have it. Our rules for how to survive a child's birthday.