Party planning and getting organised

Last modified on Thursday 17 December 2020

There always seems to be so much to do when trying to arrange a kid's party, and never enough time to do it in. Organisation is the answer when it comes to party planning.

This page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.

Take a look at our helpful party checklists. They are printable so keep them somewhere visible, give yourself plenty of time to tick off the different tasks and we guarantee that planning your child’s party will be a stress-free - and, dare we say, fun - experience!

Invitations

About three weeks before the party, you'll need to send out written invitations. They should include the following information:

Your child's name and which birthday they are celebrating.
Your address and phone number.
The date, start and finish times of the party.
If you're having a themed party, your invitation should make it clear if the guest needs to dress up.
You may need a small map if you're inviting children whose parents haven't been to your home before - the same applies if you’re holding the party at a venue that may not be familiar to all guests.

It’s also a good idea to ask on invitations for mums to make it clear if their child has any allergies or special dietary requirements – remember to follow this up when you’re organising the party food on with the seating arrangements on the day.

Personalised invitations made on your home PC are terrific fun. If you are having a themed party, set the scene right from the start with the party invitation.

You can also download printable invitations and other party stationery, right here on netmums. Choose from fairies, football, space, animals and lots more ...

Setting the scene - decor & music

Set the scene with music and decorations, either ready made or, if you’re feeling creative, homemade, for a more unique feel.

Music

A party without music just isn’t a party! If you’re holding the party at a venue away from home don’t forget to take your portable CD player. There are lots of children’s compilation CDs about or you could make your own compilation of your child’s favourite music. Children’s TV theme tunes are usually a popular choice.

Buying decorations

Balloons, streamers, banners, themed paper, tablecloths, paper plates and cups, spray streamers, party hats and so on all help create an instant party atmosphere. Look out for piñatas, a traditional Mexican party tradition in which a colourful papier mache object (such as a star or a donkey) is filled with sweets and treats and then hung from the ceiling to be bashed with a piñata stick until its exterior is weakened and all the goodies fall out. They provide a great end to your party and are available online from various suppliers.

There are many specialist party shops around and online retailers which are well worth a browse, even if only to get some inspirational ideas. Don’t forget to check out our Party Suppliers directory for party decorations and accessories.

Homemade decorations

Your child will greatly appreciate it if you make some of the decorations yourself, and proud cries of “Mummy made those!” will be heard repeatedly.

There are lots of useful items for making your own decorations, which you can keep at the ready in a box for when the occasion demands (see right).

It may be worth investing some time making a few decorations that you can use again and again. If you're giving a birthday party, for example, you can make a birthday banner with your child's name and age, or just 'Happy Birthday' then it can be used for anyone in the family. Fabric bunting also adds a nice touch and can be re-used.