1. Best Friends ~ If your child has a best friend/s, make sure they can come.
2. Involvement during planning ~ Involve the birthday party boy or girl in the planning, ask them what they would like, who they would like, etc.
3. Plan ~ Plan what you are going to do with theming, food and games!
4. Guest list ~ Sometimes small groups are better than large ones, so try to limit the numbers (particularly if you have a small venue)!
5. Invitations ~ Themed invitations are always fun – try to give as much notice to guests as possible. Also remember to invite the parents!
6. Timing ~ Weekend parties are best for younger children and families, while older children can have after school parties.
7. Venue ~ Home parties are generally less expensive – but expect a mess to clean up! Some venues that host parties for you are a good idea.
8. Menu ~ Try to keep food small (little fingers) and simple – old favourites like fairy bread and sandwiches are easy to eat, and less messy! Make sure you check if there are any children with allergies you should know about. Try to provide both healthy and treat options – fruit platters and home-made biscuits are good!
9. Games ~ Simple games that involve all the children are good – if you have mixed ages try to provide both younger and older games so everyone can join in. Team games are generally good as they involve everyone and no one child is singled out. Also try to limit the number of games – games always take longer than you expect, and there needs to be some time for eating and general play! Old favourites like pin the tail on the donkey are still great fun!
10. Present opening and gifts ~ Opening presents when everyone has left is less stressful, you can then send thank you cards for the gift. Take-home party bags should have a mixture of small toys and treats, and ensure you give them out only as people are leaving! Make sure none of the toys are dangerous for babies!

• Pin the tail ~ on the donkey/hat on the pirate/wand on the fairy, etc.
• Egg and spoon races
• Musical chairs ~ play music while children walk around a circle of chairs with one chair less than the number of children. When the music stops they have to sit down – those without a chair are out and the last child left is the winner.
• Hot potato ~ a sock filled with paper is the “hot potato” and passed around a circle of children to music. When the music stops, the child with the “potato” is out. The last child left is the winner.
• Duck duck goose ~ children in a circle and one person is “it” – they tap everyone on the head and say whether they are a duck or goose. When someone gets “goose” they have to chase “it” around the circle and tap them before they get back to their spot. If they can’t catch “it” – that child becomes “it” in the next round.
• Doggy where’s your bone? ~ one child is the “dog” and has a bone, when their back is turned, another child has to take the bone and sit on it – then the children as “Doggy where’s your bone?” and the dog has 3 chances to pick who took it – if he guesses wrong, he has to do it again, if he is right then that child becomes the new dog.
• Animal follow the leader ~ kids have to copy one child and all move like that “animal”.
• Animal “mime” game ~ children have to say which animal one child is pretending to be.
• Treasure hunt
• Thieves/animals/fairies ~ tied-together races (old stockings are good for tying kids’ legs together).
• Pass the parcel ~ with themed gifts.
• Walk the tight-rope ~ use a raised wooden plank.
• Blindfold freddy ~ blindfolded person needs to catch as many other kids as they can in a room (the other kids must sit in the one spot and not move).
• Paper races ~ cut out different pieces of paper and line them up at the end of the room. The children must “fan” their piece of paper with rolled up newspaper until it reaches the other end of the room. The first to reach the end wins.
• I went to Mars ~ the children sit in a circle and one starts with “I went to Mars and took a….” – they must say one thing they took. The next child then has to repeat that sentence and add another object to the list….and continue until someone forgets an object.
• Wrong! ~ Write a simple story with mistakes in it eg: “I went to the butchers and bought some eggs…” – the children must spot the mistakes by saying “Wrong” and then explaining the mistake. Each correct mistake scores a point, if there is no mistake, they lose a point. The child with the most points by the end of the story wins.

• Fairy bread – bread with hundreds and thousands
• Banana splits
• Banana bread
• Cheese and vegemite scrolls (wrap bread into scrolls or twists)
• Meatballs, sausage rolls and frankfurts with tomato sauce
• Pizza slices
• Cornflake and rice bubble cookies
• Chocolate crackles
• Jelly cups
• Fruit juice icy poles
• Yoghurt icy poles
• Cupcakes

We have teamed up with Kittenlittle to stock a range of funky kids jewellery. Designed by Kitty Millyard, Kittenlittle is unique and beautifully made with quality beads and love! We stock ten different Kittenlittle pieces that we know you (and your kids) will love!

Kitty is a mum living in Brisbane, with her husband, her son, two dogs, a cat and seven chooks.

Her love of colour and all things fun and bright sparked her interest in jewellery making. Kitty's work appeals to both adults and children alike. Kitty's jewellery is currently stocked in Brisbane, Bangalow and Melbourne, and through Decked Out Kids. A great gift and parties idea!