• Start planning at least 4 weeks in advance, even earlier if you want to have the party at a party facility or you are booking entertainment.
  
  
• Include your child in every aspect of the party planning. Personalize the event with the child making the invitations, picking the decorations and stuffing the loot bags.
  
  
• Be realistic when it comes to inviting a manageable number of children.
  
  
• Having your party at home is usually less expensive, but takes more energy. Enlist the help of other parents to help supervise, take pictures and serve food. Be sensitive to potential food allergies.
  
  
• Plan the party from beginning to end: Have welcoming activities, then games, arts and crafts, entertainment, then food, cake and present opening. If space allows, open the presents at the party. Kids love to see their gifts opened by the birthday child.
  
  
• Make sure the activities or entertainment are age appropriate. Bored, unhappy or confused children result in party disasters. Co-operative games are usually more fun then competitive games. Make sure that all children win.
• Keep party lengths reasonable. For young children 90 minutes is plenty, for older kids 2 to 2 1/2 hours depending on the activities planned.

• Hire only tried and true entertainers. Make sure you have references or audition the entertainer. To save money, check out your local magicians or jugglers club for student talent. Professionals can charge over $100.00 per party.
  
  
• Book well in advance if you plan to rent a party bouncer, ponies, petting zoos, dance or music instructors, art teachers etc. Save yourself the disappointment of your choice of entertainment not being already booked by planning ahead.
  
  
• Find out the exact length of the entertainment so that you can have the whole party timed perfectly.

• Bigger Kids parties can be much easier to plan and enjoy. Sleep overs with just a few friends are winners if well planned. Going to movies, swimming, sports or dance facilities are just a few ideas. How about wall climbing nor archery? Bigger kids are easier to feed and chances are you will have little left over. You don't need a loot bag for kids over 9, a chocolate bar will do.

Make sure loot is age appropriate. No small toys for very young children and make sure that all loot bags are exactly the same to prevent squabbles. Have extra loot for surprise guests, older siblings etc.

1. Fill small sports bottles with loot.
   
   
2. Make loot necklaces with long strips of cellophane paper. Lay paper flat on table, place small toys and candy 5 inches apart then roll up cellophane with toys inside.Tie ribbons around cellophane , separating toys. Tie necklaces together so kids can wear them when they go home.
   
   
3. Have kids decorate there own loot bags at the party. Fill them at the end of the party with the toys and candy from a Pinata. Make sure you have extra so all children go home happy.