party Archives • Perth, Western Australia

How to Plan a Stress-Free Kids Party

There’s nothing more fun than a kids party! For the kids, that is. But for the ones planning them, they can be a nightmare. It doesn’t have to be that way though! If you’re anything like me and thoughts of midnight baking, last-minute cleaning and balloon inflating keep you up at night, here are a few easy tips to help you plan a stress-free party – for you and your child.

Tip #1: Listen to Elsa.

You’ve probably seen Frozen more times than you can count, so now is the time to take Elsa’s advice for yourself: Let it Go! Planning a party can be even more stressful than a wedding, and you have to do it every year. Before you even start thinking about whether your two-year-old is too little for a bouncy castle, take a deep breath and remember that even Wonder Woman can’t do everything. And when in doubt, there’s always next year!

Frozen Elsa Anna Party Perth Parties Kids Remember

Tip #2: A happy bub is a happy mum.

While planning a party may seem like a huge task, you’re not alone! Letting your kid make party decisions with you (or for you!) can both ease the stress of decision-making, AND even prevent any party day tears. Just think, if it won’t make your kid happy, you don’t need it.

Tip #3: Choose a theme.

While it may seem counter-intuitive, picking a theme (and sticking to it) can ease a whole lot of stress when it comes to planning a party, especially if it’s straight forward. A dinosaur party could save you time when it comes to buying decorations (all green!), and a princess dress-up party will ease the burden of getting your child dressed on the big day. Check out our theme ideas here!

Tip #4: It’s for the kids!

We all know the stress of making your party kid-friendly AND parent-approved, but they don’t need to be two different things! Providing finger-food or a BBQ is an easy way to feed kids and parents together, and hosting your party outside means you can chat with parents and keep an eye on the kids at the same time. The pressure of a mess-free house is also one you don’t need amid party planning, so find a family friendly park for an easier venue option.

Tip #5: Don’t do work that can be done for you.

This one’s easy, and will save you lots of time. While it may cost you a little extra, ordering a cake and food for the day will be one less thing to worry about, and you’ll be glad for it. You can also buy balloons already inflated, party bags already filled, and pre-made craft packs to keep the kids busy on the day.

Tip #6: Sit back and relax.

For the ultimate stress-free party experience, organise entertainment for the kids. Your little one gets a special party experience, and you get to sit back, relax, and watch the magic unfold. Everyone wins!

Tip #7: Get in early.

I’ve saved the most important for last here! Whether it’s organising catering, decorations, or entertainment, no one wants to be stuck running around at the last minute. For our entertainment bookings, we recommend booking at least 2 weeks in advance, or 3-4 weeks for a super popular character (Elsa and Spider-Man, I’m looking at you!) to make sure you can secure your date, time and number of entertainers ahead of time, especially in the busy season!

No one wants to plan a tricky party, so I hope these tips help you plan the stress-free, easy-breezy party of your kid’s dreams!

Easter!

Is it that time already?! It seemed like just yesterday we were exchanging gifts for Christmas and bringing in the New year with fireworks, fun and frivolity! Time certainly flies when you’re having fun, and this year is proving to be no exception to this rule as we rapidly approach school holidays and Easter! Traditionally, Easter is a christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus on the third day after his crucifixion. However, in today’s modern Australian context it has evolved into a time of sharing, goodwill as well as the transition into the cooler seasons. Even if you’re not particularly religious, Easter provides a time to reflect and spend time with friends and family, as well as to indulge in a little bit of chocolate! Why not make it more special this year by getting the kids involved in some cool craft and cooking projects? It keeps them engaged, entertained and is educational at the same time (which is especially important over the school holidays)!

Here are my top four favourite things to make/do over the Easter break, and I’m sure that you and your kids will love them too.

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with making woollen pom poms. Ever since I was six, when my Grandma showed me this simple and fun technique, I was hooked! I even made little planet pom poms for a school project on the Solar System… I was a cool kid, I know. If only I had known about this awesome craft idea. Lorraine from Ikatbag effortlessly seems to turn these easy orbs into adorable little bunnies! This craft is child friendly, has minimal sewing required and the end product looks amazing. These bunnies would make perfect decorations for a cute Easter party, or even a treat for your little ones to find on an Easter Egg hunt! I know as a little girl, I would have fallen in love with these little guys’. Make sure you check out Lorraine’s website because she has so many patterns, party ideas, tutorials and heart warming anecdotes from both her own childhood as well as her daughters’. A must for any DIY party ideas.

What are the two foods that are best associated with the Easter holidays? Chocolate and hot cross buns of course! So it only makes sense to combine them into an indulgent treat for family and friends to enjoy, (if you’re nice enough to share them)! As someone who doesn’t really like sultanas, this is a perfect alternative for picky eaters such as myself. Yii-Huei, a fellow chocoholic has a delicious recipe for double chocolate hot cross buns that you must try out. It’s easy to follow and a great excuse to get the kids in the kitchen. It also uses yeast, and kids love watching the dough double in size and learning about the science behind it. I recommend serving these after a long Easter egg hunt, searching for goodies is pretty tiring work. Make sure to check out the recipe!

Want to make your easter egg hunt more exciting and realistic for the little ones? Why not get the Easter Bunny to leave his footprints in your backyard? Don’t have a spare magical rabbit hanging around, I’ve got the solution for you! When I was in kindergarten, our teachers made bunny foot prints over the class room during lunchtime to make it look like the bunny had come whilst we were outside. We then had to look for all the easter eggs hidden in the room. This is one of the best Easter memories I have and I was ecstatic to find that Kelly at Smart School House has an easy tutorial to achieving this effect, which I’ve remembered for nearly twenty years! Using only an aluminium baking pan and some flour, it’s an easy and quick way to make Easter Sunday a little more magical. Check out her blog at smartschoolhouse.com for other great Easter decoration and activity ideas.

Fun 2 Remember is an awesome company that provides a great range of children’s’ activities and entertainment options. You can choose from face painting, balloon twisting, character appearances, stage shows, craft, story telling and even discos! If you’re looking to bring a little more excitement to your Easter, why not check out the multitude of restaurants or venues Fun 2 Remember are at this school holidays? It gives Mum and Dad the chance to kick back and relax while the kids have a ball! If that’s not really your scene you could even book your own Easter Bunny to come to your private function. Fun 2 Remember promises to offer a great range for a great value, and all their staff have up to date Working with Children checks and comprehensive training. Follow the link to see where you want to take the kids for Easter.

However you decide to spend your Easter, I hope you have an awesome holiday surrounded by people you love.

Until next time!

– R

Superhero Party Ideas for Kids

Ahhh, superheroes! The heroic, lycra clad crime fighters that are idolized and adored the world over. So much so that their legacies and stories can be traced back to as early as 1917! It’s fair to say that many of the classic caped crusaders have dominated the mainstream media of modern times, starting with printed comic strips in the 1930s to the multi million dollar movie franchises we know and love today. With such following and renown, it’s no wonder that superheroes such as Superman, Batman and the Ninja Turtles are still major hits today and have transgressed generation upon generation.
It’s no wonder then that superhero parties are one of the most coveted themes amongst the cool kids on the block. But hosting a party in this day and age is not nearly easy as it was in the ‘30s, even though the superheroes are the same! With so many ready made costumes, accessories and services about, there is more and more pressure to make your kid’s party the one of the century… well until next year at least. A quick peruse of the internet provides no respite either. With so many websites offering thousands upon thousands of ideas, from the food to the cake to the decor; it’s hard to determine where to start!
To make things a little easier, I’ve compiled my four favourite DIY ideas from across the World Wide Web that will be sure to give your party that extra ‘POW’ or ‘KABLAM’. Not to mention they’re great activities to get them involved which will definitely make it a party to remember.

1. One thing you won’t want to deal with on the day are hangry little superheroes. Although brightly coloured lollies and cordial lend themselves well to such a colourful and exciting theme, it’s also nice to have more substantial offers on the table. Melanie has the right idea over at It Happens in a Blink with her Captain America inspired sandwiches! You can use whatever healthy fillings you want and create these bad boys with simply a star shaped cookie cutter, the effect is amazing!

2. Retro superhero comics are all about strong primary colours, which is convenient because they work great as a colour scheme for decorations! A bright red or yellow table cloth is an easy way to decorate the table, with maybe bright blue plates or napkins to compliment this. A really awesome way of jazzing up any area and really driving home the superhero theme is homemade comic book buntings! Jennifer over at Blissful Nest has a comprehensive tutorial on how you can easily make these awesome decorations!

3. What’s a birthday party without a cake?! Baking is a great way to interact with your child and a great educational opportunity for them. Betty Crocker (the culinary goddess that she is) has come to the rescue again with a fantastic yet simple recipe for a super cake! The kids will have a blast customising their cake with decorations
and turning themselves into an edible superhero!

4. The last thing you’ll want to make sure you cover for a super hero party are the games! Now, entertaining a group of sugar hyped kids for a few hours is no mean feat. Let them have a chance to run off some of the energy with a twist on the beloved Scarecrow game. Many children are familiar with the rules from physical education at school. If you are tagged by the person who is ‘it’ you have to freeze until someone crawls between your legs. To give it a more sinister spin- explain that the ‘it’ person is a villain with an evil power. Perhaps that they turn superheroes into toilets, or something equally crazy! Then the other children must ‘free’ them by sitting on them and flushing the toilet. It’ll have both parents and kids giggling and having a great time. This and other sensational games are provided by Parties Kids remember, who have professional and energetic hosts who will keep your kids entertained for hours! All are cleared with up to date Working With Children Checks and have extensive training. Check them out!

I believe it’s important to include your child in planning and creating their vision for their party; it’s fun, educational and gives them a great sense of accomplishment and pride. With these simple ideas, you’ll be sure to have an easy, affordable and SUPER party!

Have a magical day!

– R

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Tag Archives: party

How to Plan a Stress-Free Kids Party

Easter!

Superhero Party Ideas for Kids

From the Blog

Party Themes