The Parent"s Guide to Running a Good Kids Party - Join In!
You've planned a great party for your child.
Sent out snappy invitations.
Decorated the venue.
Prepared refreshments.
Baked the birthday cake (and not forgotten to bring the matches!).
All you need now are the children.
Isn't that right.
Surely when the kids turn up they will know how to play the games and enjoy the party? You've even got a couple of books out of the library full of pictures of well dressed, well-behaved children happily playing egg and spoon or pass the parcel.
Its going to be easy.
Get real.
You need to pay as much attention to this part of the party as everything else.
You need to have a plan (written down).
Any props needed ready to go.
A couple of other adult helpers to help you run the games and marshal the kids.
But most of all you need you.
You need to be really involved.
It's not everyone's cup of tea.
Standing in front and taking charge but someone needs to! You have the opportunity to set the tone for the whole party.
There is nothing worse than a party where some parent nervously and quietly tries to explain what to do when all the time the kids can see that they don't really believe it themselves.
This is no time for Timid Tims or Cautious Carols you need to take charge.
If you are happy, enthusiastic about the games, join in and have fun then the children will do so also.
So don't just explain the game, either demonstrate yourself or grab a kid to show the others.
Make it clear what you want them to do.
Make it clear what will happen.
Enthuse them about what is to come.
Explain about how the game will end.
Then when the game starts you need to maintain the enthusiasm.
Get the teams cheering, do a running commentary, teasing, praising - anything that keeps things moving along.
At the end don't just let it peter out, make a big thing of it.
And then move smartly on to the next game.
For which you will of course have got everything needed ready and to hand! Children very much take their cues from adults they also love to see adults joining in (note joining in not simply hogging the limelight).
Your enthusiasm will keep the party going.
So show, explain, demonstrate, join in, have fun and keep your kids party moving from start to finish.
Rae Greenfield
Sent out snappy invitations.
Decorated the venue.
Prepared refreshments.
Baked the birthday cake (and not forgotten to bring the matches!).
All you need now are the children.
Isn't that right.
Surely when the kids turn up they will know how to play the games and enjoy the party? You've even got a couple of books out of the library full of pictures of well dressed, well-behaved children happily playing egg and spoon or pass the parcel.
Its going to be easy.
Get real.
You need to pay as much attention to this part of the party as everything else.
You need to have a plan (written down).
Any props needed ready to go.
A couple of other adult helpers to help you run the games and marshal the kids.
But most of all you need you.
You need to be really involved.
It's not everyone's cup of tea.
Standing in front and taking charge but someone needs to! You have the opportunity to set the tone for the whole party.
There is nothing worse than a party where some parent nervously and quietly tries to explain what to do when all the time the kids can see that they don't really believe it themselves.
This is no time for Timid Tims or Cautious Carols you need to take charge.
If you are happy, enthusiastic about the games, join in and have fun then the children will do so also.
So don't just explain the game, either demonstrate yourself or grab a kid to show the others.
Make it clear what you want them to do.
Make it clear what will happen.
Enthuse them about what is to come.
Explain about how the game will end.
Then when the game starts you need to maintain the enthusiasm.
Get the teams cheering, do a running commentary, teasing, praising - anything that keeps things moving along.
At the end don't just let it peter out, make a big thing of it.
And then move smartly on to the next game.
For which you will of course have got everything needed ready and to hand! Children very much take their cues from adults they also love to see adults joining in (note joining in not simply hogging the limelight).
Your enthusiasm will keep the party going.
So show, explain, demonstrate, join in, have fun and keep your kids party moving from start to finish.
Rae Greenfield
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