Tag: organise

Take the kids to the Theatre

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See Peppa Pig’s Surprise at the Phoenix Theatre

London

Surprise! Peppa Pig, George and their friends are appearing in a brand new live stage show, Peppa Pig’s Surprise at the Phoenix Theatre, London from 15th December to 7th January – the perfect Christmas Treat!

It’s a lovely day out for the family and Peppa is playing outside with her friends. Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig have got a surprise for her and George – they can’t guess what it is, can you?

Enjoy fun, games and of course, surprises in this charming, colourful new show with new songs and new life size puppets, Peppa Pig’s Surprise promises to be the perfect theatre show for all pre-schoolers!

The Snowman at The Peacock Theatre

London

Delighting audiences for 19 hit years, this magical stage adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ much-loved book has transported a generation of children and their families into the wintery wonderland of a boy and a snowman that comes to life.

Twinkling with festive spirit, this is a joyful mix of exquisite dancing, storytelling, enchanting sets and live music, including the beautiful ‘Walking in the Air’. Expect plenty of excitement when snow falls into the theatre and gasps of delight when the Snowman literally flies through the sky.

Suitable for children aged two and upwards, The Snowman is the magical treat your family won’t forget and a perfect introduction to theatre for the young. Performances from 23rd November 2016 – 1st January 2017.

The Cat in the Hat at the Pleasance Theatre

London

Opening at the Pleasance Theatre on 6th December, The Cat in the Hat is the must-attend children’s show of the festive season!

From the moment his tall, red and white striped hat appears around the door, Sally and her brother know that The Cat in the Hat is the funniest, most mischievous cat they have ever met. Based on the much-loved book, expect towering hats, mischief and an imagination recharge!

Have a safe Face Painter party

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Face painting at kids parties is becoming increasingly popular. Gone are the days of cheek-designs done with dollar store craft paint. The face painters of today are artists using cosmetic-grade paints and creating designs so amazing they go viral! When booking a face painter for your birthday party, corporate event, grand opening, or anything else, make sure you’re getting not only a great artist, but a safe and sanitary experience.

1. What kind of paint do you use?

This is a “trick question.” A professional face painter will be using FDA-approved cosmetics that we call “paint.” It’s hypoallergenic and safe for kids, Make sure they don’t say craft paint, acrylic paint, or anything else not made specifically for skin.

2. What’s your sanitation like?

Face painters must sanitize their brushes between dips and only use one sponge per child. (Face painters often use sponges for bigger areas.)

3. Are you insured?

All professional face painters are insured against accidents. This is especially important for corporate parties or company events.

4. Do you do background checks?

If you’re dealing with an agency who hires multiple artists, ask if they do background checks.

Here’s some other questions to get the most information from your face painter!

1. Are your paints vegan or cruelty-free?

Kids love animals, so why not ask? An increasing number of makeup brands contain no animal products and are not tested on animals.

2. Can you cater to my special needs?
From autism to to non-English speakers, make sure the professional face painter you hire can accommodate to your needs.
3. How do I take face paint off afterwards?

It should be pretty easy, but some brands are easier than others. The face painter you book should be able to walk you through the removal or cleanup process.

Outdoor Birthday Ideas

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For summer birthdays or just a fun get-together, kids love a good party! Why not take advantage of the beautiful summer weather and have the party outside? Get going with these 5 cool outdoor kids party ideas!

1. Kids Olympics Party

Cabin fever may be setting in after all the April showers and being stuck in school, so get the kids outside and burn off some energy! Tap into their competitive side and set up a Kids Olympics party! “Active” is the name of the game with this theme. Discus throws (using Frisbees), obstacle courses, balance beams, or hula hoop contests are great choices for a Kids Olympics Party. You can also encourage teamwork with relay races or a team sport like whiffle ball or kickball. At the end of the party, give away small prizes or even have a medal ceremony to bring the festivities to a close!

2. Sensory Party

Younger children are always curious about the world around them. Why not embrace it and host a Sensory Party? Tell your guests to wear some “play clothes” or provide souvenir T-shirts as party favors. Then, prepare to get messy! Set up stations that help kids explore all five senses. For example, a sand art creation table will let kids make art out of brightly-coloured sand. It also helps them use their visual creativity to make something unique! Auditory stations can include simple instruments like tambourines or recorders. Since it’s outside, the sound won’t drive you crazy! Or, make some Rainbow Foam for a tactile station. It’s easy to make and allows children to get messy while exploring a fun texture.  Just remember, the messier the better for your outdoor kids party ideas!

3. Just Add Water Party

Looking for a way to cool off in the summer heat? Just add water! Have your guests bring their swimsuits, towels, and sunscreen for a day of fun in the sun. Activities like Slip n’ Slides or sprinklers are easy ways to add a little H2O to your outdoor party. Water games are always a great addition to outdoor kids party ideas. If all else fails, pass out squirt guns or water balloons and let the battle begin!

4. Animal Party

While we’re all fans of furry creatures, sometimes the thought of having them inside is a little daunting. That’s why animals are the perfect addition to an outdoor party! Does your kiddo dream of riding a pony or holding a hedgehog? An animal party can deliver! Most petting zoos or pony parties only need a small amount of space outside, like your garden. Reptile shows are great for Jurassic Park or jungle-themed parties. The animals are usually enough to hold the kids’ attention, but animal games can be a just as fun!

5. Outdoor Movie Night Party

Would you like to give your child a drive-in movie party under the stars? Bring it to your Garden! Your kids and their friends of all ages will love being able to pile onto blankets in the grass and watch a family-friendly flick. Rent an outdoor movie screen or make your own by stringing up a white painter’s canvas.  Set up a movie snack bar with popcorn and classic sweet choices. Set up tin buckets filled with ice and bottles of pop to bring out the nostalgic vibe. Outdoor kids party ideas don’t have to be complicated; sometimes it’s just about spending time together!

Star Wars party ideas

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Now that the Force has awakened, no doubt you have a child in your life begging for a Star Wars birthday party! We have some great children’s party ideas to help you throw the ultimate celebration.

Spacey Decorations

Luckily, recreating “space” isn’t too complicated! Use a black tablecloth or sheet and splatter with white paint to add a galactic feel. Hang it up as a backdrop for food/cake table or for a photo booth! Lay out black plates, cups, and cutlery, and blue and black balloon bouquets as centrepieces. There are tons of resources for printable garlands.

Finally, try gathering some white paper lanterns and using gray paint to create the Death Star ship.

Fantastic Food and Drink

You can get really creative with the snacks at your Star Wars party, and this is a great opportunity to use puns. (Even if the kids don’t appreciate them, it’s fun!) Party foods like Obi Wan Kabobies, Yoda Soda, and Padawan Popcorn are all great choices. Use your clever wit and put your own sci-fi twists on old party favorites.

As for your Star Wars birthday cake, you can have one made by the pros with expert detail or you can take the DIY approach. If you opt for making your own, there are some pretty simple designs that the amateur baker can try, like this awesome BB8 cake. Cupcakes are also a great option, and you can include multiple Star Wars characters.

Galactic Games and Activities

There are a lot of kid-friendly games that you can incorporate into a Star Wars kids birthday party. Create light sabers out of pool noodles! Set up target practice with Nerf guns to take out the toilet-paper roll Storm Troopers. Add some “Jedi Training” with a galactic bean bag toss and a “laser” obstacle course made out of streamers. Or, Pin the Bun on Princess Leia, anyone?

Want to really blow your child’s mind? Invite Darth Vader or Hans Solo to visit!

Family days out

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Bracknell Leisure Centre

Get active when planning a children’s day out in Berkshire! There’s plenty of fun to be found for the whole family at Bracknell Leisure Centre. The range of facilities and children’s activities will get you and your little ones burning off excess energy and creating healthy habits for life.

Family tickets are available for the swimming pools enabling everyone to get splashing and save money! There are also plenty of badminton courts and tennis tables available. With lots of other bookable and pay-as-you-go activities such as soccer dribblers, tweeny tumblers, fun sessions, go karts and gymnastics, it’s a great place to go with the kids over the summer.

The Time Out Café and Bar is ideal for meeting and unwinding during a visit to the leisure centre. This warmly decorated and comfortable venue offers a mouth-watering menu and an excellent choice of snacks. Choose from a menu including sandwiches, panini’s, jacket potatoes, soup of the day as well as a daily special. Inflatable Aqua Run and Water Walker birthday parties for children are available.

British Motor Museum

The newly refurbished British Motor Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of historic British cars – from the very first Land Rover to Lady Penelope’s FAB1.

Experience the sights, sounds and stories of the British motor industry and get ‘under the skin’ with our interactive exhibits. Explore how motoring and family life has changed through the decades as the cars are brought to life by costumed explainers and free guided tours.

Family trails and school holiday activities add to the family fun, whatever the weather! Nearest train stations are Warwick or Banbury.

Arundel Castle

For a lovely day out with the family, visit Arundel Castle which is set high on a hill in West Sussex. Steeped in 1,000 years of history, Arundel Castle offers a full day out with guided and free-flow tours of the finely preserved castle rooms, including the Baron’s Hall, 14th Century Catholic Fitzalan Chapel, Regency Library and Victorian bedrooms.

There are also opportunities to ascend the Norman Motte and Keep and enjoy The Collector Earl’s Garden, which was opened by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2008. Special event prices apply for the Castle Siege and International Jousting and Medieval Tournament.

Take the kids to the movies

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 3D (12A)

JK Rowling returns to the world of Harry Potter with this bleak and dark prequel that takes its title from one of the textbooks studied at Hogwarts.

It was written by Newt (short for Newton) Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) and the film, written by Rowling and directed by David Yates, travels back to pre-war New York City, some 70 or 80 years before The Philosopher’s Stone, to where, having been expelled from Hogwarts, despite support from Dumbledore, the scatterbrained British taxonomist travels, causing chaos when the creatures in his suitcase escape.

On top of which, following an attack on the city by a dark magic beast known as an obscurial, the division between those of magical blood and the Muggles, here called “no-maj”, is threatening to explode, with anti-witch activist Mary Lou (Samantha Morton) and her adopted son Credence (Ezra Miller) forging an unlikely alliance with power-seeking wizard-politician Percival Graves (Colin Farrell).

Also featuring Dan Fogler as a no-maj ex-soldier with whom Newt strikes up a friendship and Katherine Waterston and Alison Sudol as a pair of wizarding sisters, it’s the first of at least three films. On the evidence of the trailers, that’s not going to be anywhere near enough. 2hr 13 mins. Also in 2D and IMAX 3D.

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children 3D (12A)

A sort of X-Men meets Groundhog Day, this adaptation of the Ransom Riggs is directed by Tim Burton, so you know to expect plenty of visual magic.

When his grandpa is murdered by a monster, 16-year-old Jake (Asa Butterfield) travels from Florida to a Welsh village in order to discover the truth behind the stories granddad told him about a home for unusual children.

Meeting Emma Bloom, a girl who needs to wear special boots to keep her from floating away, Jake is introduced to the time-shifting world of Miss Peregrine (Eva Green) and the ‘gifted’ (invisibility, raising the dead, pyrokinesis, etc) children in her care.

Their safety is, however, threatened by forces known as the creepy Hollows, monsters from his grandfather’s past, and the dangerous Wights, led by the terrifying shape-shifting Mr. Barron (a scenery-chewing Samuel L. Jackson). Although often visually amazing, it never really comes alive until the final battle on Blackpool pier. 127 mins. Also in 2D.

More movie ideas for kids…

Trolls 3D (U)

Pitched firmly at the younger spectrum of the kiddie market, this latest, wildly colourful DreamWorks musical animation, based on the toys (called Gonks in the UK),  comes from the creators of Shrek and Kung Fu Panda.

Princess Poppy (voiced by Anna Kendrick) is the leader of the relentlessly optimistic and cheery Trolls who live in the middle of the woods and are always ready to burst into song. Unfortunately, they also live in fear of the Bergens,  miserable giant ogres who, led by King Gristle (John Cleese),  believed the only way to become happy was to eat Trolls.

For 20 years, the Trolls have managed to remain hidden, but, then, the light from a wild disco party gives them away and, as  the Bergens prepare to revive their annual Trollstice feast day, Poppy joins forces with the Branch (Justin Timberlake), the world’s only unhappy Troll,  to rescue her friends from the cooking pot.

Featuring the voices of Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Prince Gristle, the young ruler of the Bergens, Zooey Deschanel as the maid  who’s secretly in love with him, Gwen Stefani as the Trolls’ DJ and Russell Brand, Icona Pop and James Corden as fellow Trolls  as well as a whole bunch of new and old songs sung by its stars, this may not be for anyone older than their shoe size, but it’s still an irrepressibly fun ride and great kids entertainment. 92 mins. Also in 2D.

Storks 3D (U)

Back in the day, storks delivered babies, but, following an incident in which one of the birds (Danny Trejo) tried to keep the tot for himself, breaking her, quite literal, homing beacon in the process, they got out of the baby business and now deliver parcels from their Corner Store HQ on Storm Mountain.

Top of the delivery tables is Junior (Andy Samberg) who is thrilled to be told by Hunter (Kelsey Grammar), the big boss who uses little birds as golf balls, that he’s going to be promoted to take over from him at the upcoming StorkCon shareholders meeting. But first, he has to fire Tulip (Katie Crown), who, the baby that never got delivered, still lives with them. Now that she’s 18th (and also because she tends to cause all kinds of chaos), Hunter says it’s time she became part of the human world. However, faced with telling her, Junior just can’t get the words out and, instead, tells her she’s been given a  job in the letter sorting office. Which she should never leave. Given that nobody writes asking for babies any more, she’s bored out of her head and spends the time talking to herself, acting out (with the help of a pliable hairdo) different personas, each of them excruciating annoying.

Meanwhile, out in people land, his real estate parents (Ty Burell and Jennifer Aniston) always too busy to spend any time with him, young Nate decides he’d like a baby brother, one with ninja skills. Mum and dad dismiss the idea, but, finding an old leaflet about the stork service, he writes a letter which duly winds up in Tulip’s hands and, before Junior can stop her, goes into and reactivates the baby making machine. Now they find themselves with an unexpected tot to deliver, before the meeting and before Hunter finds out. Junior, however, has injured his wing, but, fortunately, Tulip’s cobbled together a makeshift plane.

Without prolonging the agony of explaining things, suffice to say that Tulip’s maternal instincts mean the mission doesn’t go as planned, leaving the trio being pursued by wolves and, thanks to the aptly named Pigeon Toady, quite possibly the most annoying animated character ever, their secret is revealed to Hunter. And to top it all, Jasper, the stork who tried to abduct Tulip in the first place, also turns up, determined to rectify his screw up. All of which somehow manages to end up with Nate’s intended sibling in the custody of Hunter’s penguins and the baby machine churning them out like rabbits.

Mercifully, there are some good moments (almost all of them involving Alpha and Beta, the two wolves who fall for the cute pink-haired infant, and the way the pack is forever forming itself into things like a plane or submarine), but they’re mostly overwhelmed by the unrelenting screech elsewhere. Undemanding four-year-olds may be entertained, but, unfunny, relentless and charmless, the best thing to be said is that it’s not as bad as the profoundly tedious The Master: a Lego Ninjago Short that precedes it. A bundle of joy it is not. 87 mins. Also in 2D.

Get your skates on

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Guildford Spectrum

Guildford, Surrey

Escape the festive mayhem by chilling out at Spectrum this Christmas. The complex is open over the whole of the Christmas holiday period, so there are plenty of opportunities to give your mind and body a break from the shopping, cooking and eating!

The complex is open from 10am – 12.00 noon for skating and swimming on Christmas Day, a fantastic way to boost your energy levels. Tickets are limited and need to be booked in advance – book online or call.

In addition to swim, skate or bowl, there is also a great range of children’s holiday courses on offer over the festive period. Keep the kids active and entertained by learning a new skill, or simply enjoy Christmas children’s activities with friends. All this, plus gift vouchers for membership, family outings and courses which make the perfect gift.

Royal Tunbridge Wells at Christmas

Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Calverley Grounds will be transformed into a beautiful winter ice rink signalling the start of the festive season, with stylish skating, festive food and drink, music and Christmas cheer.

It will be open seven days a week from Friday 18th November 2016 to Monday 2nd January 2017 (closed Christmas Day) – with capacity for 250 skaters. Dedicated thirty minute parent and toddler session and main skating sessions are available.

Tickets are available to buy now with sessions starting from £7.00 for children and £10.50 for adults. Ticket price includes hire of skating boots and lasts for 45 minutes. New this year is the Season Ticket, priced at £150 which allows unlimited skating across the whole six weeks.

Family tickets, concessions and Go! Card tickets are also available.

Tower of London

London

Soak up the historic atmosphere at this exclusive ice rink in the grounds of the Tower of London. Kids will love being able to glide around the ice rink set against the most dramatic backdrop in the city. With quiet morning sessions ideal for younger children and families, leading into busy afternoon and bustling evening entertainment, we have fun and entertainment for all age groups and skating abilities. For the very first time, in the heart of this world-class landmark there will be the immersive pop up Eis Haus Ice Experience – with hand carved sculptures, using over ten tons of purified crystal clear ice… literally everything you see and touch is made of ice! Make sure you book now to beat the queues. Price cost: adults £13.50 and children £9.50.

Hampton Court Palace Ice Rink

Hampton Court, London

Join us to skate against a backdrop of one of the greatest palaces on earth – Henry VIII’s historic home, Hampton Court Palace. Combining a stunning setting, spectacular scenery and seasonal skating, this favourite open-air ice rink epitomises the very best in festive fun. Prices cost £13.50 for adults and  £9.50 for children… book now!

Ice skating at Edinburgh’s Christmas

St Andrew Square, Edinburgh

Get your skates on and glide all the way round the Melville Monument on this 360 degrees circular ice rink in St Andrew Square. We’ve got skates for the tiniest of feet and friendly penguin skating aids for younger children so all the family can glide around our glittering ice rink this Christmas!

Also a 20% discount to all Edinburgh EH postcode holders – just bring proof of billing address (utility bill, driving licence etc).

Menu’s for fussy eaters

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Children are the most honest of guests. – If they don’t like something they won’t eat it. Some children won’t like ham, others won’t like tuna – so put on an even spread of sandwiches with a variety of fillings, so you aren’t left with some kids that don’t want to eat anything grand then go home hungry.

Trying to trick your own children into eating fruit and vegetables may be a constant battle at the best of times, but in a party scenario it could prove even harder. And it is a party after all so perhaps now isn’t the best time to worry too much about healthy eating.

That said, learning to hide the greens is still possible – have you thought about cooking a delicious vegetable cake, for example a carrot cake?

Our suggestion though would be to have a good mix of sandwiches, fruit and veg that can be eaten by hand.e.g. cherry tomatoes, cucumber and carrot sticks, cheese cubes, then a nice range of crisps and sweets. A simple range of food like this makes life easier and also reduces allergy issues.

Planning food for children’s parties can often be a challenge, as one has to always think about the dietary requirements of other kids. It’s quite possible that you will have some children with allergies or intolerances. Often the parents will have told you if this is the case but it is worth checking yourself to be sure. (maybe ask parents to mention this on your party invites)

If you do have certain allergies or dietary requirements to cater for then you may want to ensure the food for that child is on a separate plate so it makes life easier for them and also doesn’t run the risk of contamination of their food with things they can’t have e.g. for nut allergies.

There seems to be a law of balances involved at every stage of the menu planning process. On the one hand, too much sugar can turn your party into mayhem, whereas on the other, too little could make your food too boring.

Aiming at the middle is the way forward. Cake, crisps and jelly are the traditional vouch-safes; but you could also consider throwing in some chocolate-dipped fruit or fruit juice for good measure.

If presented with a choice, children will almost always opt for the sugariest option. Preparing drinks on a tray before-hand and distributing them as a matter of course can help deal with this issue. You could even try distributing glasses of milk, should the sugar intake be reaching dizzying levels. But to make life easier we’d suggest juice boxes as they’re nice and easy to put on the table, reduce spillages and are easy to throw away.

Great memories

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Although kids’ parties can be stressful and slightly challenging to plan; your child is sure to get so much out of it and have such a good time as they celebrate their special day.  Kid’s parties are all about having fun but there are real benefits that go with having a party too, that parents probably don’t’ even think about like.

Most people can look back on their childhood and recall a few magical memories from a children’s party that was either thrown in their honour or that they attended in order to celebrate someone else. These occasions often live long in the memory and as a parent, it can be just as exciting to throw your own child a party and give them tonnes of wonderful memories to look back on.

The interaction that children experience with other kids of a similar age is vital in their early development. Their interaction and social skills will be developed as they have heaps of fun, constantly interacting with their friends.

Most of the interacting kids do with their friends is at school, so it’s really nice for them to be able to do this in an environment that is completely different. Not to mention the fact that they gain new experiences like seeing an exciting magic show and puppet shows, etc. Children’s parties can give kids real benefits as it opens up a world of imagination and excitement. Getting to help with the magic tricks can really help your child build their confidence too, especially for those children that tend to be quite shy. Children are always more likely to build confidence whilst doing something fun, new and exciting.

One of the most important parts of any kids’ party is the entertainer and not just because they hold the focus of the children whilst you can take a break. A great children’s party entertainer will be able to really amaze the children and open their eyes to host of really exciting activities, invigorate their imaginations. The first time a child sees a seemingly impossible magic trick, or their made to feel really special will provide an unforgettable memory and teach them something really new and intriguing.

As a child, there’s nothing more exciting than your birthday party. But as a parent, one of the best parts of throwing a party for your child is the priceless look on their face as they enjoy their special day and the delightful way in which they tell you all things they loved about it.

The Puppeteer

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Puppet shows are great for children of all ages and have been part of our culture for thousands of years. They’re normally aimed at 3-7 year olds but can work for 2 years too. Even if the younger children don’t fully understand the storyline or the jokes, they can still enjoy the visual aspects and get involved with audience participation, which usually includes shouting things to the puppets and doing loads of funny actions.

Puppet shows can be the main event or form part of a huge mix of party activities. Either way, it goes down a treat and is often one of the things kids remember best.

The Circus Performer

Circus performers or clowns are great for parties where the guests are a little bit older (maybe 4 and up) any younger and the kids can get a bit scared of clowns as they don’t like the makeup on the face or the red nose and clown wig. Our clowns do loads of fun clown gags and jokes. The parties are very interactive for children. A clown is not something kids see every day so it really adds a brilliant wow factor when your child sees a clown coming to their party for their birthday. Apart from general clowning around, a clown can be a magician, he can hold a puppet show, do games, juggling, etc. Clowns can be balloon modellers or, face painters; their versatility really is endless.

Don’t go overboard.

We are well aware of the pressures facing parents, and would like to tell you that those looking to create a memorable birthday celebration for their little one should focus on simplicity and fun and try to ignore, where possible, the feeling that they have to compete with other parents as this can actually result in having an adverse effect on your children’s party!

Ask any parent and they will tell you of the increasing pressure they feel when planning their child’s birthday party. The growing competitive element of hosting a children’s birthday party that has recently emerged now means that many parents end up overspending and creating a party that is filled to the brim with far too many activities.

Do remember that children love simplicity. Not to say the entertainment shouldn’t be good or varied. It should definitely be good and varied. It needs to be engaging, fun and imaginative too. But parents should avoid the temptation to overload their kid’s party with too many activities at the same time as this will end up being over stimulating and confusing. We’ve seen it time and time again where parent book an entertainer, bouncy castle, popcorn machine, mascot, face painter, etc. all in one party that last just 2 hours.

Parents feeling the need to plan a children’s party filled with different activities can actually leave birthday boys and girls so overwhelmed with far too much to take in that they don’t focus properly on any one thing and are unable to really enjoy their special day properly. Instead, parents should choose no more than a handful of activities for the children and to make sure that there is plenty of time for the kids to enjoy all of it.

In the same way, parents that don’t plan enough activities or have any form of kids party entertainment at all, can often find that their children are completely underwhelmed, bored or worse become very restless and start running around and be difficult for parents to control. If there is no structure to the entertainment planned this can happen a lot, which is something all parents want to avoid.

A perfect party has a few fun activities planned for different times, but parents should be prepared for their party ‘timetable’ to change slightly during the celebration so it can be adapted to suit the kid’s energy levels on the day and to accommodate any unforeseen events e.g. food running late.