Planning a Successful Party

1. Good planning is the secret of a successful party. It is advisable to book your entertainer and venue (if you are having these) at least 3 months in advance. Send out your invitations 2 weeks before and put a date for your RSVP - people are more likely to reply.

2. There are a variety of entertainers available nowadays from magic or puppet shows to bouncy castles or games and some who include a range of entertainment skills. It is also possible to bring in a party organiser. Whatever your entertainment, it is advisable to plan the whole party - no one relishes the thought of 20 children running wild around the room with nothing to occupy them!

3. Be different! Instead of pass the parcel, what about pass the dinosaur! Use a large inflatable dinosaur or similar toy, place the children in a line or circle and pass the dinosaur along as the music plays. When it stops, the child holding the dinosaur is out, and so on. Great for young children who can't unwrap quickly.

4. If you do play games, make sure you have everything to hand. If you have to go looking for pencils, music tapes etc, the guests quickly loose interest.

5. A theme makes a party special. Ask children to come in simple fancy dress and then adapt games to suit your theme, eg. musical ships for pirates! Simple fancy dress items and themed party goods are now readily available from dedicated party shops.

6. Have the food ready before your guests arrive. Don't make too much - children are often too excited to eat a lot. Give each child their food in a party box. Children love to take these home along with the food they haven't eaten. This saves waste and an awful lot of mess.

7. You'll need helpers on hand to take small children to the toilet etc. Bouncy castles need constant supervision.

8. All children seem to expect party bags these days but if you have the courage don't give in and join me in working to make Cambridge a 'party bag free city'!!