Parties are so much fun right!? But planning them can be super stressful. So for this blog post I needed to call in a party expert Natty Faulkner who really knows how to party! Natty is a children’s party entertainer through her company Strawberry Fundaes. On weekends you will find her glammed up and dress up as anyone from Snow White to Moana, and all the children’s favourites in-between. Natalie has been to more than her fair share of children’s parties, in fact she’s been to hundreds! So here are her top tips for avoiding common party mistakes…
Common mistake #1 – Planning an outdoor party with no back up plan.
This is the most common party mistake I see! Parties in the park are a great idea… Until it rains. I highly recommend looking at the weekly forecast before and always have a back- up plan. Your back up location could either be at your house, a friends garage or their home (if they have the space and are willing), or perhaps you could set up a marquee for shelter, use the local church or YMCA / community hall or even sporting club. Have that back up plan sussed out well before the party. Note – Some parks actually have huge rotundas you can reserve through local council which means you can still host your party in the park, rain, hail or shine!
Common mistake #2 – Planning a party on a national holiday or event without realising.
Before you set the exact date of the party, consult with your calendar to ensure that chosen date does not fall on holiday weekends and school breaks. Celebrating two occasions can be fun sometimes, but when those days are meant to be spent in a tight-knit family circle, it is silly to expect your child’s school friends to want to attend a big bash party on a date they might want to be with their family.
Common mistake #3 – Over Catering Food
This is easy to do. I recommend collecting RSVP’s to have a clear estimate on how many guests are attending. And remember kids don’t eat a whole lot in the time frame they are at a party. A good party time frame is about 2 hour maximum for little ones and they get so over whelmed and distracted with playing or being entertained that they often only pick at the food. Pick just a few food options and make them easy to eat. Or create little ‘snack packs’ to encourage kids to sit down and each their own individual portions ( this is great for less mess too! )
Common mistake #4 – Planning a party time during nap time
If your child has a nap at midday, don’t force a party time then because it suits your mum/ grandma/ uncle/ cousin. Or if you do, expect to have one cranky child! Everyone’s nap times are different, but your child is the one being celebrated so try your best to accommodate. Even if it means attempting to pop them down earlier than usual.
Common mistake #5 – Failing to have any activities for kids
Not everyone has the budget to hire an entertainer, so here are my quick and easy options to keep the kids busy at your next party. Colouring in sheets, pencils and stickers, craft station, Hoola Hoops, Dancing, singing, cupcake decorating, old fashioned party games or water play.
A huge thank you to Natty for these incredibly useful tips!
You can find more information on Natty’s packages here.
Explore her beautiful Instagram account here.
Lots of Love!
