Parties can be great fun, but they can also be a lot of work for the person trying to pull them off.Don't worry.How many people, the venue and the entertainment are some of the considerations.You will need to figure it out, but once you have figured that out you will be ready to go.
Step 1: In advance, plan carefully.
You don't want to be flying around a few hours before the party trying to get everything sorted out.You want to make sure that you know who is coming to the party so you want invitations to go out at least a few weeks in advance.Make a list of what you're going to have and what your budget is.You won't be surprised when the party suddenly starts.There should be a people limit.Make it clear to the parents of the kids who are coming whether siblings are allowed, what the age group is going to be, and whether or not they need to stick around with their child.Some people will ignore your request, but at least it will be out there and will make the more polite parents do as they are asked.
Step 2: Line up assistance.
Make sure that your family knows what you need to do.Don't try to run a party on your own.You will end up exhausted and worn out, no matter what, but having people to help with things like set up and clean-up can make everything much simpler.If they have a kid coming to it, ask family members or close friends to lend a hand.If it's a birthday party and you can't help, it can be as simple as bringing over some food, helping put up decorations, or even picking up the cake.Your kid can help make the decorations.This can be fun for both of you.It will lend a kid's touch to the proceedings, right?
Step 3: There should be a time limit on the party.
If you don't do this, you will end up as a babysitter for some of the kids who are not yours, and there will be meltdowns from the children.You can make sure that people get their kids out of the way by having a specific time that you start and end.Make sure you don't schedule the party during nap time if your child is still napping.That is a recipe for disaster.It is a good idea to have it in the morning before the nap or the afternoon after it.If it's a sleepover, you'll want to limit the number of guests.The party should last about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.This will help make sure you and your helpers are not too tired.
Step 4: Kid-focused food is what you should have.
Even if you're a health nut about what your kid eats, you can still make it so the food at the party is food they like and that the other kids will like.If it's a birthday party, or a party for a holiday like Halloween, parties are supposed to be fun and a little out of the ordinary.It's a good idea to avoid really messy foods.chips and snacks are good for children's parties because they are easy to eat while you are running around.For a kid's party with lots of younger children, spaghetti and meatballs is probably not a good choice.You can style the food to match the theme of the party.For a Halloween party, you might have cookies shaped like pumpkins or pumpkin bars.You could have baked pumpkin seeds.That sort of thing.It can be fun to build your own cupcake or ice cream cone.They can build things out of bowls of sprinkles.Sprinkles will get everywhere if you put out newspapers underneath.
Step 5: There are appropriate games to have.
You want to make sure that the children are well cared for at your party.You'll probably want to have at least one activity in the time that you have.The kids will get bored if there is too many and too few games.It's important to have some activity planned right off the bat.The awkwardness is alleviated and the kids are involved in something so that they aren't just running around.Kids love scavenger hunts.The age of the children can affect the level of difficulty.They can be adapted to a variety of themes.Make sure there are prizes for all the children.Do not play competitive games.You want to do this for younger children.The loser of a competitive game will inevitably start to cry.freeze tag is a game where no one wins or loses.
Step 6: Send them away happy.
This is a great idea for a birthday party because the youngest crowd may want gifts too.If you want to avoid this, have a little something for each child.Goody bags, have them.Most kids don't care what's in the bag, they just like getting something.It should be a cheap, small thing that goes with the party's theme.If you don't want to overload them with candy, you can have animal crackers.They can take the craft project home with them.Make tie-dye, get a bunch of different fun beads to make necklaces, or have them draw something related to the theme of the party, if you want to do something that doesn't turn into a huge mess.
Step 7: You should plan in advance.
Throwing a party for a teenager can be difficult since what they think is cool and what their parents think isn't always the same.If you're the teen planning the party, you will need a lot of time to check in with your parents and talk to your friends.You have to budget the party.See how much you can spend on things like food, drinks, decorations, music, and so on.The teen needs to deal with invitations.Parents don't understand what is cool or embarrassing for their teenagers and handwritten invitations could be the ticket to loserville at school.As long as it's the agreed-upon guests and not open to every person in school, let them decide how they're going to invite people.
Step 8: There is a type of party.
There are lots of different kinds of parties to have, even if a theme party is not cool for your teen.Is this a birthday party?Are you talking about a holiday party like Halloween?A graduation party?If the teen wants decorations, they will need different foods.You should think about the location of the party.A beach front party with a bonfire requires different set up and energy to pull off than a Halloween party at your house.An outside party is going to require weather preparations, for example, having an area nearby that is under some sort of cover.A sleep-over is going to be different from a graduation party.You don't usually have to worry about the girls if a chaperone or parent is present.The latter type of party can get out of control and need supervision.
Step 9: It's time to set a time.
You want to make sure that the teen's friends can make it to the party, so try for advance notice for a bigger party.If it's a really important party, you won't need as much time.School nights and Sunday nights are not recommended.Teens should have time to do their schoolwork.Partying will cut into that time.Make sure the parents of the invited teens are aware of what's happening at the party.
Step 10: The pieces of the party need to be together.
The party will succeed if everything is pulled together.Having the right food and music is what this means.This part shouldn't be hard if you've planned it out.You want a snack that is easy to eat.Chips and dip, candy and cookies, pizza, pretzels, and some cut up veggies are all great choices.You could also have a platter of fruit.If you put some chocolate dip in the middle, you'll have a fun option.The teens can provide music of their own.They usually have iPods and phones with their music.They can have it louder if they hook up some speakers and an mp3 hook-up.Make sure to check in with the neighbors if you're worried about them.sodas and water are what you'll want for drinks.If you don't provide alcohol at the party, you could get in trouble for having it.Paper plates, cups, and forks can be used to make for less clean-up.Teens don't tend to be picky about what they eat.There are some things that you can use that are eco-friendly.
Step 11: There are zones for the party.
Depending on the type of party, it's a good idea to have different areas for different activities, like dancing, playing Foosball, video games, and an eating area.Make sure you have trash containers in each area.It will be easier for them to be less messy.If the teen knows where their friends and peers are, it's best.
Step 12: Make sure there is proper supervision.
Having a chaperone nearby can be off-putting for teen parties, but not having some sort of supervision can result in poor decision-making by the teens at the party.Try to be somewhere else during the party if it is an adult doing the supervision.If the party is at the teen's house, one of the parents or an older sibling should be in the other rooms.You can check up on the party by doing a walk-through of the kitchen or bathroom.If there is someone in their late-teens or twenties who is trustworthy, you should ask them to chaperone the party.They will be cooler than a parent, but still be able to keep the party under control.
Step 13: Clean up after.
It's a good idea to have the teen clean-up as part of their learning process.They have to clean up after the party.It should make it less likely that the party gets out of control because they know that they'll be taking care of whatever happens.Some friends should stay to help with the clean-up.Make it more enjoyable by playing music.
Step 14: You can choose the date.
It's a good idea to make a decision in advance so that you can invite the people you want.The date you choose will tell you how long you have to wait.If you're only having a small get-together, you will want to make sure that your guests have enough time to plan your party.You want to consider things like the weather when you pick a date.If you plan an outdoor party in the middle of winter, you will want to make sure both yourself and your guests are prepared.
Step 15: You have to decide on your budget.
You need to know how much money you have to spend on the party so that you can come up with creative solutions for food and drinks and entertainment.Setting out how much money you're willing to spend in certain categories is a good idea.You can think about what you would like to do, such as having a 20s themed party.Print out prohibition era images, drape your lamps in fabric, tape bead chains to your ceiling, and figure out ways to make that possible on a limited budget.
Step 16: Look at the type of party.
This could be a birthday party, a cocktail party or just a friendly get-together with your friends.How you prepare for the party will depend on a number of factors.There are certain things that need to be considered for different types of parties.If you're planning a surprise birthday party for a friend, you need to make sure that they'll be available, that other people don't ruin the surprise, and that you have a way to get the friend to the party.
Step 17: The guests should be chosen.
It's time to figure out how many people you want to invite.The timing of the party, the kind of party it is, and the budget will all affect this.If you're having a party in your house or a friend's house, consider how many people you can fit into it.If you've decided to have a nice dinner party, you should probably keep the number of people you invite down.It's important that you invite people who you find interesting and who also find one another interesting.If you invite people who are unsuitable for one another and don't mesh well, it's the worst thing.
Step 18: Pick the location.
It's time to figure out where you're going to have the party after you know how many people you have invited.If it's a dinner party or a small group of friends, you can have it at your house or apartment.You might want to consider alternate options if it's going to be bigger.You should be aware of the limitations offered by the different locations you're considering.If you're having a party at your house and you only have a hot plate, or a small stove, you might want to farm out that task on a friend.If your party is too large for your house, consider renting a hall, going to a state park, or having it in a greenhouse or museum.The seating should be appropriate.You will need to make sure that you have a seat for each person if you are having a sit down dinner.If you're having a buffet style meal, you want to make sure that people can sit down and eat.
Step 19: The entertainment should be picked.
Parties need to have something that makes them happy and successful.This can be anything from a sweet playlist to a full scale swing band, board games, or a theme like a noir murder mystery party.It would be hard to organize all the people for a party that is about games if you have a lot of people.It's a good idea to have a dance floor for large parties.You can host a craft style party.Provide tea or alcohol and have everyone bring their own supplies.
Step 20: You should have enough food and drink.
It's good to plan ahead and to ask people to bring something because of this.You don't want to run out of food or drinks at the party.People usually bring beer and wine with them, but having one signature drink is a good idea.It could be something like champagne and you can get it for half the price.It's possible to do something like a pitcher of drinks.If this is a party with alcohol, make sure you have drinks for the nondrinkers and the designated drivers.It's fun to have a little fruit juice and some bubbles for them.You can have cheese fondue with bread and veggies, and a dessert with bits of cake or strawberries dipped in chocolate, for some creative food ideas.You could have a buffet style with a theme like Mexican food night.People should bring something.You can make the party planning easier by asking people to bring something, like a nice wine or beer.You won't have to worry about all the food and drink planning.A list of what you want to eat and drink at the party is a good idea.If you want your guests to bring something, ask them to pick something that they can bring and then mark down which ones you are capable of handling.
Step 21: It's time to clean up.
It's a good idea to have a couple of your friends help you clean up after the party.It depends on the time of the party.You might want to wait and clean up the mess the next day.Put on some music to help you through the boring parts of the clean up and if you're with friends chat about the party and how much fun you had.If you remember why you're doing it, you will be less annoyed.
Step 22: .
It may seem like a not so creative option, but you can have many variations on a theme.Theme parties are great for parties where you will be drinking and not.You can even pair them with other options, like a '20s theme with a murder mystery, or a pun theme where you play Cards Against Humanity.One idea is to make a superhero or villain.You can come up with a costume.This is a great idea because you can ask people questions about their costumes.A pun party is where everyone dresses up as a pun.You could be a wallflower and dress up as a flower against the wall.You can use the seven deadly sins as a theme and have each room in your house correspond to one of the themes.It's possible to dress up as a version of one of the sins, like carrying a mirror.
Step 23: .
Everyone can come dressed in their pajamas for the slumber party.Pull out all the games you played in elementary school and watch a movie.Have everyone help you build a pillow fort and have everyone sleep in it.
Step 24: You can have a dessert party.
Everyone has to bring their favorite dessert to the party.You will not have to worry about alcohol or dinner.The desserts can have different themes.Banana splits, hot fudge sundaes, different cakes and pies, a whole slew of ice cream are some delicious dessert ideas.There is a baking party that can turn into this.You can have a bunch of friends over and make lots of delicious desserts.
Step 25: Have a party.
These are fun and you can make them any way you want.You can add a new theme to this.It could be a fancy dress tea party, or everyone has to dress up as a character from a novel.You could go to a mad tea party.Have everyone come dressed as characters from the book or movie, or just really crazily, and have giant teacups and a dormouse.