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You've Just Moved and now need to plan a party

What do you do about guests?

Plan a party at his/her school. Talk with the preschool or daycare director about guidelines. It may be possible to have party plate ware, party favors, with pizza and cake to honor your child's birthday. This may be a good way to get to know all the children in your child's new class or daycare. Or as a send-off from his/her old school.

However, many elementary schools don't allow birthday parties so check.

Select a few classmates for a smaller party. If your child goes to a school, daycare or preschool, ask the teacher if your child feels close to any specific classmates. Talk with their parents about getting together for a small party where you can get to know them all.

Invite children from the neighborhood. If you see children in the neighborhood close to the age of your child, go and visit with the parents and explain your dilemma about being new to the neighborhood. You can combine a "new" friends and birthday party together.

Some housing additions have their own "playgroups" and if you ask around to neighbors with kids you might discover a whole network of new friends both for your child and yourself.

Invite children from your church. Again if you attend, let the other mothers know your problem and plan for a small party with guests from church.

Invite relatives. If you are just plain stuck with no-one to invite you need to fall back on relatives to help you out by either attending, calling, sending special cards or letters and presents.

Don't count the success of your birthday party by numbers.

Don't measure the success of your child's birthday by how many children attended and how many presents your child received. Small parties can be lots of fun, especially since you can plan more involved games and higher priced favors for the children. Focus on having fun, not the numbers game.

If you know your moving, have the party beforehand with established friends.

If you know you will be moving close to your child's birthday, move the birthday party up to a date BEFORE you leave familiar friends and family. Since you will be probably packing to move, plan for a party to be held at a location other than your house... such as the skating rink, church, school, friends' house, park or other suitable party location.

Make your going-away-Birthday party more memorable by taking photos of all his/her friends, getting autographs/handprints, or making personal gifts that will help him/her remember those favorite times. You can even take photos of other favorite places, (school, mall, library, park) and get an entire photo album of good times to remember.

But we know no-one.

I come from a family that all birthday parties were with family only... so it is rather a novel idea to me that the success of a party is measured on how many attend and how many presents you received. So if you are without any friends, I suggest going back to basics... the home party with family only.

Listen to what your child really wants, and than incorporate that idea into quality time with his/her parents and siblings. This only works if the family truly gets involved and excited about the birthday. If you have some Birthday Scrooges' you need to change their attitude.

Here are some examples:

Like magic? Go visit a magic store and buy some magic tricks. Have each family member learn one "secret" and later have a performance show in honor of the Birthday Child.

Use the Zoo for your own personal safari. Take a list (words or pictures) of animals to search for, dress up like explorers, and explore it all. For the bug enthusiast, go out to the country with nets and see what you can find.

Is she ready to be a Princess? Make your home an enchanted castle. Everyone has to do what the Birthday Queen says for the day. Treat like royalty with a breakfast in bed, a crowning ceremony, and with every phrase being "Queen Susie May I?"

Do a secret Birthday Club, have him direct a play with all the family participating, design an elaborate puppet show, or have a movie night where everyone has to watch the birthday child's favorite movie all night long.

Check the local newspaper for any unusual events that might be happening close to your child's birthday. Many towns now have a "children's theater" where shows are done for the younger set. Is there a circus in town? What about the State Fair? Anything can be adapted for a birthday party as long as your child is treated "special" for the day and that it interests him/her.

How do I get the supplies?

Look in the local yellow pages under Party Supplies. To save time call ahead and see if they have what you are looking for (Barbie plates, Batman cups, party favors, balloons, piņatas, etc...) 

If you are new to town be sure to ask for explicit directions on how to get to the store and shopping hours. If you new hometown is limited on selection there are many birthday supply stores either online or with catalogs.

If you are trying to squeeze in a party before leaving town, ask about delivery services to save time.

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