Four Tips to Throw the Best Parties for Your Kids

Nothing is more exciting for a child than his birthday. A birthday is one of the few days where a child gets to feel like it's all about them, from the gifts and cake to the singing and decorations. As a parent, you want to make sure that your children's birthday parties are smash hits that will create memories to last a lifetime.

A themed birthday party can sound cheesy and ridiculous, but kids love themed parties. If you can't come up with any of your own, you can even ask your child for suggestions! A theme can be anything from sports to superheroes or even a party where everyone wears fun socks.

Themed parties aren't just ways for kids to express their interests and passions, they're also great to plan built-in events. Is your party sports themed? Take all kids to a baseball game! Party games, activities and favors can be built around your theme, making planning rest of the party easy.

Once you have a theme and plan your party, it can be tempting to stick to the plan exactly. You created this great party idea, so you want to do everything like you pictured it. In reality, though, kids are creative and flexible. Sometimes they like things you thought they wouldn't, or vice versa.

Be prepared to spend less time on the apple bobbing, more time at the baseball game or whatever your child wants. Remember, this is their day. You want to make sure they feel special and have the ability to do everything they want. Set up the party, then get out of the way and let them be the boss.

For your kid, nothing is too much. You'd give them the moon if you could. Just remember that if you could give them the moon, it would be very, very expensive. It's good to set a defined budget before any planning.

Being firm with yourself financially will prevent you from blowing all of your money on the most lavish, expensive options for the party. Your child will still have a great time even if you buy some budget options for the party. They'll have a worse time if you go broke planning their party!

It's exciting to see that your child has friends and that there are other kids who are also enjoying their party. That's why it's important to remember to buy goody bags and party favors to hand out afterward. If you have a theme, these favors can be one last reinforcement of your awesome planning, a little treat themed after the rest of the party.

Remember to be respectful of other parents when designing goody bags. Noise-making toys can drive parents crazy, and little plastic trinkets will definitely end up lost or discarded within days. Something fun and useful will impress parents, and you can even offer personalized favors that parents can keep as sentimental reminders for future years.

A birthday party is a great way to celebrate your kid's happy day, so you want to make sure it's all about them. Plan carefully and intelligently, and you'll end up with an exciting party that your kid will love. With careful planning, you can create happiness that will stick in many minds for years to come. Just don't forget the cake!