Ideas Plan Shop · 2017. 4. 24. · Top tips for sticking to a budget Decide your budget before you ask the birthday girl or boy for their ideas so you don’t make promises you can’t

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Intro

Planning a children’s party could be considered a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be.

The Disney Party Index has gathered the opinions of over 2,000 UK parents, to identify the key things to consider when planning a party for your little one, and some of the potential challenges parents can face along the way.

As well as highlighting some interesting children’s party trends, Disney’s parenting expert Anita Cleare shares some handy hints and tips for mums and dads to consider when it comes to planning their daughter’s or son’s next party.

Disney Parenting Expert Anita Cleare:Parenting expert, coach and speaker, Anita Cleare has a background in child development and family support. Anita specialises in offering parents advice on using simple evidence-based parenting approaches in ways that work for their specific family set-up.

2 DISNEY PARTY INDEX

BudgetsStress busting EtiquetteTimingsInvitesLocationFoodGiftsSupport on the dayThemesEntertainmentThe future of kids’ parties

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DISNEY PARTY INDEX 3

Contents

Budgets


GirlsvsBoysThe average girls party costs £169, in comparison 4% less

is spent on boys, with an average spend of £162.70

58%

worry about the cost of their child’s

party ahead of hosting

Budgets

Parents typically spend between £50 and £250 on their child’s birthday party. In the past parties hosted at home were often a low-cost affair - a few balloons and some newspaper - wrapped treats for Pass the Parcel. However, a trend for expensive venues, custom-made cakes and entertainment has sent party costs soaring!

But fun doesn’t have to cost a lot of money - the parties that kids enjoy the most are not necessarily the most expensive ones. Don’t feel pressured to spend just to impress other parents. This is your child’s party and the aim is to have a great time and create wonderful memories!

Before you start planning, set your party budget based on what you think is reasonable and what you can afford. Then stick to it. Focus your spending on the things that will really matter to your child.

Parties in London have the most money put behind them, with the average party costing £218.48, whilst parties in the

South West are put together on a shoestring, just £138.03

(way below the national average)

60%

of parents cited cost as the main reason that they

decided to do a joint birthday party for their child

Top tips for sticking to a budget

Decide your budget before you ask the birthday girl or boy for their ideas so you don’t make promises you can’t keep.

Consider doubling up with another parent and holding a joint birthday party to halve the cost.

Make use of the talents of your family and friends (whether that’s baking, face painting or den making).

Party bags are a lovely ‘thank you’ gesture but it’s easy to blow the budget on them. A snack or a treat and a small gift is fine. You can do without bags by wrapping up individual gifts and putting these in a decorated lucky dip box for when the kids leave.

Decorations don’t have to be expensive. Balloons brighten up any space, or how about some homemade streamers or bunting?

Remarkably, 1% of parents spend

over £500 on their child’s party

37% need advice on keeping costs down


Stress busting


Stress busting

Tops tips for reducing stressFocus on why you are throwing the party – so your child enjoys their special day and creates wonderful memories. Don’t get side-tracked by worrying about other people’s opinions or trying to impress.

Be realistic. It’s not uncommon for the birthday boy or girl to end up in tears at some point as their excitement gets the better of them. That doesn’t mean the party is ruined, it’s natural for them to get a bit overwhelmed by it all.

Make sure the venue is suitable and safe. Think through any possible risks so you can address these before anyone arrives. It’s much easier to feel calm and relaxed if you don’t have to be hyper-vigilant about losing children or things getting broken.

Set some rules to help keep plans on track. Sit all the children down at the start and explain these to them. This is especially important if you have potentially dangerous equipment like trampolines or bouncy castles.

Organise lots and lots of entertainment and activities and have some spare games up your sleeve just in case. Bored children are more likely to misbehave.

Make sure you have plenty of help on the day so you can enjoy the occasion!

In general, parents become more confident at hosting children’s birthday parties the older their children get. This might be because practice makes perfect, or because parties tend to get smaller as children get older. But the good news is, it gets easier the more often you do it!

36% of parents with 4-year-olds worry about what other people

think of their party

Party planning gets easier as kids get older, only 20% of parents

of 11 year olds worry about what other people think

62% of parents with 4-year-olds cite stress when it comes to organising a party, but only

50% of parents with 11 year olds do

PLANNING AHEADCreate your own party dashboard on the Disney Party site and access some free handy planning tools including; sending e-invites, guest list tracking and saving your recipe and activity ideas.


http://www.disneystore.co.uk/disney-party


Etiquette


Etiquette

22% feel obliged to invite the whole

class but don’t

Do I have to invite siblings?

If you are expecting parents to stay and supervise, then a few might need to bring their other children with them. Ideally, parents will discuss this with you in advance, but sometimes they just turn up with extra brothers and sisters! Think about what you will do if this happens. Can they join in with the activity? Is there enough space? If not, make this crystal clear on the invitation.

What if someone doesn’t RSVP?

Put an ‘RSVP by’ date on the invitation. If you haven’t had a response by then, follow-up. The invitation might be lurking unopened at the bottom of a bookbag or the parent might just be very busy and have forgotten. Don’t assume that no reply means they won’t turn up – if you are in any doubt about numbers then having an extra party bag on hand might be a good idea.

Should you open gifts at the party or put them aside until afterwards?

Opinions are divided on this. Watching someone open a present is part of the joy of giving it. It is also good for children to practice giving and receiving gracefully. However, all that unwrapping can send little ones’ excitement levels sky-high, and if everyone wants to play with the new toys, there is the danger of gifts getting lost or broken.

What about thank you cards?

Thank you cards or notes are a great way to help children appreciate that someone spent time and money on buying a gift for them. In the UK, just over half of parents ensure their kids write thank you notes. Other people believe it’s more important to say thank you in person. However you do it, teaching children to acknowledge other people’s efforts and kindness is a great life lesson.

Party Guest Parents - Must Do’s

1. Always RSVP (venues often charge per head)

2. Let the host know about any food or health requirements

3. Leave a contact number if dropping off

4. Pick up on time

5. Supervise your child if you are staying

6. Don’t bring siblings without checking first

29%

only invite people that their children have received

invites from in the past

52%

of parents ensure their kids write

thank you letters

64%

of kids in the South East write thank you letters,

making them the most polite

Only 22% of families claim to invite

the whole class and not leave anyone out

Only 29% of kids in Northern

Ireland write thank you letters


Timings


Which days are best for birthday parties?

Weekends are the best time to host a children’s birthday party, as this is when parents are usually around to join in and help. However, as weekends are so popular, party venues can often get booked up far in advance, so you need to start planning early.

After school and evenings are also good options for older children or for smaller parties. If considering this as an option, it’s important to consider transport and how accessible your venue is too, as parents may not be able to provide lifts.

If your child’s close friends play sports, check if they have weekend commitments before choosing a day (training and matches often happen on Saturday or Sunday mornings). Also, check if any children in the class have a birthday at a similar time and make sure there isn’t a party clash - if there is, it could be worth considering joining the celebrations. 23% of parents surveyed have teamed up with other parents to have joint birthdays for their children.

What time of day is best?

If you are providing a meal, time the party so that the celebrations end with the meal (party games on a full stomach are not a great idea!). Try to stick to a reasonable mealtime so the kids don’t get hungry and grumpy.

Factoring in naps for younger children is key. Three-year-olds who have just dropped their daytime sleep can get a bit cranky after lunch, so a morning party may be better. If planning a party on a school night, avoid a late finish so that the children aren’t exhausted the next day.

If you are on a tight budget it’s worth considering an afternoon party (from 2-4pm), this can save you money as you will only need to provide snacks and small treats, rather than a full plate of food – which means less hassle and more money to spend on the fun stuff!

How long should the party last?

Aim to run your party long enough to fit in a fun activity or game, but not too long that the kids get bored or overtired! Around two hours is a good guide. The best parties end before children get tired and restless, so shorter parties mean kids leave with a smile on their face and wanting more.

Timings

23%

of parents start planning their children’s party two months ahead

16%

of parents want advice on how long a party should last

1 in 5

would like advice on the best days and

times to host a party

Girls

parties are planned further in advance

than boys

6-year-olds’ parties get the most

attention, with parents spending

over 6 weeks party planning on average

TIMINGS ON THE DAYThe Disney Party site has some handy planning tools, including a Party Scheduler - ideal for helping you plan timings on the day.



Invites


How many kids should I invite?

This depends on your child’s age, your budget and the venue. The most common party size is 6-14 guests.

Young children can sometimes find large parties overwhelming - you know your child, so use your own judgement. For toddlers and pre-schoolers, keeping the party small helps keep it manageable. It’s also worth considering that with younger children’s parties you are likely to have parents in tow, so you’ll need to bear this in mind when planning numbers.

When your child first starts school, they may not have settled into fixed friendship groups yet, so bigger parties often work well. Whereas older children may have a clearer idea of whom they want to spend their time with.

The average child attends 9 birthday

parties a year

Do I invite the whole class?

It depends on the type of party - no one would expect you to invite the whole class to a sleepover! Hired venues often have maximum numbers, especially if there is an activity involved.

Do I have to invite someone just because my child went to their party?

Your child’s friendship group may change throughout the year. If you are holding a small party and simply can’t invite everyone explain this to your child - perhaps they could invite other friends over for a play date another time?

When should I send out the invitations?

Try to send out invitations about four weeks in advance and make sure invitations include all the details. 37% of parents polled look to send out invites 4-5 weeks ahead of a party, while 7% aim to send them 12 weeks in advance!

Invites

39%

of parents of 5-year -olds feel obliged

to invite the whole class

12

is the average number of kids that

people will invite to a party

Invite details

The birthday girl/boy’s name including surname (just in case

there is more than one in the class!)

Party day, date, start time and finish time

Location (with postcode)

Dress code / activity detail (Fancy dress or football boots?)

‘RSVP by’ date and your phone number

Any special food requirements?

22%

want guidance on managing

invitations without appearing rude

29%

will only invite people that their children

have received invites from in the past!

NEED HELP WITH YOUR INVITES?Visit the Disney Party site to create and theme your free, personalised party invitations with dozens of colourful, character designs. Choose to email straight to your guests or print and hand out in person. There is also a handy tracker to keep on top of your RSVPs.



Location


All-inclusive options

Some venues provide the whole party package, including entertainment, activities, adult supervision and food. If you are taking this route, make sure you check exactly what is and isn’t included. Do they provide party bags? Birthday cake? Decorations? And make sure you confirm (and reconfirm) the booking.

Big parties

If you are going to invite the whole class, you will need a party venue big enough for all those kids to run around. Leisure centres often hire out sports halls for parties and also provide play equipment or organised activities. Provide a quieter activity (like a craft table) for children who want to sit out for a while.

Low-cost venues

If your budget doesn’t stretch to hiring a party venue, then why not do it at the local park? Take some balls and a picnic for a fun low-cost football party. Or why not hold a birthday party at home, with party games and a home-baked cake? If space is an issue, you can often hire a local community centre or village hall for a reasonable fee and provide all the trimmings yourself.

Top tips for parties at home

If you are hosting a party at home, then it’s a good idea to keep the party confined to certain rooms or to the garden. This will make supervising much easier and avoids your whole house getting trampled with food and dirt! Put up signs on out-of-bounds areas and don’t forget to remove breakables and anything precious.

Over half (51%) of children’s parties are hosted at home

over external locations such as soft play

centres, laser quest or leisure centres

Location

What to consider when choosing

a venue:

1. Your child’s interests

2. Budget / costs

3. Time of year / weather

4. Space for activities

5. Food options

6. All-inclusive or DIY?

7. Transport / distance

8. Somewhere for parents

ACTIVITY INSPIRATIONThe Disney Party site has loads of great games and activity ideas suitable for a variety of locations.



Food


Food

Food and fun can be a messy combination!

Food and fun can be a messy combination! It’s a good idea to get the kids seated so the mess is contained to one area. Finger food goes down a treat, and makes clearing up easier! Provide drinks in mini bottles or cartons to avoid spillages, or invest in a waterproof tablecloth.

Allergies and special requirements

Ask parents to let you know about any special food requirements when you send out the invitations. If a child has a food allergy, double-check exactly what they can’t eat and clarify whether they need a parent there to supervise their food choices. Try to make sure at least some of the yummiest things on the table are suitable for everyone and always provide vegetarian options. If a child has a very specific need, then ask their parent for ideas or, if necessary, ask them if they can bring something with them.

23%

of parents hold a party mid-afternoon

in order to serve snacks and avoid

serving a full meal

15%

will spend more on food so they can

cater for vegetarian, gluten free peanut

trace free food

32%

expect the parents attending to

ensure their child doesn’t eat anything unsuitable for them

25%

would like more guidance and

help about what food you should

serve

36% of mums and dads worry about how much food they

should provide and 1 in 4 are concerned about how their party

food will turn out

Top tipsHave an adult supervise the table and make sure you have wet wipes, kitchen roll and bin bags to hand for clearing up any spillages, rubbish and sticky hands!

Preparing the food for a party can take longer than you expected. So, if you are DIY-ing, leave plenty of time for food prep and get your friends or family to help too.

Bake-at-home pizzas cut into slices or sandwiches are quick and easy options. A bowl of grapes (always cut lengthways for smaller children), cherry tomatoes or veggie sticks are simple healthy accompaniments.

Don’t forget to provide water to drink throughout the party, especially if the kids are running around. And don’t forget some refreshments for hard-working adults who have stayed to help.

NEED SOME FOOD INSPIRATION?From fun table decorations to eye-catching snacks and treats, check out the Disney Party site for hundreds of decorations and delicious recipe ideas!



Gifts


If your child is a guest

Parents buy around nine birthday party gifts a year and spend an average of £10 on each one. To save time and money you could consider:

• Taking advantage of special offers

• Buying in bulk - a box set of books can be broken into individual presents

• Re-gifting unwanted gifts - this is becoming increasingly common (just be careful not to give it back to the person who gave it to you!)

• Combine smaller items to create a fun gift pack

• Don’t waste money on expensive wrapping that will get ripped off unnoticed

Gifts

If your child is the birthday girl/boy

Try to give out invitations early, ideally four weeks before, so that busy parents can organise schedules and plan for the party.

Have a few ideas in case a parent asks what your child might like for a gift. Some parents include gift ideas with the invitation.

When your child opens gifts, make sure there is an adult around to note down who gave them what, so your child can say thank you or send a thank you note.

The older the child, the more common it is for parents to give vouchers or money, so don’t be surprised if a child turns up with just an envelope.

Long live the party bag! Brits spend on

average £5.19 on each party bag

Not all gifts come with a price tag, strange gifts kids

have received include an IOU, drawn in

colouring book and a used hairbrush!

On average, parents spend £10 on gifts for the birthday boy or girl

23%

of UK parents admit that they have spent

more than they can afford on gifts because they felt

pressured to

£12.62Parents in London spend

the most on gifts for parties their children are attending, with each gift

costing £12.62

£8.40This is compared to children from the

South West, who spend £8.40 on average on

each gift

STUCK FOR GIFT IDEAS?From fun table decorations to eye-catching snacks and treats, check out the Disney Party site for hundreds of decorations and delicious recipe ideas!



Supporton the day


Children’s birthday parties can be hard work so make sure you have plenty of adult helpers. Draft in grandparents, uncles, aunties and friends, giving them specific roles and responsibilities. Have more people than you think you will need in case of unforeseen circumstances – an extra pair of hands is always useful!

Get an adult to stand by the door to meet-and-greet guests and take telephone numbers of parents who are dropping and leaving. Putting name badges on the children as they arrive is a good idea if you have a whole classful.

As a general rule, you can expect parents to stay and supervise their children up to age five. After that, different parents make different decisions. If it is essential that parents stay for the duration, put that on the invitation.

Most importantly, remember to take time out from organising to enjoy the occasion. This is an exciting moment in your child’s

life that will never come again, so don’t spend the whole time in

the kitchen and miss it all!

Support on the day

1 in 10

parents feel awkward asking other parents

to give up their time to stay and help

25%

of parents feel that 8+ is the appropriate age to drop off and leave your

child alone at a party

17%

of parents of 6 year olds think it is rude and inconsiderate for

parents to ‘drop n go’


Themes


Themes

Choosing a party theme helps tie everything together and make the day feel special. Keeping the theme broad will give you the most options – themes like princes and princesses, space, football, ponies, circus, trains or mini beasts, all give plenty of scope for creativity and can be adapted for different budgets.

Sit down with your child and go through the party ideas with them. You might need to steer their choices and make sure their ideas are achievable – you don’t want to create unrealistic expectations.

Make a list of all the party supplies and decorations you need to buy, such as plates and bunting. The Disney Party website is full of creative ideas for children’s parties, so why not browse the site together and save the things you like?

Your child might want to copy the theme of a recent friend’s party - that’s fine. If the theme is broad enough you won’t struggle to find ways to make it unique (just don’t be dragged into competitive parent mode).

When asked what types of party venues their child had been to in the past year,

the following were the most popular:

37%soft play centres

51%hosting at home

35%leisure centres

22%bowling

24%swimming party

20%sleepover

20%cinema

20%laser quest

4%karting

NEED SOME FOOD INSPIRATION?From games and snacks, to decorations, the Disney Party site is bursting with ideas perfect for Disney, Marvel and Star Wars fans!

VISIT THE DISNEY PARTY SHOP

Filtered by your little ones’ favourite Disney theme, the online shop features a range of party supplies and decorations - perfect for adding that magic

Disney touch to a party or birthday occasion.



Entertainment


Your first consideration is whether to do the entertainment yourself or to bring in the experts. If you are doing it yourself, make sure you have lots and lots planned, as young children can skip through what seemed like an hour’s worth of games in just a few minutes! 49% of parents surveyed said when planning a party, they worry about their kids having a good time, while 46% are concerned about keeping the kids occupied or behaving well.

When it comes to party games, the old favourites are the best. Choose some running around games if you have the space (e.g. Duck Duck Goose, Hide and Seek or What’s the Time Mr. Wolf?) then use quieter games to calm the children down (e.g. Pass the Parcel or Simon Says).

Try to make sure every child wins at least one prize. Remember that lots of party games have an elimination element – you might need to help younger children cope with their disappointment. Don’t forget to include something to occupy the kids who are knocked out of a game in the early rounds.

If your party is outside, you will need a Plan ‘B’ to cope with the

unpredictable British weather.

If you are hiring an entertainer, get recommendations from parents you know and be sure to check references. Keeping a crowd of children interested is not easy so you need to know in advance that your entertainer is up to the job. And there is nothing worse than an entertainer not showing up or cancelling at the last minute. It’s worth having some back up plans just in case there is any spare time – a list of games and activities that require no prep that you can do at the last moment.

Entertainment

36%

of 4-year-olds play Musical Bumps

54%

of 4-year-olds play Musical Statues

21%

of 4-year-olds play Hide and Seek

19%

of 7-year-olds play Blind Mans Bluff

35%

of 9-year-olds play Pinata

75%

of 4-year-olds play Pass the Parcel

47%

of 5-year-olds play Musical Chairs

39%

of 7-year-olds play Pin the Tail on the Donkey

ACTIVITIES? WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!The Ideas section of the Disney Party site is packed full of Disney, Marvel and Star Wars themed party games, perfect for keeping little ones busy!



The future of kids’ parties


Gone are the days when kids’ birthday parties were all the same. There’s so much more choice now as parents search for ideas to make their child’s party extra special.

So, what’s the future for children’s birthday parties? Well, as with the rest of modern life, birthday parties are likely to be increasingly influenced by technology. It’s already possible to send creative e-invites, thank-you messages via video, you can even deliver gifts by drones!

Virtual reality opens up the possibility of whole new digital party experiences. Could children in the future participate in parties from a distance? No more stress about managing manic little ones, just issue them a log-in code and go digital!

Does augmented reality mean that your child’s dream of having their favourite pop star sing at their party might come true? Instead of hiring a bouncy castle, the kids might be running around a sports hall chasing virtual characters with a smartphone app!

Will the advent of 3D printing mean party accessories can be printed directly from the computer screen? Maybe smart home tech will help take the stress out of hosting - if we all had house robots that would definitely make tidying up after a kids’ party much easier! Or perhaps robots will come with a party package pre-programmed to entertain kids with magic tricks or street dancing?

Or will all that high-tech living just make us nostalgic for simple parties with cake, presents and pass the parcel?

Whatever the future of children’s birthday parties,

your child’s birthday will always be a

magical moment to treasure

SPREAD SOME DISNEY MAGICWith any purchase from Disney Party you will receive a free phone call from Mickey and Minnie Mouse - book in your time and they’ll ring and wish your little one happy birthday on their special day!

The future of kids’ parties

Top technology trends that will impact on kids’

parties:

Augmented reality

Virtual reality

Virtual entertainers

Smart home tech

3D printing



Documents

Ideas Plan Shop · 2017. 4. 24. · Top tips for sticking to a budget Decide your budget before you ask the birthday girl or boy for their ideas so you don’t make promises you can’t