PARTY PLANNING TIPS & TOOLS
HANDLING UNEXPECTED PROBLEMS WITH CHILDREN
- Pre-school aged children, in particular, become over-excited easily, and may act up as a result of the stimulation. Keep them busy with crafts or games, or give them special tasks to help out with.
- An older child who may be creating a problem can be taken aside and told politely that misbehavior is not acceptable. Try to avoid a public confrontation if at all possible.
- If your party was scheduled at a mealtime, don't wait too long to serve the food. Hungry kids will act out more quickly than if they are well fed.
- The Shy Child: encourage, but don't force a child who is shy to take part. Give them something else to do, or a special place from where they can watch. A child who doesn't participate may still be having a good time.
- We have found that guests like to see their gifts opened by the birthday child. We recommend that your child only be allowed to take the wrapping off the gift and not actually start playing with the contents. Remind your child that it is polite to thank each guest for his or her gift—regardless of the item received. Children often jostle to have their gift opened first. Try opening the gifts in order, by the birthday dates of the guests. Perhaps you can draw names out of a hat, or go alphabetically by the guests’ names.
- The Birthday Child: Most children become very excited at birthday time - some even for weeks before the "Big Day". Many imagine what their party will be like, especially very young children, and feel let down or disappointed when it doesn't turn out the way they expected. Take the time to talk before the event. Allowing them to be part of the planning helps them to understand what will take place. They could even spend the whole day in tears, or worse, in their bedroom. Be patient, and try these guidelines:
- On this special day, indulge your child - let him/her go first in all of the games, serve his/her meal first, and be sure he/she gets the first piece of cake.
- Don't become so involved with guests that you don't leave time to spend with your child.
- Give older brothers and sisters jobs to help out with, and be sure that you're not giving them more attention than your birthday child.
- No matter how busy or chaotic the day gets, have fun with your child.
- Have a “Cool-Down” activity or spend some quiet time after the party with the birthday child. Both of you have had a hectic, and exciting day.