Do you want a house full of excited children bouncing off your walls ,waiting for their parents to pick them up? I didn't think so. So what happens after your child's birthday party is over? Here are two "secrets" you must learn that will quickly return peace and quiet to your home following your child's birthday party. OK, they aren't really secrets, but they are excellent strategies that work and work very well. Your Party's Over, Now What? When your child's party is over, you're tired, worn out from being a hostess and you need a break. Waiting to be rescued from a house full of children that are all wound up and still looking for fun is the last thing you need. And all you can do is pray for their parents to finally show up and take them home. Sometimes hours later! The first strategy starts with the invitation Along with all the other information about your party, including what time your party starts, you absolutely must include the END TIME for your party. Write this in your own words: "Our party will end SHARPLY at 2:00pm" (or whatever time your party will end). Then state in kind words that children need to be picked up promptly. By including this simple bit of information in your invitations you will discover that most parents will respect your request and be there at the appropriate time to pick up their children. And you won't be stuck watching a house full of kids. (Hey, that works for me.) The second strategy is actually lots of fun How would you like your house full of party guests to be kept busy with quiet games and activities during the last half hour of your child's party? I know I would. Plan at least 3 or 4 quiet games like: Guess How Many When your guests first arrive at your party, have a jar full of Jelly Beans, or Marbles, or something theme related like Princess pink Jelly Beans or Gummy Sharks. Have pen and paper handy and write down the name of each guest, then have them write down how many Jelly Beans (or what ever you have) are in the jar. At the end of your party have all the kids site down. Then hold up the jar and remind them that they each made a guess about how many are in the jar. Now read each name and tell what they guessed. Then tell them how many really are in the jar and announce the winner. The winning prize can be the contents of the jar. Pin The Tail Or Nose On? Pin the Tail on the Donkey is a popular game. It's quiet and can easily be modified to fit any party theme. If your party has a princess theme you can play Pin the Tiara on the princess. For our son's Star Wars party, we played Pin the Tail on the Wookie. As each guests takes their turn playing, have your other guests sit on the floor. Read A Story Depending on the age of your child and their guests, have everyone sit down while you read them a story. It can be a theme related story or just a fun story. What Did You Like Best While sitting together, have each child tell what they liked best about the party and tell the birthday child "happy birthday." For older children they can write down what they liked about the party and write a special birthday wish for your birthday child. This makes fun ready for your birthday child. Sing-A-Long Again, this depends on the age of your child and their guests. You can easily pick up a sing-along-video or you can sing your own songs. Just get everyone together, sitting on the floor having quiet fun. Coloring Nearly any age group can draw or color. Just set up an area with paper, crayons, colored pencils, or some other coloring media. For younger children you can use pictures from coloring books, or you can have your group draw their own pictures. When they complete their pictures they can take them home. Craft Projects These can also be theme related like decorating and putting together a princess tiara, or making and decorating a pirate's treasure chest. These kinds of craft projects are easy to find at online party supply stores. Watch A Theme Related Movie Or Video You can also have your guests sit down to watch a theme related movie or video. If it's a movie, just make sure the video doesn't have inappropriate language or scenes and that it's not too intense for younger viewers. Can you already feel the peace and quiet? The basic idea is to slow things down and keep the children involved in doing quiet things that are fun. Now can you see how these two simple strategies will completely change the way your child's party will end? No more wound up children bouncing off your walls. And you won't be completely tired, worn out and begging to be rescued. Instead, you'll have a great time and when the other parents come to pick up their children, they'll be amazed at how quiet things are at your house. How'd you do that? (it will be our "secret"). Have fun |
