martes, 7 de octubre de 2014

{Birthday Party Planning 101}

Birthday parties are like road trips: getting there is half the fun. Deciding on the theme, decorations, and activities makes the days leading up to the event seem like part of the celebration itself. It needn't be elaborate -- kids will be happy with a small party as long as they are made to feel special. Even a simple party requires planning; the sooner you start organizing, the earlier the excitement begins and the fewer details you'll have to work out on the day itself.

The birthday child will likely have ideas about the kind of party he wants, so involve him in the planning. Let your child pick the theme, help you with shopping and decorating, and take part in baking the cake. Doing so helps spread out the anticipation; that way the focus isn't on a couple of hours of a single day.

Although it might be more efficient to do it all yourself, there's pleasure in working with your child toward an important goal. Plus, he'll have the reward of enjoying with his friends the magical day he helped plan. (Print our planner and work on filling it out together.)

Pre-Party Timeline

- 6 WEEKS BEFORE

Choose the theme, draw up the guest list, confirm the date with your child's best friend, and reserve off-site space.

- 4 WEEKS BEFORE

Write out invitations; get updated class list; and decide on games, activities, and food.

- 3 WEEKS BEFORE

Mail invitations, purchase party goods, start homemade decorations and favors, and arrange for extra help, if needed.

- 1 TO 2 WEEKS BEFORE

Purchase crafts supplies and favors, draw up a schedule of activities, make samples of planned crafts, and call guests who have not yet responded.

- 3 DAYS BEFORE

Buy food.

- 1 TO 2 DAYS BEFORE

Bake the cake, decorate your home or be sure off-site supplies are gathered, and prepare make-ahead foods.

The Guest List

- WHOM TO INVITE

Make sure your child's best friend is free before you set the date. When including classmates, think "all" -- all the kids, all the boys, or all the girls -- if you want to avoid hurt feelings.

- HOW MANY TO INVITE

If you're not inviting lots of classmates, the rule of thumb is to ask as many kids as your child's age plus one. But take into account the activities you're planning. A larger, even number of kids -- at least eight or 10 -- may be best for team games at a 5-year-old's party, but you may want just three guests for a 7-year-old's sleepover.

Invitations

Mail invitations three weeks before the party. Even if your child's school permits distribution of invitations on the premises (many don't unless the whole class is included), it's better not to. That way, children who aren't invited are less likely to feel slighted.

1. Include the date, location (with directions), drop-off and pick-up times, and R.S.V.P. information.
2. Spell out anything to bring, such as a swimsuit and towel.
3. Say if you'll be serving lunch or dinner.
4. Mention specific entertainment, such as a movie.
5. Call parents who have not responded the week before the party; after all, invitations do get lost.

Enlisting Helpers

You can't greet guests while supervising a game or cut the cake while pouring drinks, so figure on having one helper for every four to six children. Ask other parents ahead of time, or hire a babysitter or older sibling to help.

Where to Have It

- AT HOME

At an at-home party, the birthday child's on his own turf, and you know where to find everything. To keep kids from wandering around, define the party area with balloons and streamers, and close doors to other rooms.

- OFF-SITE

Parks are great for warm-weather parties; just be sure to have a backup plan in case of rain.

1. Suspend streamers or paper festooning between trees or along a fence.
2. Spread colorful sheets or blankets on the ground.
3. Mark the party's boundaries and blanket corners with clusters of bright balloons tied to thin wooden dowels stuck in the ground.
4. Draping fabric over a tall fence or over a clothesline provides an attractive backdrop for party photos.

- COMMUNITY CENTERS, YMCAS, AND CHURCHES

Prices vary according to locale, but generally run about $75 at a community center or $100 at a Y, with an hour for swimming. Book at least six weeks in advance, and get the name of a contact person.

1. You may only have a short time to decorate a rented space, so use portable decorations and plan for another adult or two to help you.
2. Have all the balloons already blown up and strung together in bunches before you arrive at the site.
3. Hang decorations with supplies that won't mar the walls, such as low-tack tape, string, and removable self-adhesive hooks.
4. Make a large room friendlier: Use streamers to define the party area.
5. You can also outline the space with balloons tied to anchors.

When to Have It

- TIME OF DAY

Schedule parties for young children when they will be at their best, neither too sleepy nor too hungry. After nap time works well for toddlers; lunchtime is good for preschoolers. As kids grow older, timing becomes a less important factor.

- DURATION

Don't feel like you have to entertain for hours. Toddlers and preschoolers do best with parties kept to an hour and a half. Anywhere from two to three hours is time enough for school-age kids.

Party Basics at a Glance

- AGES 1 TO 2

Time of Day: After Nap Time
Duration: 1 Hour
Number of Guests: Varies

- AGES 3 TO 4

Time of Day: Lunchtime or Late Afternoon
Duration: 1 to 1 1/2 hours
Number of Guests: 4 to 5 Children

- AGES 5 TO 6

Time of Day: Early to Mid-Afternoon
Duration: 1 1/2 to 2 Hours
Number of Guests: 6 to 7 Hours

- AGES 7 TO 8

Time of Day: Early to Mid-Afternoon
Duration: 2 to 2 1/2 Hours
Number of Guests: 8 to 9 Children

- AGES 9 TO 10

Time of Day: Mid- to Late Afternoon
Duration: 2 1/2 to 3 Hours
Number of Guests: 10 to 11 Children

What to Serve

Baking and decorating your child's birthday cake (or cupcakes) is worth the effort. Spend time on that, and choose other foods that are easy to serve, eat, and clean up. That said, even simple food can seem special. Here are some ideas:

1. Cut sandwiches into cute shapes using cookie cutters (cut crusts off first); or use a knife to cut them up into pieces like a puzzle.
2. Serve snacks in creative containers. Somehow, hot dogs are more appealing served in paper boats, just like at the movies. For a fishing-themed party, kids will get a kick out of being served punch from a fishbowl.
3. Turn lunch into an activity. Let kids top English-muffin pizzas. Show them how to make faces with sliced-olive eyes, a pepperoni nose, and bell-pepper mouth.

Choosing Favors

Trinkets and candy are popular and inexpensive favors. If you prefer, you can give out a single more substantial favor, such as a board book for toddlers or a small flashlight for older kids.

1. Match the goodies to the theme: You might give a teacup for a tea party, an action figure for a character party, or flowerpot and seeds for a garden party.
2. Let kids make their own party favors -- a potato-print T-shirt, for example -- as one of the activities.
3. Decorate with items that guests can take with them when the party is done, such as posters or pennants for a baseball party.
4. Arrange with the entertainer to use props or supplies -- individual face-painting kits or magic tricks, for instance -- that kids can then take home with them.

What to Do

Pacing is important. It's helpful to divide the party into 10- to 15-minute increments, with a new activity for each block of time. Allot about 30 minutes for an entertainer (or kids may lose interest), and 15 minutes each for lunch, cake, and opening gifts. If a game or craft isn't going well, drop it and move on; if kids enjoy a particular game, let it run longer than planned. To keep the party moving, jot down the schedule on an index card, and then refer to it frequently.

1. As kids arrive, you might usher them to a crafts table, where they can busy themselves until more guests arrive.
2. Keep games and activities simple for toddlers: Stick to games they know well or activities without complicated rules (such as dancing or tag).
3. Older kids need more stimulation: plan sports or organized activities based on what your child loves to do, or consider booking an entertainer.

Hiring an Entertainer

Gather references from other parents as well as children's museums or local libraries. When you call a potential entertainer, ask what age group the show is designed for before you mention your child's age. While magicians and clowns are classic for kids' parties, there are lots of other kid-pleasing options:

1. Balloon artists (their creations double as party favors)
2. Mobile petting zoos
3. Hairstylists or manicurists (call a local beauty school for suggestions)
4. Choreographers or dance teachers 5. Face painters
6. Professional storytellers
7. Deejays

Games Galore

- THE CLASSICS

Tweak tried-and-true favorites to match the party theme. Simon Says becomes Fairy Godmother Says for a princess party, Musical Chairs is Musical Towels for a swim party, and Pin the Tail on the Donkey can be Pin the Trunk on the Elephant for a jungle theme.

- EGG RELAY RACE

At "go," the first child in each of two teams balances a hard-boiled egg on a spoon, walks about five feet to a marker, returns, and passes the egg and spoon to the next in line. The first team to finish with an uncracked shell wins.

- TREASURE HUNT

Kids follow the first clue ("Go to the TV") to find the next clue ("Look inside the mailbox"), and so on, until the last clue reveals the treasure: goodie bags. For nonreaders, draw or photograph the clues (such as the refrigerator or car).

- OBSTACLE COURSE

Guests go through a series of challenges set up in the backyard: walking along a two-by-four, hopping a figure eight around two chairs, crawling under the length of a picnic table, doing a wheelbarrow walk between two markers, and so on.

- DRESS-UP RACE

Two shopping bags of clothes contain a skirt, shirt, hat, gloves, and jewelry. The first kid in each team puts on every item (fastening all the buttons), then takes them off and returns them to the bag. Then it's the next child's turn. The first team to finish wins.

Gifts Now or Later?

There are good reasons to open presents during the party, and just as many reasons to wait until afterward. Some kids love seeing their gift being unwrapped, especially if they picked it out. So guests don't get bored, put names in a hat; the one that's chosen is the child whose present gets opened next. Kids can forget their manners in the excitement, so help your child practice her thank-yous beforehand. It may be less chaotic, particularly for young kids, if your child opens his gifts after the party. In that case, snap a photo of her with each gift and send it with the thank-you.

A Proper Good-Bye

Have the birthday child personally say thank-you and good-bye to each guest at the door, and hand them a favor bag as they leave.

Fuentewww.marthastewart.com

{Planning Kids' Birthday Parties}

Some children's birthday parties rival three-ring circuses. But the truth is, kids are very happy with a simple party, as long as it's planned with their needs and tastes in mind. Follow these tips, and throw a party that is fun for everyone, even the adults.

Involve Your Child in the Party Planning


Your child should help choose the party's theme and activities, and can even help design the invitations: Have him or her draw on paper (or a blank puzzle) and color in the designs, cut out pictures to glue onto blank invitations, or put stickers on cards.

Choose a Unifying Theme

Once you've chosen a theme, make it resonate through all the aspects of the party. For instance, a trip to the aquarium could include fish-shaped invitations, aquatic-themed goody bags, and nametags attached to iced fish-shaped cookies.

Keep It Short and Structured

Two hours is plenty of time for a children's party. Keep kids busy from arrival to departure; the main event should begin as soon as most of the guests have arrived. Serve food and cake in the final half-hour. The natural ending of a party is signaled when the younger children grow tired or cranky.

Plan Age-Appropriate Activities

Toddlers are too young for complicated activities. Stick with familiar games, such as Pin the Tail on the Donkey, or perhaps plan a treasure hunt. Children over 5 years old need more stimulation: Consider hiring a magician or dance teacher, or plan a trip to a nearby bowling alley or miniature golf course.

Entertain Kids with Simple Projects

Kids love to be creative at parties. Have them decorate their own cupcakes, or set up one of these simple activities: Fill buckets with crayons, rubber stamps, stencils, and stickers to decorate scrapbooks; provide shells, pinecones, and buttons to adorn plain picture frames; or help the kids make sock-puppets and put on a puppet show.

Keep the Food Simple and Fun

Use cookie cutters to make flower- or star-shaped sandwiches and to turn Jell-O into letters of the alphabet. Older children can make their own English-muffin pizzas. Serve foods that don't require cutting and are easily grasped by small hands. To keep kids busy while they're waiting to eat, cover the table with paper and place flowerpots filled with crayons all around.

Birthday-Cake strategies

Once the cake is cut, serve younger children first, since they're most in need of instant gratification. Cupcakes are a great option because they allow all the kids to get served at once; give cupcakes the drama of a cake by bringing them out on a tray, each with its own candle.

Birthday Gifts: To Open or Not to Open

Two factors will contribute to your decision on whether to open gifts in front of the guests: the ages of the children and the size of the party. For younger children, it's safest to wait until the party's over; although it is fun for everyone to see what's beneath all the wrapping paper, trouble may ensue when a guest decides the birthday boy has received enough presents already -- and decides to keep the one he brought for himself. An exception could be made for a very small party (fewer gifts, fewer opportunities for meltdown). Older kids generally understand that the day belongs to the birthday child, so unless the sheer number of presents makes it impractical, opening gifts just before the end of the party can be a nice way to wrap up the day's entertainment.

Make Guests Feel Special with Goody Bags

Consider including healthy snacks, stickers, small books, and containers of bubbles in the goody bags. Be sure whatever you choose is age-appropriate and safe for children. For creative containers, use Chinese-food takeout cartons, small flowerpots or baskets, or paper bags threaded and tied with ribbon at the top. Write the kids' names on their goody bags to make them feel even more special.

Do You Know?

As a rule of thumb, invite as many kids to a party as the birthday child's age.

Fuentewww.marthastewart.com

{Cotillón, repostería, ideas y algo más ...}

Merengue
Dirección: Maipú 3085, Olivos
Teléfono: 4794-1850
Horarios: lun-vie: 9:30h-13:30h y 15:30h-20h y sáb: 10h-14h

Royal Parties

Party Place

Amapola Bazar
Caballito / Almagro

Doña Clara
Once

Mi casita
Dirección: Av. Maipú 723, Vicente López
Teléfono: 4797-6688
Horarios: lun-vie: 9h-20h y sáb: 9h-13:30h
E-mail: cotillonmicasita@yahoo.com.ar

Pekoso
Dirección: Albarellos 1958, Martínez
Teléfono: 4793-1250
E-mail: cotillonpekoso@live.com

EOS cotillón
Ideas

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www.monkeychoo.com
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www.sweetpartyday.com

www.happinessishomemade.net

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