Hiring an entertainer is a great way to occupy children for a good proportion of your party.  There’s a lot to talk about on this subject and I don’t want to make this article too long.  So it is best to start with a few basic points.  Think about the age of the children.  Younger children would probably prefer a clown.  For older children a magician or disco may be better.

If you know of an entertainer via a recommendation then you are at an advantage.  When starting from scratch.  Try Yellow Pages or Yell.Com and don’t be afraid to ring quite a few to get a feel for there approach to your party.

Over a series of articles I will try to cover many issues with entertainers and would really welcome your views and experiences on this subject.  Tell us about any entertainers you and your children have really enjoyed by posting a comment on the blog.

Late guests can really delay the fun at a party.  To make sure everyone can find your house or party venue try putting balloons at convenient points to guide the guests in.  Be sure not to put them out too early before the party as they can be stolen, popped or go down.  To really make it clear try adding a few arrows to show the way.

A plastic door banner can also make a good display on the door of the party venue.  These are available with a party streamer design, Disney Princess design, pirates design and Winnie The Pooh design.

Using food boxes for feeding children is a great idea.  Each child can be given the same amount. For example:- a drink, packet of crisps, sandwiches wrapped in cling film and a cake.  Eating time is reduced.  This allows more play time.  Children who have not finished eating can take the box home with them or come back to it later in the party. 

The food contents of the box can be emptied out after tea and the boxes can be filled with goodies for the take home gift at the end of the party.  If you do this you may wish to line the box with a napkin.

For that personal touch why not purchase plain white boxes and get the birthday child to decorate them with a theme of your choice.  Why not let me know your views and comments.

It can be difficult to get children to eat sandwiches at the party tea.  Usual flavours are jam, ham, cheese and egg although not all in one sandwich.  Try cutting sandwiches into shapes matching your party theme.  For example for a Bob The Builder Party cut the sandwiches into shapes of tools.

Trays of sandwiches can also be named with themed names for example “Wendy,s Delights” or “Dizzy’s Traffic Jam Sandwiches”.  It is best not to make too many.  Better to see empty trays at the end.

To really make an impact on a bare party room fill lots of latex balloons with helium and tie extra long balloon ribbons to them.  These can be left suspended in the ceiling or put in bunches of 3 or 4 at various points around the room.  They can be tied to chairs round the tea table or weighted down behind the birthday cake.  At the end of the party the balloons make an excellant party gift for every child attending.

There are many ways to make pass the parcel unique and different.  Instead of wrapping the parcel in newspaper why not use wrapping paper.  This can be bought cheaply at ten pence per sheet from a market stall.  For younger children try using different textures to wrap a parcel e.g. tissue paper, brown paper, polythene, bubble wrap etc.  Don’t put too much sellotape on the parcel.  This enables the children to get into the layers quickly and easily.  For older children try introducing forfeits when a child removes a wrapper.  These can be tailored to suit the ages of the children playing the game.  A maximum of ten layers is advisable to avoid it becoming boring for the children.  Children who do not get a go at the parcel can be given a sweet or small gift at the end of the game.

Heres an idea for when children arrive at a party.  Before the party starts hide name badges and/or chocolate and sweets around the hall or garden.  As the children arrive ask them to look for their name or sweets.  this keeps them occupied until everybody has arrived.  Remember not to hide things too well and not too high.  If you can have some helpers to put name badges on and to help any younger children who can’t read yet this will help.

For a really different and refreshing party dessert why not try Pear Mice.  Take half a tinned pear and place it upside down in a bowl or on a small plate.  Make a mouse face at the shorter end of the pear.  Use chocolate buttons for the ears pushing them into the pear on end, Chocolate drops for the eyes and liquorice string for the tail and whiskers. To really make an impression melt some chocolate on to the narrow end of the pear for the nose.