New for Party2u this year is a range of themed plastic serving bowls. Themes available are Princess, Pirate and Soccer and are ideal for putting crisps and nibbles on a party table.  They are 29.5cm in diameter and retail at £2.95 each and help to make the party table a great display.  Order yours today.

Have you ever thought of asking the children to decorate biscuits with  liquid strawbery and chocolate, hundreds and thousands, smarties and jelly tots etc?  It can be a good thing for children to do as they arrive at a party. 

The finished biscuits can be given to the children at tea time when they have had time to set.  A theme can also be built in such as princesses and pirates.   Give a prize for the best decorated biscuit.

Serving hot food at a children’s party is another option, particularly if you are planning a lunchtime party or in winter time. Here is a few tips to help avoid disaster.

If using a cooker in the village hall make sure you know how to work it.  Try switching the oven on before the day.  Does the oven get hot?  How clean is the oven? Does the hall also have knives and forks or will you need plastic ones.

Cooking for 20 plus children is not the same as cooking for 3 people.  If you are cooking oven chips, large trays of them will take a lot longer to cook.

It may be a good idea to consider that if planning to eat 45 minutes into the party you will need to be in the kitchen virtually from the start.  This means missing most of that special time.

Try and keep it simple. Offering a choice of hot dogs, burgers, fish fingers and pizza will only complicate matters.  As usual don’t overload the plates.  It’s nicer to see empty ones at the end.

Lastly have someone on hand to go round with the tomato ketchup.  That way everybody gets the same measured amount.

Please let me know your experiences.

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.

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.