Party-Planning 101

By Elizabeth Hurchalla

Pulling off a stellar kid's birthday party doesn't have to feel like hosting a celebrity wedding. Just follow these simple stress-busting pointers -- and put the party back in party-planning!

Keep it small

"There is a huge relationship between your stress level and the number of kids at the party," says Susan Baltrus, author of The Ultimate Birthday Party Book: 50 Complete and Creative Themes to Make Your Kid's Special Day Fantastic! (Cook Communications). "When your child says, 'I want to invite the whole class,' it's okay to tell her to pick the eight people she really wants to celebrate with."

Keep it short

It's also a good idea to limit the festivities to no more than two hours. "Don't invite two- or three-year-olds to a three-hour party," warns Baltrus. "One and a half hours is plenty. A longer party may begin to drag, and kids tend to melt down -- so it's better to end on a high note."

Get help

If your child is under four, ask parents to stay for the party. However, if the kids are a little older, you may want to have Mom or Dad just drop them off. As Dina Maiorana of Columbus, Ohio, points out, "Having other parents there can be more stress than help, especially since you then have to feed and entertain them, too. Hire a babysitter to help out instead."

Plan for fun

Skip the one-turn-at-a-time or elimination games like Pin the Tail on the Donkey or Musical Chairs, says Baltrus. Too many kids on the sidelines brews pandemonium. Instead, plan lots of quick, easy activities, such as a treasure hunt, a sing-along, rock painting or cupcake decorating.

Keep it safe

If you take precautions before the party, you reduce your stress once it starts. For example, "put family pets in another room," suggests Baltrus. "Even the calmest dog can get excited with a house full of kids and bite." For very young kids, you should also avoid choking risks like hot dogs, whole grapes and even balloons (in case one pops and a child swallows it). Finally, just in case, keep a first-aid kit nearby.

Keep it simple

Serve pizza, or plan a mid-afternoon party so you don't have to offer a meal at all. And take a tip from Torry Greene of Cary, North Carolina: "Try cupcakes instead of cake and ice cream -- they're much easier to serve -- and keep a container of baby wipes close at hand for quick kid cleanup." Finally, don't sweat the small stuff. "Don't bother agonizing over hanging streamers in all the right places or shopping for hours for just the right shade of food coloring for the frosting," says Baltrus. "Instead, focus on keeping things fun and festive and the kids will be sure to have a blast."

Elizabeth Hurchalla is a writer, editor and frequent party hostess in Venice, California.

For more information, go to Realfamiliesrealfun.com.