The ULTIMATE party tips thread

[Haylstones]

Ok, any tips gratefully received!
Dd is going to be 5 soon and we've hired a hall and a DJ (she was desperate for a disco so we duly obliged).
I suspect that 30 5 year olds will get bored dancing for a whole party so any suggestions on what else we can do? I thought maybe some team games like pass the balloon etc as well as the usuals like musical statues, pass the parcel...

I also need to give the DJ some ideas on songs to play so again any suggestions appreciated! I have the Hokey Cokey, COnga, Follow the Leader, Macarena, Time warp (DD LOVES to dance)

Any other general tips and suggestions on invitations, food, decorations welcome

Bob the builder and lazy town music , steps songs or sclub 7, decorations - bright and colourful lots of balloons. What about splitting everyone into small teams of five or six and give each team a colour, ie red team. Hide five or six coloured pieces of material around the room and the first team to find all theirs wins a prize.

food could be sausage rolls, crisps, mini hotdogs, cheese cubes, mini sandwiches, carrot sticks, cucumber sticks, I find if it only takes a couple of bites they are more likely to eat it all and not leave half eaten bits of food around the place.

Thanks DLI, great suggestions.
This will be the 5th party I've had for dd so you'd think I'd be an expert now...
Might just go for loads of balloons and have plenty of games as back in case of boredom.