Share your top tips for children's birthday parties with Cadbury and you could win a £200 Love2Shop voucher NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

Cadbury would like to hear your top tips for hosting a great themed birthday party for your DCs.

From pirates to Peppa Pig, baking to science - if you've thrown a great children's party, what theme did you choose and how did you bring it to life? Did you use decorations to set the scene, choose party food to fit with a fantasy world, or tailor activities you knew the kids would love? What did you put in the goody bags to go with your theme? And did you create a special birthday cake?

We'd love to hear about all the different ways you incorporated your child's favourite things into the day - to help inspire other parents who are party planning.

Everyone who shares their birthday party ideas and inspiration on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to where one MNer will win a £200 Love2Shop voucher.

Please note your comments may be included on Cadbury's pages on MN, their social media channels, and possibly elsewhere, so please only post if you're comfortable with this.

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

[tabbaz123]

I think one of the biggest issues is cost - we can all go to the shops and find whole ranges of out LD's favourite characters but it then ends up costing so much money..... One thing that I found successful was getting them all to make their own bits and pieces at the party! So buy the colourful but unbranded cheaper plates, beakers etc and then get the children to decorate them! - Paper bags decorated with favourite characters then get goodies put in them to take home - for example!

[Eblessing]

HAVE LOTS OF MUSIC THEY CAN DANCE TO WITH ACTIONS. TIRE THEM OUT!

[ptak5566]

It should all be about what your child wants not what other parents might think. Some of the best fun is usually the cheapest option, children just usually want to be together.

[worriedmum46]

My youngest is very arty so we did an arty party. We got a huge roll of paper and laid it out on the floor. All of her friends drew on it things that reminded them of her and things she liked. They happily drew for half an hour or so. The result was fabulous poster for her wall. We found in previous parties kids never eat that much so we cooked and sliced shop bought pizza and had bowls of cucumber and cherry tomatoes. The party bags we arty bits from the pond shop and cake. Everyone seemed happy. 16 girl and about £110 including hall hire

[AnnaGrant]

Tophats! Marshmallows, the top dipped in melted chocolate, with a smartie on top. No birthday party is complete without these bad boys.

[lizd31]

Bake your own cakes & cookies & avoid using nuts & eggs in case of children's allergies. You don't have to go to lots of expense with kids entertainers etc. just make up fun games for the kids to play like treasure hunts & pass the parcel, blind man's buff, the old games are the best

[renas]

Village hall, bouncy castle and your own finger food and party bags it's so economical this way and the children have enough space to let off steam.

[glenka]

If money allows try and hire somewhere as it will be so much easier than having to organise something at home.

[leanneth]

Do a joint party if possible to share the cost! Luckily, my son and one of his friends hate a birthday- he liked superheroes and she liked princesses so we threw a superhero and princess party!

We had personalised invitations made with a cartoon picture of a superhero and a princess and all of the party details on. This saved the job of writing them all out and they were relatively cheap, found a company on ebay!

The decorations included themed banners on the walls and balloons for kids to play with- a few of these were themed and some were plain colours, kids didn't mind which they played with!

We hired a room in the local sports centre which included use of their toys. We hired a dj ( quite cheap as he was a friend!) and he played a mix of normal songs and the occasional themed song! (And any other requests!)

We bought some cheap superhero and princess gifts for party prizes- for pass the parcel, musical statues, best dancer etc and bought themed party bags but put mostly generic (pound shop!) gifts in it!

We did a separate cake for the birthday children so they each got their moment being sung to and blowing out candles!

As they were young, we knew all of the children would have parents with them to help so for food we bought in hotspot and served it in plastic Trays we bought off the internet. This was mostly for parents but also some children wanted it! We also got themed plates and table covers and served the children some home made sandwiches, crisps, jugs of juice and sausage rolls. Everybody had something they liked to eat!

Also, we made fancy dress optional. The children being in fancy dress added to the theme!

[kungfupidge]

you cant invite everyone ! thats my top tip i know you might feel sorry for everyone but on a budget it isnt always possible ask your child who they would really like to invite xx

[juju3]

Always start with a couple of active games and tire them out !!

[MadJo]

I can't take credit for this - my friend organises the best children's parties. One year she did a Gruffalo Party in her garden.
She started off by getting all the children to make mouse masks. She then took the children on a walk 'through the deep, dark forest' (her garden). And as they read the story and travelled around the garden they encountered, hidden in various bushes were her sister, dad and a friend's husband dressed as the fox, snake, owl (made out of cardboard and hanging from a long stick in the air) and gruffalo. For the tea she had made scrambled snake (cold macaroni spaghetti), roasted fox (butternut squash tarts), and owl ice-cream (honeycomb ice cream).
The cake was, obviously, designed as the gruffalo.
The children adored it (as did the grown ups). It was the perfect mix of organised activity and time to run around and the attention to detail was fabulous.

[HollybearFluffpuss]

I hired a sweetie cart for my last daughters 4th birthday party. The cart was delivered with so many varieties of sweets. It was a vintage horse and cart with ribbonand beautifully lit up with fairy lights. Ideal for her Cinderella themed party.

At the end of the party the children lined up and filled their bags. There was enough for 30 children and we had so many left over. It was very good value for money and no faffing about making up party bags.

[hiddenmichelle]

You can do things so much more cheaply with a bit of thought (and yes I know time!). You can create stunning individual "party bags" with clear cellophane and personalise each one to a theme - much nicer than the shop bought ones!

[Sammyislost]

My children are 5 and 3. For my sons 5th birthday party, he wanted a pirate theme. It was mid summer, so we had the party at home, in our garden. Cost effective!

I made a pirate treasure chest cake using an idea on pinterest, it was pretty easy and very effective, the kids gasped when they saw it!

I also made balloon modelling swords, really easy, the kids loved them, and got to take one home too, adding towards their party bag favours.

I planned a few activities, but with his previous birthday I realised, they only need a few, as they are often far too busy (and happy) running around like MAD!!! I recommend basing the games around music and dancing: musical statues, musical bumps, dancing competitions...this was even good for the little ones as they got to boogie!

With the party bags: sweets are good, and I was lucky enough to buy things at 90% off their RRP throughout the year, so they looked AWESOME and expensive, but they cost pennies! :)

I loved planning a party to a theme, it made it much easier to plan.

[helly27]

Invite just enough for your space and have a schedule to follow

[cozza777]

I have yet to throw a party for my boys but plan to this year, I have found Pinterest quite inspiring for ideas. I have also seen some lovely party bags etc on eBay which are very cheap but sent from Korea so I will be planning and ordering early which should keep costs down. I also plan to make my own cupcakes which can be put in party bags rather than forking out on what seems very costly cakes.

[Narnianescape]

Make sure you have a hall with enough space and try not to over think and over do things as the kids will have fun.

[Mummystar123]

We often have a 'come as you are' party- no particular theme and the kids can come dressed however they like! I found when I did a themed party some kids wouldn't have that type of dressing up etc so felt left out- now they can come as whoever they like or jut themselves!!
We play traditional games- pass the parcel, musical bumps/chairs, and have a healthy buffet for the kids to eat from! It's fun and they always have a great time despite not costing a lot!

[buzzybev]

Organised fun! Pass the parcel never goes out of date!

[LuckyBluie]

My top tip is to hire professionals! We are in the process of booking my son's next birthday party and although we are having it at home I have chosen to hire an entertainer, caterer, cake maker and someone to make the party bags for me

[lolamia91]

I always love to do make your own pizzas as its keeps them occupied and they choose their toppings and it encourages them to cook. I also love to get the face paints out and the kids love it too.

[jandoc]

try and keep it simple and get as much help as possible

[marylegs23]

i think having lots of different activity stations allows the children to move about the party and have fun without keeping it too regimented!

[jonmarsden]

church hall, buffet and party game. cheap, fun, and a great day