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

On our sons summer birthday we go to the local park, put up a Gazebo and as everyone to bring a picnic rug or a fold up chair. We have sandwiches cupcakes cold drinks etc set up in the Gazebo. Then its games and fun.

Lots of team games preferably outside where possible so that they can run off some energy before party food time :)

Don't be afraid to ask for help from other parents. Sometimes they have ideas or tips that will make your party run more smoothly

Don't be afraid to ask for help prior the big day, many hands make light work, don't go to great expense if a young ones birthday party as most gets thrown on the floor and are to busy playing with their new friends, also invest in a chocolate fountain and lay on lots of fruit to dip in, a great way of eating healthy at the party and the children will love it

Making individual food boxes for each child is better than doing lots of platters of food in my opinion.

When they are pre nursery a little party at home is often the cheapest option, but come nursery/school age I would definitely recommend a party venue where you can sit back and enjoy it too without all the worry of food, games, party bags - and although these seem expensive when you sit and add up all the food, plates/napkins, game idea and prizes, party bags and contents not to mention the cleaning up they often work out at good value.

Just don't do it, ours DCs when asked preferred not to have parties but to get an extra special present or treated to a day our or trip

Try to go by a timetable. We always seem to rush the blowing out of the candles on the cake as we always over run!

A village hall does just fine - you don't need a fancy venue

I did an afternoon tea party for my 6 year old, it was fairy cakes and lots of pink things! Pretty table cloths, princess music, tiaras etc. They loved it!!

Make packed lunch bags for the kids, instead of the traditional buffet and save time and money.

My main recommendation would be hold it somewhere other than your house.

Pirate theme is good. Other parents not utr out because the dress up is easy. You can do a treasure hunt, rummage in a treasure chest, pirate dancing, use tea on thick paper to make old looking invites, maps etc. most party games can be given a bit of a sea theme.

We combined ours with 2 others, invited the same guests, split the costs 3 ways but told parents to only buy a present for one of the child. This child's name was on the invite.

There are so many 'posh' parties with some parents trying to upstage others we have found the children actually love the good old traditional fun party. Get other mums to assist, & have pass the parcel, musical chairs, pin the tail on the donkey, dancing competition etc. Finger food is best, & we were surprised some children had never had seedless grapes, which they really enjoyed (cut in half!)

A summer party is easier if the weather is fine and you have a secure garden, a winter indoor party can still be fun. don't fall into the trap of having to "out-do" the last party your child attended, once you start that you will carry this through every year. Party bags, some finger foods, music and couple of prizes for a few organised games is all that is needed, the children enjoy them most when they are simple.

Organise yourself well in advance & shop around for party decorations!

Choose a theme with your child & work around it.

Check on Pinterest for inspiration on games, decorations & food.

Make your own party invite and get the kids involved too!

Keep it simple. Set yourself a budget. Buy stuff for party bags from pound shops, try and do the food yourself.

Plan well in advance and put a nice little note on invites asking parents to get back to you at least two weeks prior to party date! That way you know how many you need to pay for...

Book party organisers - one less thing for you to worry about!

Try something new!

Ask family members to help out - some parents may leave their children so this could be handy!

We hired a village hall for £15 a hour, we got loads of balloons, we made a list of food and divided it up amongst the family to get them to help. I did plan a few easy games like pass the parcel and put little toys and sweets in every layer. We then got out the bubbles and let the kids go crazy, my daughter was only 3 so that was plenty. Next year we are looking at hiring a bouncy castle.

It can be surprisingly difficult to get replies to party invites! I'd suggest putting a clear date you need a response by, put ASAP & surprisingly people will just leave it for later. Put a mobile number on, so you can get replies by text as well.

Keep it simple

For the past couple of years I've opted for a bouncy castle hire (princess theme) for my DD's birthday in July. It was a 'covered' bouncy castle just small enough to squeeze into our garden; whether it rained or was very sunny the kids were shaded/protected and could let off steam! Important when you have a small house and lots of kids!! I also found getting a cake topper took the hassle and expense out of one of the more stressful aspects of party planning! They are inexpensive from Ebay, and can be personalised which is brilliant! I usually let both my DDs decide their own 'theme' as I think it's their important day so they should choose what will make them happy!

My son is at the age now where the easiest thing to do is take him and a few friends to the cinema, with treats and a meal after thrown in, its so much easier than organising a big party and much less stressful.

Listen to what your child loves and wants

I gave each child a party box which they decorated with stickers, glitter pens, felt tips etc. I then filled each box with a roll, bag of crisps, biscuit, piece of fruit and drink which they could then sit on the floor and eat like a picnic. Any food they did not eat they took home. I then added a balloon, book, nail varnish, pack of sweets and piece of cake to each box.

Games were musical bumps, musical statues, pass the parcel, team games with balloons etc. Small prizes were given which were added to their homemade party boxes.

I have also organised a party in the local park with pond dipping, inflatable ball games and a picnic.