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

We did an amazing party for my son who was born on bonfire night. We made paper rockets and launched then in the garden with a rocket launcher that we borrowed from work (They go up to 200m in the air). We then did bonfire night food - jacket potatoes, hot dogs etc and finished it off with some sparklers. It was really cheap to do and the kids had an amazing time.

Plenty of easy finger food that can be prepared well in advance.

Children's parties do not have to be over the top. They love playing games, eating food and receiving a goody bag at the end! I tend to start buying bits for the bags when I see them, then buy plain paper bags and personalise each one with the guests name

In the past we have just had a Build a Bear party and then McDonalds to avoid too much fuss at home. Only recently have we had parties at home and definitely researching ideas for games online helps a lot.

Lots of games definitely keeps everyone out of trouble.

I've done 3 class parties, but it was a lot of work, so top tip is to get plenty of friends to help you.

Last party I did pizza and chips to keep the food simple, but its a lot of work cooking it all, but easier to transport etc!

Other parties I did lots of nibbly bits, sausages, chocolate rolls, crisps fruit etc.

Did party games at one, the kids loved that. and music and plenty of balloons and they were all happy!

We had a pirate theme and the adults dressed up as well as the children we had a palm tree pinata and played walk the plank game and musical islands, the food was served in mini treaure chests and each child went home with a bag of gold coins

Always bring out savoury and fruit and veg type food before the sweet stuff hits the table , have a paper tablecloth they can draw on

My son had a party at home, we hired a bouncy castle, luckily the weather was fab, we made party games up on the lawn, and tried to play something thy`d never played before, sent them home with cake and a winning prize instead of a party bag, everyone won something, we had great fun.

Lots of helping hands are required when young ones involved. Face painting, playing games, party food always go down well

We have never done a theme, nor have we fretted. Having 2 summer babies means we usually organise a 'garden' party with plenty of games and activities....it also means the mess stays outside.

Remember that all children are different and may not want to take part in certain games - and some may be overstimulated such as asd kids

Hold it in a church hall / community centre; you'd be surprised how much mess they create and you don't want it trodden into your carpets.

Watch your numbers. Keep guests to a level you can easily manage. It's more affordable, helps you ensure every guest is having a good time and it won't become too overwhelming for your child

I'd say make sure y have things to keep them busy as they arrive. They always come in drips and drabs before the games etc start and I've been to many a party where there's nothing really to keep them busy and they go a bit crazy party mode. Something like balloons, giant roll of paper and felt pens, some toys etc work a treat.

If you're booking a soft play area it's SOOOO much cheaper just to do your own food. I didn't make sandwiches because lack of time and I don't drive so we were bussing it to my son's party venue. I just bought crackers, breadsticks, crisps, sweets (in bulk off amazon -some great deals so worth a check!), cupcakes...oh and a couple of boxes of ready made cup crinks with straws....a lot less likely to spill and make a mess than paper/plastic cups of juice!

Kids eat less than you think, they're too excited.
Don't bother trying to make it healthy, this is a party, they can eat carrot sticks at home.
They'll probably enjoy playing with your DCs toys for a bit as they'll be unfamiliar, so allow some time for free play (gets you out of organising too many party games too!)

Speaking from bitter experience it's hard work doing the entertainment yourself! I would never do this again after hiring a local hall for my DSs 6th birthday with me and DH doing all the party games It's always worth paying someone else!!

Best parties we've had are booking a DJ who does organised games and having a few snacks and lots of drinks available. We found the party food break/sitting down time just makes for even more hyper kids!!

i find get the children involved in more craft based things instead of the whole pass the parcel thing. they enjoy it more and they get to take home whatever they make. its a perfect party then.

I always buy easter eggs when they are £1 for kids instead of party bags as my 2 kids parties are at easter! I stay away from party bags as they work out far more expensive than u think

Buy 2 cakes - 1 as a birthday cake with the candles on etc and another just plain one. You can cut the plain one up and put it into the party bags before the children get there, so you're not wasting valuable party time cutting and organising cakes!

Games never take as long as you hope think. Always have spare time-filling activities on stand-by...

Have a plan!! And a what activity to do while waiting plan! :-)

BE FLEXIBLE ON DATES = Find which days are cheap at your local softplay/bowling/activity centre and plan the party for that day instead of one of their expensive party packages and pre-book x10 kids meals - bowling parties are £10 per child organised or £2.25 a game on tuesdays, meal £2.95.

DO LUNCHBOXES - not buffets, less waste and cheaper. Dont forget teabags/coffee/kettle for adults if you're at a village hall

CRAFTS - have some £1 shop crafts on a table for kids to have a 'time-out' if they're knackered/getting too hyper.

DON'T DO PASS THE PARCEL - it's a stressful teary nightmare,have a giant bag of sweets to throw out to 'best dancer', best smile, most enthusiastic etc

DONT ORDER EXPENSIVE CAKE - buy a plain supermarket one and stick sweets or toy figures on it

DONT DO PARTY BAGS - it adds up and is usually rubbish, wrap a gift up instead

Have a child who is born near to Halloween so its easy to theme because it's all in the shops and everyone loves wearing their costume twice

Don't forget to put wine in the fridge in the morning so it's ready for when the birthday child has gone off happy to bed

Have plenty of games and activities but somewhere quiet for those kids that become a bit overwhelmed by it all. I try to do healthy snacks as opposed to sugar loaded ones, they make the kids even more hyper, although I don't stress if they go for the cake and sweets. Make sure you have other grown up help as well.

have the party mid afternoon, not long after lunch, kids will have already been fed so only light snack will need to be provided... dont go crazy, a few sandwiches, sausage rolls other type finger food.. goes down a treat.. kids are not particularily bothered about food but if parents come along and stay bring biscuits, tea bags, coffee and milk, hopefully a kettle will be on-site - perfect for mums and dads

If you have a summer party, buy a load of cheap water pistols and let them loose. Hours of entertainment