1. Plan, plan, plan. About four weeks before the big day, start making plans. Write everything down and keep a checklist so that you can keep track of where everything’s at. It will help you see at a glance what is still left to be done so you can use your time more efficiently. Your planning doesn’t have to be complicated. Simply break the event down into the major components – invites and guest list, food, games, decorations, loot bags etc and then make a list of things to do for each component. Breaking it down like this will make the whole event seem much less overwhelming.

2. Date and time. I always like to hold our parties in the afternoon – that way I have the morning to decorate, prepare the food etc I have a friend who likes to host her family’s parties in the morning. She likes to have the party done and finished with and the afternoon free to clean up afterwards. There’s no right or wrong time, but the point is to find what will make it as relaxing and easy as possible for you. When selecting a date, it can be a good idea to check with some of the guests to see if they are free on the date you’ve chosen before you actually hand out any invites. That way you avoid any disappointment if your child’s best friend or favorite cousin can’t make it.

3. Make it a team effort. Enlist the help of family, friends and even the birthday child if they are old enough. Jobs like filling to loot bags, blowing up balloons, or even baking the cake can all be delegated out to family members or willing friends. It makes for a really fun event when everyone has been involved.

4. Games and entertainment. This can be one of the most stressful parts of the party. How to entertain all those kids? It doesn’t have to be complicated. Younger children require very little in the way of structured games and entertainment, especially preschoolers when they are in a group with other kids. They will be happy to run around and make their own fun. If you’re really worried they will be bored, simple things like bubble wands will be all they’ll need to get them partying. Older children’s entertainment needn’t be complicated. Something that lets them get creative always goes down well – why not pre-bake some cookies or cup cakes and let the kids decorate their own or hang a roll of paper across an outside wall or fence and let the kids paint a mural.

5. Make ahead. There are plenty of things you can do ahead of time so that you can relax and enjoy the party instead of running around sorting everything out. Filling the loot bags, hanging up the decorations, even baking the cake a week ahead and freezing it, these are all things that can be done ahead of time to make the big day so much more relaxing.

How do you make a kids party less stressful?