When you are busy and trying to organise a party, it’s easy to miss things. We have kept our party planner short and to the point, so you can be organised without having to waste a lot of time reading pages of information. So “tick and flick” as you please!

4 – 6 WEEKS BEFORE THE PARTY

• Choose a theme for the party
• Decide on a budget and the guest list
• Make a list of what you will need and if you will be making it eg food, games, decorations
• Choose a date and time and book an entertainer or venue (if required)
• Purchase theme items

2 – 3 WEEKS BEFORE THE PARTY

• Make or purchase the invitations and mail or hand them out (email if easier)
• Make and/ or buy the items previously decided on, such as decorations, games etc.
• Keep a list of RSVP’s
• Organise prizes and any equipment for other activities on the day
• Order the birthday cake or buy the requirements to make it yourself
• Book the helpers (family and/or friends) if required

1 WEEK BEFORE THE PARTY

• Determine the order of events for the party
• Confirm the entertainment and cake order (or anything else that has been booked)
• Buy and make any food or drinks that can be stored
• Organise the party bags

2 – 3 DAYS BEFORE THE PARTY

• Call or email any guests that have not replied (it may have been overlooked)
• Buy candles for the cake (and matches)
• Check the camera and/or video equipment

1 DAY BEFORE THE PARTY

• Buy the rest of the food and drinks and check you have all the prizes, activities, games, etc.
• Clean up and decorate as much of the party area as is practical
• Pick-up the cake and/ make the rest of the food that can be made in advance

THE DAY OF THE PARTY

• Blow up the balloons and put them up and don’t forget to put a few on the front gate/letterbox
• Make sure games, activities and prizes are ready
• Put candles on the cake and find the matches
• Finish all the decorations
• Get the food and drinks ready
• AND HAVE FUN!

PS.  A great list to keep once you have organised the guest list :

Guest Name :                                  RSVP (how many):                   Parent’s Name :                                   Parent’s Phone Number :

Halloween is becoming more and more popular in Australia, with large numbers of children trick or treating, or having parties at this time. Regardless of its origins, Halloween is just another chance for children to dress up and eat lollies. So why wouldn’t they want to do it!!

Trick or treating

Trick or treating is really taking off in Australia, but not everyone is ready for it! If your kids are keen to go from house to house in their costumes, the best thing to do is get organised and let your neighbours know! The week or so before Halloween, drop a flyer into your neighbour’s letterboxes.  Decorate the flyer with a large Halloween pumpkin or another Halloween symbol and make sure you explain that the children will be trick or treating on the 31^st of October between given times.  Let them know that if they are happy for the children to knock, they should leave the pumpkin sign on their front door or gate. You could also invite their children to join in and meet with an adult at a given house, or corner and you can all go together! Most people are happy to have the kids call if they know they are coming and they have stocked up on treats!! This is also a great way to meet neighbours if you don’t know them and it will be lots of fun for everyone involved.

Costumes

Kids love to dress up and Halloween is a great time to do it. Even older children (who wouldn’t dress up at any other time) still love dressing up as something scary or ghoulish. However, dressing up for Halloween doesn’t have to be scary. If you have little ones going trick or treating, let them dress up as a prince, princess, goblin or fairy – they may even get more treats that way!

See our ‘Get ideas’ page for some great Halloween tips and games.