Party Goods: How Many to Buy
One of the best birthday party shopping tips is to plan ahead. When you are planning the guest list for a birthday party, keep in mind that many a party supply store package their party goods in sets of 8. If you can keep the number of guests down below that, you eliminate having to buy an extra set of things like plates, cups, and napkins. You can decide ahead of time, according to age and maturity of your child, whether the birthday child gets a party bag or not. Younger siblings may also be clamoring for one if they're included in the party at all. If you'll be serving a full meal plus cake and ice cream, make sure you get enough plates for both. Just to be on the safe side, have a few extra plain or colored paper plates, napkins, and cups available in case there's an accident.
Party Supply Stores and Your Toddler
A party supply store can be overwhelming for a small child. Make sure you agree to a list ahead of time. You might also decide on a theme or color ahead of time, although they might change their mind when they see what else is offered or be disappointed if you can't find the right supplies. If your children are very young one of the best birthday supply shopping tips available is to leave them with a sitter or neighbor, or shop online! Once they see the party supplies, they'll likely be impatient for the party day and may make your life miserable for a while.
Party Store: Balloon Countdown
If you're children are young and have a hard time keeping track of how many days there are left to go before the "big day", go to a party store a week before the birthday and get 7 balloons. Let the young child pop one balloon each day. Get 6 balloons all the same and make the 7th a special color or decoration. When all that's left is the special balloon, it's the birthday! *For the older kids that can count with no problems, consider adding a balloon each day to build up to the big birthday. You can get a special helium balloon from the local party store for the birthday morning surprise!
Party Supply: Birthday Party Supply List
To make sure you don't forget anything, make a party supply birthday list a few weeks in advance. Most people start with plates, napkins and cups. If you'll be eating outside, a tablecloth ensures a clean eating surface in addition to providing some party atmosphere. Balloons are fun for older kids but be aware that younger children can be afraid of them popping. (And make sure you pick up the pieces of any burst balloons to avoid choking hazards.) A pinata is traditional in many areas, filled with small candy and toys. Birthday banners and signs, special candles, and hats are nice additions as well.
Party stuff: cake decorations
In addition to the usual party stuff, consider finding some special cake decorations. You can buy special pans and bake a character or shape cake or look up ideas for cutting standard size cakes into various pieces that can be assembled into animals and other shapes. Use some small action figures and other plastic toys to decorate a theme cake. You can tint flaked coconut different colors for decoration. Different candles are fun as well. Candles that don't blow out easily are fun for older kids but may frustrate the younger crowd. Various candy can be used as decorations as well and are a real crowd pleaser.
Party Supply Store and Goody Bags
On the prowl for good party supply shopping tips? A good party supply store will be stocked with a fair number of low-priced toys and items for you to send home in a goody bag with the guests. Remember that the point is to give them a token of appreciation, not send them home with a full-blown present. If you're going to do a craft guests get to create and then take home with them, like decorating a t-shirt, you can probably do without a good bag at all. To save even more money, make decorating the goody bag one of the birthday party activities rather than spending money on fancy bags.
Party Shop: Source for Costume Party
A party shop can have a huge impact on the success of your costume party. Good accessories can take an average costume and turn it into something really special. Find a party shop or costume shop with wigs, beards, and moustaches, for example, and you can completely change the appearance of your face. A hat can also have a huge impact on the success of a costume. If you're going for a certain period look, make sure the accessories are also in period. *If you're stuck for ideas, just a walk through a party site's web site can give you lots of ideas if you're stuck.
Party shop: Local Resources
A party shop can be a good source of local resources for your parties. If you're looking for a magician, a musician, or a balloon artist, try calling your local party shop and ask for recommendations. For kids, make sure the act is appropriate for the age group you are entertaining. If it's an adult party, let the person know what kind of party you are having and what ages groups and sensitivities are going to be attending! You don't want to shock your grandmother with bawdy jokes if she's the type to be offended. On the other hand, maybe your grandmother likes a good laugh and is pretty slow to take offense.