Ask anyone and they will probably have fond memories of at least one of their childhood birthdays. It’s a time for your child to be the centre of attention and it begins a life time obsession of trying to impress your friends socially. Therefore, it’s important to spend time deciding on one of many kid’s birthday party themes and planning it accordingly. As much fun as your child’s party is for them, it can be tiring for you. There are a few things you can do to keep the party simple. Children often have favorite characters and dollar or drug stores usually carry an extensive selection of themed party decorations and favors. If these are too pricey, you can always decorate with your child’s favorite color. Coordinating balloons, streamers, silly string and confetti will do a lot to transform your living room or kitchen into a birthday fantasy. If the idea of filling your house with a gaggle of screaming children is too much to handle, consider moving outside. Going to a water park, theatre, rink or pool are all excellent ways to minimize hassle and make your party a hit. Another bonus is a lot of these places offer packages including decoration and entertainment, taking another stressor away from mom or dad. Food does not have to be complicated but a way to make it special is to ‘shrink’ the food into child sizes. Consider making mini pizzas, hamburgers and cupcakes for little hands to enjoy. Bakeries can custom make cakes in the shape of your child’s favorite character or you can get creative on your own. There are many cookbooks available entirely devoted to making delightful cakes to impress your child and their friends. Games are an important part of a kid’s party and they are made all the more interesting with the promise of prizes at the end. Classics like pin the tail on the donkey or egg and spoon race can be supplemented with video game challenges. If your budget allows, local parenting magazines usually have listings of children’s entertainers who can keep the crowd amused enough to allow for a ‘stealth martini’ with other parents. One of the joys of being a parent is creating memories for your child. Try to enjoy each milestone as it passes, allowing time for your child to have fun and for yourself to just sit back, relax and watch.