I get SO excited when I know that Christmas is around the corner although my kids and husband are always groaning at me for getting excited earlier and earlier each year - I just can't help it!
However I do know that Christmas can be stressful and doubly so when you are also planning a kid Christmas party.
I am a naturally organized person but with that goes the stress of trying to be organized! However I think I have it sassed now and if you are looking for some ideas to help Christmas party planning go with a bang then read on about how I do it......
Party Delights
One of my favorite kid Christmas party sites. Lots of good value Christmas party goodies and stocking fillers. Also great costumes and nativity fancy dress for adults and kids. Party Box Favors, stocking fillers, dress up, pinatas..... Silly Jokes - Christmas Store Wondering what Santa might put in their stockings this year? This is the place to find out! Jokers Masquerade
Great for costumes for adults and kids. Fancy Dress Outfitters Excellent value costumes and a great site to navigate.
US Suppliers
Birthday Express Lots of choice and lots of original products too. ShindigZ Christmas Clearance Christmas decorations including awesome scene setters. Birthday in a Box
For lots of Christmas party-ware and favors and all at great prices. My favorite for favors. Makesparties
For party-ware and favors at rock bottom prices. Find Santa Suits here!
Buy Costumes provides Santa suits for every shape and size and loads more costumes too.
Kid Christmas party Invitations
Christmas Cracker
Write invites on paper, then roll them up and place inside the inner cardboard roll from kitchen foil or paper. Wrap the roll in red crepe paper and tie the ends. Finish off with colored ribbon and stickers.
Christmas Trees
Using green craft paper, cut out Christmas tree shapes. Decorate one side with glitter glue and write the part details on the other. Punch a hole at the top of the tree and thread a ribbon through.
Christmas Party Decorations
Make your decor dazzling and it's not difficult to do!
Put up lots of fairy lights - on windows, round banisters and at your front door. Place holly and mistletoe where the kids can see it and hang up Christmas stockings.
Get yourself a Christmas music CD and have that playing in the background.
If you're feeling very adventurous, why not cover your front doorstep in fake snow, that is unless you have the real stuff!
Don't forget the Christmas tree and maybe even create a Santa's grotto - I'm sure you can find a willing Santa and if not find a Santa here. .
Kid Christmas Party Crafts
It is always worth having a mixture of game and crafts at a kid Christmas party as continually playing games can be tiring for the kids – and for you! Below are a few Christmas craft suggestions which have always been popular with my kids.
Christmas is a time for treats! Kids (and adults!) want to feel a little indulged and spoiled and what a great way to do it with the kids party food......cookies, cakes, sweets and lots of festive looking nibbles are sure to go down well.
Decorate the table with a green or red table cloth and then give a generous sprinkling of tinsel, glitter and small Christmas tree decorations. Have small crackers on the table and paper hats or how about a Christmas centerpiece.
Here are some party food ideas which always go down a treat:
Cookies cut into festive shapes and decorate with colored icing and sliver baubles.
Count the Jelly Beans
Fill a large glass jar with red and green jelly beans and have the kids guess the number in the jar. The closest guess wins the lot!
Santa's Stocking
Place a toy or object in stocking and see if the kids can guess what it is. Feel it, smell it, shake it, what is it?
Christmas Scavenger Hunt
Place various Christmas objects around the room. Give the kids a small stocking/bag and a list of things to find. See who can be the first to find everything.
Pinata
How about a Christmas Pinata which are great for family or large gatherings.
Imagine the joy and excitement when your child receives his/her very own personalized letter from Santa.
Or maybe even a phone call?! Get your kids to writ early though as otherwise Santa might get a bit busy.....
Time Saving Tips
Choose the date
Christmas day and the week building up to it are probably going to be a bit manic so unless you are mightily adventurous I would suggest not having a kid Christmas party then. As you know Christmas trees and decorations start going up at the beginning of December (well ours do anyway!) so why not plan a kid Christmas party in the early part of December or between Christmas and New Year.
Plan ahead.
Don't leave the Christmas party till the last minute as you will already be swamped with present buying, food preparation and organizing relatives.
Make use of your freezer.
Prepare as much food as you can in advance and pop it in the freezer. Christmas is a time of impromptu guests so having some bite size snacks that can be quickly heated in the oven or microwave will save you a lot of anxiety.
Shop out of season and grab those bargains.
The January sales are a great time for picking up Christmas bargains – toys, cards, crackers, Christmas party decorations and even some edible goodies that have a long shelf life.
Have some gifts in reserve.
Have some small unisex gifts wrapped and ready for those impromptu Christmas party guests. If you don't use them, save them till next year. Remember though to make a note of what's inside.
Overestimate the number of guests coming to the kid Christmas party. You'll think that you have it under control but there will always be the sibling, cousin and friend that has come to stay and who wants to join in with all the kid Christmas party fun.
Start a bits and bobs scrap box.
If you and the kids are going to make kid Christmas party decorations, it is so much easier if you have all the scraps, cardboard rolls, boxes, ribbons, card etc. already to hand. Don't forget to buy lots of glue and sellotape (scotch).
Book Kid Christmas party venues/entertainers well in advance.
If you are sure of what you want make sure you book at least several months ahead. Some places are even booked years in advance!
Find kid Christmas party entertainers in your area.
Use your friends and relatives.
Christmas is a time of goodwill and practically everyone is willing to help and organize a kid Christmas party.
Look after ME.
Treat yourself to a new hairdo, new outfit, manicure or whatever takes your fancy. Do it before Christmas to make you feel special.
Make a small donation to charity.
Whilst you are having a great time there will always be those that are less fortunate than yourself. Donate some money to charity, buy Christmas charity cards and get the kids to clear out all the toys that they never use and give them to the nearest children's hospital. The party guests could also bring one toy that they wish to donate. You will be amazed at how good that makes you feel.
Did you know..... The Christmas cracker was invented by an Englishman called Tom Smith in the Victorian times (about 150 years ago). Tom Smith made sweets and one day he was in Paris and he tasted some sugared almond Bonbons wrapped in tissue paper which he thought were so delicious that he decided to sell them in England. At first they weren't as popular as he had hoped so he thought hard about how to make them more interesting. To make them more exciting he wrapped them in colored tissue paper and added a little love motto and finally he added a cracker snap. The children loved them and the bang from the snap was thought to frighten off bad spirits. He then put little jokes and toys inside the paper.
Other Christmas Resources
If you're looking for more activities for the kids this Christmas, then check out these Christmas crafts for kids. You'll find lots of fun and easy crafts for toddlers and preschool kids.
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