Complete Kids Party Planning Guide
Planning a kids party is really just a handful of decisions made in the right order: a date, a theme, the numbers, the food and the going-home bags. Get the order right and the rest falls into place. This is the spine of the whole hub, with a simple countdown, a budget you can actually stick to and the timings that keep the day running.
We have packed over 3 million orders since 2005, so this is the plan we see work again and again.
Your countdown: what to do and when
- 6 weeks before: pick the theme, lock the date and decide on home or a venue. Popular soft-play and hall slots book up fast in term time.
- 3 weeks before: send invites with a clear start and finish time, and ask for allergy notes and RSVPs by a set date.
- 1 week before: order tableware, decorations, the cake and party bag fillers, and confirm final numbers.
- Day before: fill the party bags, wrap the pass-the-parcel and put decorations out ready.
- Party day: set up an hour early, run your games and food in order, then hand out the bags at the door.
Numbers, length and budget
A good rule for guest numbers is the child's age plus one or two, so a 5-year-old party is comfortable at 6 or 7 children. Keep the party short and sweet: 1.5 to 2 hours suits under-8s, and up to 2.5 hours works for 8s and over.
For budget, split your spend into five buckets so nothing runs away with you: venue or space, food and cake, decorations, entertainment or games, and party bags. Party bags usually land at £1 to £3 per child, so multiply that by your guest count early and you will not get a surprise at the till. Free UK delivery over £45 means one combined order often covers decorations, tableware and bags in one go.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a kids party be?
Keep it to 1.5 to 2 hours for pre-schoolers and infants, who tire quickly, and up to 2.5 hours for children of 8 and over. A clear finish time on the invite also helps parents know when to collect.
How many children should I invite?
The age-plus-one or age-plus-two guide keeps things manageable, especially at home. If you are hiring an entertainer or a hall, you can go bigger, but more guests means more food, more bags and more supervision.
When should I send invites?
About 3 weeks ahead is the sweet spot. Any earlier and it gets forgotten, any later and diaries fill up. Always ask for RSVPs and allergy notes by a set date so you can finalise numbers.
Ready to start? Browse kids party supplies, pick a look in kids party themes, and sort the going-home gifts with kids party bags.