Costume parties are some of the most fun and memorable parties that kids can have. Whether it’s a birthday or any other occasion, dressing up and playing is always fun for kids. But throwing a themed costume party can be a bit more complicated for parents, there are a number of things you need to plan for to make the day a success.
Here are a few tips for throwing a successful kids costume party.
Decide on the theme
For birthday parties, it’s usually up to your child to choose what theme they want for their party. Whether it’s a Disney theme, superheroes and villains, video games, or something else entirely. You can help them with suggestions if they’re having trouble deciding, but the most important thing is that they’re happy on the big day.
For events like Halloween or other seasonal occasions, the theme is already decided for you, so you don’t have to worry about it. This can make the planning stage of the party a bit easier since it’s pretty clear what you need to do for a Halloween costume party.
Also, make sure it’s clear on the invitation that it’s a costume party so that other parents can prepare.
Organise the costumes
This can be a really fun thing to do with your kids. There are so many great costumes to choose from, and online shopping makes it easier than ever. If you’ve got the time and sewing skills, you can even make the costume yourself and get your child to help. This isn’t for the faint-hearted, of course!
Whether you’re planning to buy, rent or make the costume or costumes you need, make sure you give yourself plenty of time. Finding the costume your child wants might take a while if they’re picky, and it could take some time to get it shipped if you choose to buy online. Getting your costume early will also give you the chance to get it altered if the fit isn’t quite right.
Don’t forget to get in on the fun and get a costume for yourself, too!
Themed food and decorations
This is really important for making sure that the event is a success on the day. The decorations will depend on the theme, of course, but you can get everything you need to make decorations from craft or art supplies store. You may be able to buy decorations that suit your theme, especially for Halloween, but with a little bit of effort, even simple, homemade decorations will look great.
It’s easy to make coloured icing for cakes or cupcakes, and it will go a long way towards making your food match the theme. It’s also easy to make simple designs with coloured icing pens, marshmallows and chocolate buttons. This is another thing that your child can help with for a fun and creative activity.
Themed games
Coming up with themed games and activities for the kids to do on the big day can be difficult, but having games to play can help make the day a success. Some activities you can consider are a Disney singalong, spooky Halloween stories, or get the kids to play as whatever character they’re dressed as.
Of course, the activities you come up with will depend on the theme of the party and the age group of your child and their friends.
Take lots of photos on the day
This is an obvious one, but it’s easy to forget to take pictures if you’re getting caught up in the fun! This is a great way to remember the event, and you can also share the photos with other parents.
It’s also great to get a photo of each kid as they arrive in their costume. That way they’ll each get to show off their costume, and you’ll be able to remember what everyone wore for years to come.