How to Throw a Stress-Free Kids Birthday

Thanks to Party City for sponsoring this post. Opinions are 100% my own.

These days, parents go insane when it comes to kids birthday parties. Custom banners and themes ordered months in advance from Etsy. Special order cookies with their kids faces on them. Candy bars, dessert tables and all the alcohol the grownups could drink. Oh wait. THAT WAS ME. I am a former over-the-top kids birthday party thrower. There. I said it.

My sons first birthday party included all of the above, including the custom cookies. (they were delicious) However, the older my kids get, the more chill I have become with birthday parties. I know there are lots of people who genuinely enjoy throwing fabulous, extravagant parties for their kids. To be honest, if I had money to burn I could see myself being one of those people. However, after a few pricey parties, my husband was over it and I realized he had a good point. The money could be spent in better ways, especially since my kids were happy with anything.

Now I am a stress-free party mom and proud of it. I no longer stress about my kids birthday parties, now I actually enjoy them! (shocking, I know) With a little practice and practical advice, you can do the same!

How to Throw a Stress-Free Kids Birthday Party

1. Don’t Have It at Your House: This is a biggie. Have it at a nearby park (make sure they have bathrooms) or at a kids party location. Those are my favorites since it is usually 2 or 3 hours and then it is DONE. Having a party at your house is so stressful! You have to clean your house, knowing fair well that it is going to be trashed by little kids in just a few hours. Also, if your friends are anything like mine, having an event at your home means you need to have alcohol and that costs more money.

I have found it is worth it to pay to have your kids party at a location. Bounce house places, arcades and gymnastics parties have all been a huge hit. Most of these places have the kids party plan down pat. They help you set up, clean up and take care of entertaining the kids! It’s a win win people! Be sure to book this at LEAST a month in advance, so you get the date and time you want.

2. Embrace Easy Invites: These days you don’t have to spend a ton of money and time on fun invites. Usually, I make invites for free using Canva and then I print them off using a photo app. This year I took invite laziness to a whole new level. I texted out saved the dates and then I did a Facebook invite. I do love creating and sending out real invites, but my husband & I had to move my mom and grandmother into a new apartment at the beginning of February and I was just too exhausted from packing and moving to get anything else done. But the Facebook invite worked out great and I may even do it again.

3. Order Party Supplies Online: My kids are old enough to pick their own birthday theme. This year, my daughter wanted a Tangled party. When it comes to party supplies, I prefer to order the items online since I know I will get exactly what I need, without having to drive to a ton of stores to find enough plates, etc. I am obsessed with Party City and a few years back I realized their website is equally as awesome.

I ordered everything I needed from the comfort of my home, from napkins to candles and everything in between. They have all the party gear you could possibly need, including an impressive selection of Tangled party supplies! I even ordered a life-sized Rapunzel cardboard cutout, since I knew my daughter would LOVE it. In just a few days, everything arrived at my door in perfect condition.

They also have a great selection of party favors. I got the Tangled party favor kit and Pokemon party favor kit. Hudson helped me put them together and the kids were crazy excited when they saw them! Save yourself the stress of driving all over town looking for party supplies. Party City helps me keep it simple and stress-free.

4. Keep The Food Simple: We either order pizza or subs. For Mila this year we did pinwheel wraps, a fruit and veggie plate and chips. Done and done. I ordered the cupcakes ahead of time and bought a few extra desserts for fun. I picked everything up the morning of the party. Make sure you have enough food for everyone, but don’t stress out about it.

5. Enjoy Yourself: Once the party gets started, please… try to have fun. Play with your kids. Chat with your friends. This is a moment that will become a memory. Be part of it. To help make this possible, I usually enlist a good friend or two and ask them to take pictures throughout the party. (either with my camera or with their phones) I ask them to grab candid shots of me with my family if they see an opportunity. I am always so happy to see what they captured when I look at the pictures later.

My daughter and all her friends had a blast, and so did I! The party was a success and I wasn’t stressed out for a single second. Be sure to check out Party City for all your party needs, since they ROCK and make your life so much easier. What are your favorite birthday party hacks to make your life less stressful?