--- Scheduling the Entertainer

Be sure to make your phone call or email request to the Wizard of Odd - MrGreggy well in advance of the date you want. Saturdays and Sundays are busy days for him because they are the days almost everybody wants for their party. If you allow three weeks time, you stand a good chance of getting the day and hour you want. If you call and get to leave a message, please mention the date & time of the party, so the Wiz can check his calendar immediately. If he is unable to schedule your party, he will be glad to refer you to another high quality children's entertainer. Usually it's best to have the Wiz arrive 30 minutes after the party has started.

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--- Invitations

Do not send out your invitations until you have confirmed a date with the Wiz. Sometimes he will be working another party within a short distance of your home, and could take care of you if you could change your hour. This is easier to do if the invitations have not yet been sent.

Make the invitation very specific as to what time the party begins and ENDS. Some mothers take advantage of a birthday party to leave their child there for a time before and after the party -- so they have time for shopping or whatever else they want to do. The invitation can specify, "The party will be over, and your child will be ready to be picked up at 4:00pm" Then, if the parent does not come for them by 4:15pm, you can safely call to find out why. Most people will get the idea and be there.

Ask for a definite response to the invitation (RSVP) and check the list with your birthday child. A written invitation is better than a phone call, because the guests have the day, the time, the place, etc. before them to avoid errors.

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--- Where to Hold the Party

The Wiz will adapt himself to any area selected. However, for your own sake, and that of the children, give it some thought. If you have a tile or linoleum floor play room, that is the obvious place to have the party. In summer, a lawn or patio is nice, provided it is not in the full glare of the sun. Neither the children nor the performer will do well with an hour's stay under the bright sun. Provide some sort of shading, if there are no trees.

If the party is in the living room, remove all breakables, ornaments, and easily tipped over items. It will only take few minutes and your mind will be at ease during the party. The Wizard of Odd doesn't need much space to set up (about the same amount as two adults standing next to each other), just make sure there is enough space for all the children to sit facing him on the floor. Keep in mind the light source also. Position the guests so their back is to the sun or indoor lights, and the Wiz if facing the light. By doing this, your photos & videos will be much clearer when the Wiz brings up the birthday child to help, because by having the "stage" area face the light, you avoid problems with "back-lighting."

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--- Don't Do It Alone

Invite at least one other parent, relative or local teenager to help in the party. The Wiz will take care of all the entertainment, but supervision of the games, gift opening and refreshments may call for a little help.

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--- Order Of Activities

Party Sequence:

• Pre-planning
• Start of party
• Games or toys while guests are arriving
• MrGreggy or Abbie Cadabra & thier Goofy Magic Show!
• Refreshments (Cake, Ice Cream, Blueberry Pizza)
• A game and/or opening of the presents
• Get rid of them

The vast majority of parties follow a simple sequence that works very well. Let's assume the invitations say the party starts at 1:00pm. It usually takes about a half hour for all the guests to arrive, during which time games or toys will keep them occupied. The Wizard starts his show at 1:30pm, and finishes at 2:30pm. From then until about 3:00pm are the refreshments (including cake), presents and perhaps more games. That makes a total of about 2 hours, which is plenty for a child's party. Children don't eat as much as adults, and they eat faster, especially when excited at a party. Don't make the mistake lots of parents do in ordering 10 large pizzas. For the average sized party (8-15 children), 2 to 4 pizzas will suffice (unless there are lots of adults around).

There are two main reasons for having the cake & presents last. In the child's mind, the cake is second only to the presents as the high point of the party! Not even a visit from a young boy's favorite super hero or sports figure would detract from it. The other reason... would you want to deal with a room full of children who are now hyped up on massive doses of sugar? Fill them with sweets... then get them out of there!

Once the gifts are opened, they are meant to be played with, not placed aside for later. Even if no other child in the room touched the new toys (an almost impossible idea!) there would still be the new proud possessor of all this treasure. He or she cannot be taken away from them to sit and enjoy the show -- some children have insisted on riding the new tricycle all through the magic tricks, or squeezing a noisy animal toy, or pulling toys and gifts away from other children who want to see them. For the same reason, please avoid handing out whistles and other noisemakers before the Wiz arrives.

Check out the other party ideas sections of this web site for lots of good information. With a bit of research, your child's party will be fun time for the guests AND YOU!

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--- Planning Ahead is the Key

• Make a realistic estimate of how much preparation time is involved and how much time you can devote to party preparation. Now double it. Things always take longer than you plan.
• Turn party preparations into a family project...not only will you have less work to do, but your children will feel they helped make the party a success.
• Include the birthday child in the party plans: let him or her choose the party theme, the color of streamers and the flavor of icing. Focus on what the party will include, not what you have chosen to omit.
• Start early. It is much easier to find 15-30 minutes every evening for a few weeks than to get everything ready the night before. The Party Planning Guide has a good list of what should be done in advance of the big day.
• Shop smart. Make a list of things you need and where to get them. The shopping list will come in very handy as a good place to start. There are items on the list that even the best party makers forget.
• Have fun!

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--- Age Appropriate Birthday Parties

• 1-2 year olds: Keep the party short with individual cupcakes for each child and choruses of a few well-loved songs. Let's face it, for children at this stage, the party is more for the parents than the children.
• Preschoolers: Preschoolers love easy games, grab bags, simple treasure hunts and moving to music. Themes are very popular and the guests love to come in costume.
• 5-7 year olds: These children can handle slightly more complicated games, relay races and team efforts. They still enjoy themes based on popular movies, books and their imagination.
• 7-10 year olds: Elementary school-age children are slightly more sophisticated. They may be asking for slumber parties with two or three friends, more elaborate treasure hunts or parties that revolve around a specific activity like skating or baseball. As kids get older, they are often relieved to be able to celebrate their birthdays with a special event shared with just a few good friends. A popular party package that the Wizard of Odd - MrGreggy offers for this age range is the "Circus Camp Party" The children can learn how to do magic tricks, twist balloon, and/or juggle. Kids that age love to learn new skills that they can show off to family & friends!

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--- Organize the Party Area

Part of the secret of a well-organized party is a well-organized party area. Here are some suggestions to help you get and keep the party area organized.

Materials

Have materials for games and activities setup nearby ready to distribute and use as necessary. Lay them out in the order in which they will be used so that anyone can help distribute them.

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Furnishings

Think about the height of furniture for kids. For making crafts, kids under 5 can easily use folding tables placed directly on the floor, or raise them up by placing on milk crates. Kid size plastic chairs are inexpensive; buy or borrow some to make guests feel more comfortable.

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The Trash

Don't forget trash bins. At least two or three in the party area.

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For Presents

Decorate a box or basket or set up a card table near the entry door. Have the guests put gifts there as they arrive. Later, when it's time to open the gifts, take them out of the box & place in front of birthday child (great photo-op). As the gifts are opened, put them back in the box, and the wrapping in the trash bin (or recycling bin)

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Picture Time

Have your camera ready with plenty of film/video tape. Make sure batteries are charged and have an extra battery available for the camera/flash.

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Free Photographers

Get about a half dozen of those inexpensive "cameras in a cardboard box" and leave them lying around the party area. Show the guests how to use them, and let them take pictures whenever they want. You'll get some interesting children's eye view photos!

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For Spills

You can expect at least one spill. Have paper towels or cloths handy in several places (or kept in your pocket or draped over your belt) ready to do a quick pickup.

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Put Fido Away

Make sure household pets are kept out of the party area out of harm's way and where you don't have to worry about bites, barks or scratches.

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Is the Party Area Child Proof?

Survey the area and make sure anything that is a hazard or that can become a hazard is removed. (Remember the bathroom too). Crawl on your hands and knees around the house to get a child's eye view of potential dangers.

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Balloons

Make sure any broken or deflated balloons are picked up & thrown away so babies, toddlers or pets don't eat them. Make it a game; the child who picks up the most trash in 30 seconds wins a prize.

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--- Quick Birthday Tips

• Distribute invitations by mail, email or make phone calls. Do not pass invitations out at school unless every child in the class has been invited.
• Keep the party short; the younger the child, the shorter the party.
• Plan extra activities and have extra supplies on hand.
• Remember that parties can be stressful for the birthday child and their behavior may reflect this. A "Party Practice Day"can help a lot!
• Consider a small, inexpensive gift such as a party favor bag for each child instead of the traditional candy.

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--- Instant and Simple - Party Hits

• Think about the interests and attention span of the guests when planning party activities. Are there a couple of super-active kids who need extra attention? A shy child who will need coaxing? A small, simple party makes it easier to accommodate different personalities.
• One special activity or craft can give a party focus and provide the impact that will take the event from ordinary to awesome.
• Water, for example, adds sure-fire fun to summer outdoor birthdays. Have a few squirt guns, water balloons, sprinklers and you've got a party.
• A Boston-area mom arranged for her 3-year-old son's party to be held in his preschool classroom immediately following school. The children stayed for cake and ice cream, played "Hot Potato" with a beanbag, sang and played in the school playground until their parents came to pick them up an hour later. The kids thought it was great to have a party at the school, and the parents liked it because there were no transportation issues.

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--- Party Alternatives

It is not mandatory for a child to have a party every year. Parents may want to spend some time exclusively with the birthday child - especially if that child has siblings. Make a fuss over him. Spoil her rotten. Birthdays come only once a year, but there are many ways to make a child feel special. Make the day special in other ways.

• Go to a movie theater, a children's museum or a roller rink.
• Let your child design a favorite meal.
• Hang a banner outside your house announcing the birthday.
• While your child is sleeping, sneak into the bedroom and decorate it with balloons and streamers. Put easy-to-clean confetti on the pillow. Tuck a tiny present inside the child's slippers.
• Pull out the baby book and reminisce, or write a birthday letter of appreciation to your child.
• Arrange for pizzas to be delivered to your child's classroom at lunchtime.

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--- Birthday Sanity Savers

Here are more tips on keeping a birthday party simple and less stressful.

• Let the guests make name tags as they arrive. This will really help keep track of who's who when it seems like there are thousands of them. It also is a great way for children to meet new friends. Set up a table near the entrance with tags, washable markers, and other craft items so the guests can make their own tags. Have an older child or adult nearby to help when needed.
• Keep parties small. A rule of thumb is about one guest for every year being celebrated.
• Keep parties short. One hour is plenty for toddlers. No party, except a sleep over, should exceed two and a half hours.
• Check Goodwill and yard sales for gently used toys at terrific savings.
• Have extra activities planned, but don't feel as though you need to do everything. Kids often begin to entertain themselves toward the end of a party.
• Try small, gift-wrapped party favors instead of candy.
• Supply a plain sheet cake and let kids decorate their own piece. You'll avoid squabbles over who will get the frosted ornaments on an already-decorated cake. Individual cupcakes also work.
• Teach the birthday child simple hosting etiquette. Show appreciation for each gift and each guest. Have practice sessions during the days leading up to the party. Teach your child the importance of acknowledging each gift with a thank-you note.

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--- Great Gifts Ideas that Don't Cost a Fortune

• Craft supplies (paper, markers, pipe cleaners, clay) or a box of recycled art materials.
• Office supply items (paper-clips, stapler, message pads, stick-on note paper).
• A disposable camera and mini photo album for documenting the big day.
• A roll of shelf paper and a set of markers to create a giant work of art.
• A night at the movies: a packet of Jiffy-Pop, a deck of cards or checker set and a gift certificate to the local video store.
• A box with a lock. Put a small item like a birthday card, pack of bubble gum or baseball cards inside.
• A day at the beach -- a bucket and shovel stuffed with a beach towel, sunscreen, sunglasses and a certificate to the local ice cream parlor.
• A bank with a roll of new pennies or nickels.
• A hand-painted sleep shirt and matching socks. Buy a large men's T-shirt, a pair of white socks and some fabric paint for a do-it-yourself present.
• Seeds and gardening tools.
• A great book.

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--- Some Unique Birthday Traditions & Activities for the Birthday Child.

It's your day; go ahead and share it. Here are some great ideas to help children spread the joy of their birthdays.

• Keep a birthday journal to write in each year. How does it feel to be a year older? What are you looking forward to in the year ahead?
• Go to a hospital to visit babies born on the same day you were. Bring a small gift to leave for the newborn.
• Call a nursing home to see if any residents share your birthday. Send them a bouquet or small gift. Better yet, bring it yourself. Ask your new friend lots of questions about their childhood.
• Send flowers to your mother as a thank-you on your birthday.

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