How to host an awesome kids Christmas party without burning a hole in your wallet

Christmas is just around the corner, so if you want to make this holiday special for your child, you should better start preparing. There is no time to waste. Hosting a Christmas party can be a daunting undertaking. There are so many factors that come into play, so you got your hands full. Besides all the rushing around, there is the fanatical shopping and constant stress. However, if you want your kid to have a good time this year, you’ll have to make an effort. Keep in mind these tips when it comes to surviving to host a kids’ Christmas party. You’ll be the fun mom.

Put together the guest list and invitations

So, you’ve decided to throw the best and the brightest party ever. The guest list plays an important role when you’re organising such a get-together. It can transform into a powerful tool if you and your kid want to surprise the guests with a gift upon arrival. Put on the list children that your kid actually likes. Maybe you get along with the parents of the youngster, but that doesn’t mean that your kid and the child will get along. You can invite close relatives to the party. The grandparents are more than welcomed and younger family members may be along for the celebration too. Not inviting close relatives to the Christmas party would be weird and unfriendly.

Now, let’s talk about Christmas party invitations. If you’re on a tight budget, it’s a good idea to make your own. You could send the invitations online, but where’s the fun in that? Everyone loves receiving a cute and crafty invitation. Think of it as a chance to spend more time with your child. Festive ink and a couple of pencils are all you need to make bespoke holiday greetings. Use an eraser to apply the ornaments and you’re good to go. It’s recommended to invite the guests ahead of time. Basically, send out the invitations about 3 or 4 weeks before the actual date.

Tackle the menu like a pro

Food has the power to comfort and soothe, which is why it enjoys such popularity during the holidays. The meals you’ll be serving at the party have to be rich and substantial. You’re catering to youngsters, so stick to fun and easy recipes. The last thing you want is to disappoint the audience. You have two options: you can serve traditional Christmas food or cook food that enjoys a great deal of success with kids.

If you’re from England, you need to throw a proper celebration. What’s in a traditional English Christmas meal, anyway? Well, these are the foods that are typically associated with Christmas:

  • Tukey
  • Stuffing
  • Roast potatoes
  • Yorkshire pudding
  • Pigs in a blanket
  • Yule log

These are only some examples. As mentioned before, you don’t have to serve difficult or extravagant dishes. The party is for children, so you might want to adapt this menu for the kids. Here are some great food ideas:

  • Pizza
  • Pasta
  • Lasagne calzones
  • Taco bites
  • Ham & cheese sliders

It doesn’t matter what food you offer guests as long as they get in the seasonal spirit. And it will be a hit.

Another idea is to have a one-dish party. Each one of your guests has to bring food. It could be sandwiches, drinks, or anything they wish to eat and share with you. In this way, you will have a variety of things on your menu, and you won’t have to struggle with making so many in the kitchen. Instead, you can utilize that time to arrange for other activities like games and outdoor movie screenings.

Find music and pick out decorations

There’s no party without music. Music sets the tone of the celebration and makes everyone feel at ease. It’s not necessary to play it constantly, but it would be nice to be able to welcome guests as they arrive. When you make the playlist, incorporate artists from multiple genres and time periods. If you don’t have your very own collection of holiday CDs, don’t worry because you can download nice music from the Internet. However, if you can’t afford to download tunes from sites like iTunes, try streaming music.

To make your home look beautiful and welcoming, use different kinds of decorative items. If you have enough space for displaying arrangements, use small accents to fill in the empty spots. Deck your home with oversized snowflakes and tall candlesticks. Most importantly, use special wrapping.

The Christmas tree is at the centre of the show. If you don’t want a hole in your wallet, invest in Christmas tree ribbon. Get your child involved in the decorating process. Document the entire thing from start to finish if you want long-lasting memories. A traditional Christmas tree is an essential seasonal decoration. Let your kid be the one to insert the star in the Christmas tree.

Everyone loves a good game

Games are perfect for youngsters because they can have a great deal of fun. Party games will break the ice and provide children with new tricks. Keep in mind that this holiday is designed especially for kids. Here is an idea: challenge the youngsters to throw jingle bells into vividly coloured cups. There are no official rules, which makes this game even more appealing. The game gets better as you try different methods for throwing the balls.

If you have a bunch of little children roaming around the house, having nothing to do at all, make sure you engage them in games like musical chairs, dancing, singing competitions, or even poem recitations. Such activities will not only light up your Christmas party but will also give you a chance to youngsters to enjoy their hearts out and adults to engage with them in cheerful moments.

You could just have the kids decorate cookies. Cookies are a fantastic option because kids can mix them up together and enjoy the treats in less than an hour. Just so you know, all you need for fun is a few gifts of various sizes. Get a stack of wrapped gifts and divide the children into two groups. See how many kids can stack presents before the pile overbalances and falls. Attention needs to be paid to the fact that not all games have to be Christmas related. Ask your kid what they would like to play and make a list together.

Open a hot cocoa bar

There’s not a kid in the world that doesn’t love to drink hot cocoa. It’s super tasty and it warms you up. If you want the kids’ Christmas party to be a hit, have a hot cocoa bar. All you have to do is to use a little cocoa powder and warm milk. Put all the ingredients in a bowl and stir. Store the mixture in an airtight canister or, better yet, a zip log bag.

Plan a Night of Outdoor Cinema

If your home has a backyard or garden that is completely unoccupied, you are lucky. Utilize it by planning a movie night with all of your pals. Set up the projector and lighting fixtures. Before allowing the visitors in, make sure that everything is operational. Choose a Christmas genre movie to light up your fellows! You can also bring in some furniture to let them settle down. That’s it! There you go with an inviting setup with shimmering lighting and an outdoor theater. 

Arrange a Costume Show

A catwalk can help you catch all the characters at your Christmas party if you’ve chosen a Halloween or character show theme. The highlight of your Christmas celebration will be all the fellows wearing eye-catching and dashing outfits. Everyone will be decked out in fantastic attire. Your celebration will also be filled with gorgeous costumes for guests to peruse. So, start by selecting a theme and have a wonderful costume party!

Plan a Bonfire 

For you, a memorable experience would be a bunch of pals rocking on your favorite song over a campfire by the pool. So, once you’ve finished all the other things to do such as dinner and movie watching, just relax by the fire and spend the evening with your loved ones! Start jamming around the pool, have some snacks, and talk about your beautiful memories with all your heart.

Celebrate your Christmas Party!

The above mentioned ideas are more than enough to arrange a wonderful party with all your fellow mates and their kids.

You can be festive and the best thing is that you don’t have to dig deep into your pockets. So, start preparing!

Cheers to a memorable celebration!