DREAM THE:MES Pick a theme that works with you, not against you. Your child may beg for an outlandishly complicated idea from their favourite film, but can be hard to carry it off convincingly. It’s useful to remember that timeless classics never go out of fashion. How about jungles and wild things - or pirates and princesses?
MAKE IT MAGICAL: Parties can be so much more than just pass the parcel. Sight, sound, smell, touch and taste can really captivate children’s imaginations. Try holding a treasure hunt in the sandpit, play the sounds of the sea at a pirate party, or set off magical firework ‘spells’.
FANTASTIC FOOD: Get imaginative with the party food you choose. For example, treat your budding astronauts and space rangers to ‘edible moon rocks’ (rice crispy cakes), ‘comet tails’ (candy floss), ‘flying saucers’ (imaginatively-filled mini-bagels) and, of course, that old favourite - NASA freeze-dried ice-cream (£5.99, forebox.com)
GROWN-UP GAMES: Remember that the parents you invite are guests in their own right and shouldn’t be looked upon as a convenient pool of waiters, maids and peacekeepers. Get them involved in games, provide plenty of adult-appropriate food and include them in the goodie bags
