Behenji agar hona hai bachho ki duniya mein mix, toh you’ve got to remix - Through a TV commercial to my ears; these lines hit my brain and forced me to think that things were so different in our times. Birthday parties were a way of celebrating joy with sheer ecstasy. Family and friends all gathered at one place, laughed, giggled, sung songs… had ‘Samosas’, cold drinks and a cute cake. The social affair had simplicity yet fun par excellence.

Can you imagine such a simple affair with your kids today? Do you think they will be satisfied with just ‘Samosas’, cold drinks and a slice of cake on a paper plate? And moreover today, family and friends don't go together. Children throw different parties for each of them. A kid's birthday bash with a simple theme just isn't enough as parties for children are getting more elaborate. It goes without saying that arranging a party become such a difficult task! Parents often become overwhelmed with the detailing of a “perfect party".

Birthday parties are like road trips: getting there is half the fun. Deciding on the theme, decorations, and activities makes the days leading up to the event seem like part of the celebration itself. It needn't be elaborate - kids will be happy with a small party as long as they are made to feel special. Even a simple party requires planning. Sooner you start organizing, earlier the excitement begins and the fewer details you'll have to work out on the day itself.

Birthday child is likely to have ideas about the kind of party he wants, so involve her/him in the planning. Let your child pick the theme, help you with shopping and decorating, and take part in baking the cake. Doing so helps spread out the anticipation; that way the focus isn't on a couple of hours of a single day. Although it might be more efficient to do it all yourself but there's immense pleasure in working with your child toward an important goal. Plus, she/he'll have the reward of enjoying with her/his friends, the magical day she/he helped plan.

Getting ready for a birthday party can unnerve even a normally well-organized parent. A surprising number of details need to be planned. Here are some tips that will smooth the way to your child's special day. Birthday parties are a great boost to any child's self-esteem. Making them feel like ‘King’ (o ‘’Queen’) for the day is one of the best (and most lasting) gifts you can give them. But where and how should you start? Here's how…

1. Decide the Theme: Starting with a theme makes one comfortable to organize invitations, decorations, games, crafts and food. Depending on the age and interest of the child, you may select theme of: Alphabets, Animals, Aquarium, Circus, Magic, Automobiles, Fairytale, Country-Based, Sports, Movie/Cartoon-Based, Superhero, Science, Storybook-based or Celebrity etc.

2. Prepare Guest Lists and Invitations: Consult the child while preparing guest list. The invites may be purchased or made at home. Invites should set the mood for the event. Older kids enjoy making invitations as per selected theme. Don't forget to add specific information like “Special Dress Code”, or “Parents Must Accompany Kids”, apart from the time, date and directions to the venue.

3. Determine the Place & Decorations: If you decide your home isn't suitable for party, there are several options that come with obvious advantages including being able to come back to a clean home after the children have been picked up. You may reserve space in a community recreation center, local park or kid-friendly restaurants etc.

4. Plan ahead: Plan, plan, plan and then plan some more! Plan what food the kids are going to eat, what games they'll play, what music you'll play and what to give to each child when they leave

5. Organize Entertainment & Help: Outside entertainment like having a clown, magician, music band, karaoke, DJ, musical chairs, games etc can be useful. Take help from a relative, neighbour, babysitter or friends – who can assist with activities as well as in serving and cleaning up. You must also spare some time to entertain the young guests and their parents.

6 . Keep the Food Simple: For most kids, ‘Cake’ is the focal point of the whole birthday ritual. Make a kid-friendly menu, pizza or heart shaped sandwitches do well for kids.

7. Keep track of gifts: Do not feel obliged to send goody bags full of expensive toys. Some stickers, craft with a ‘Thank you’ note will do well.

8 . Kids' parties are more fun than parties of the grown-ups. You don't have to be so serious and you can let your inner child out as well. Keep in mind, that the hardest thing to plan for any birthday party is the unexpected. To keep the chaos at bay, you must:

Be prepared to tackle meltdowns. Take a distraught child aside while the rest of the group continues celebrating. Stock band-aids, ice and tissue. Be sure you know about any food allergies or relevant medical conditions. If you have pets, it's best to keep them separate from the guests. Some kids are allergic to pet and also sometimes pets also get uncomfortable by seeing lot of people around them.

9. It's a good idea to let guest of honor help plan the festivities.

IMPORTANT: Be Remember, it is your child's party, not yours. Please ensure you invite the right number of guests. Old rule of thumb is that the number of guests should equal the age of the child.

Unoccupied children can be destructive and noise makers. It is also difficult to organize younger children. Therefore, it is best to keep them in small number. Ensure you keep them all busy and channel their boundless energy into appropriate activities.

If you want to reciprocate people who invited your child to their party, you may consider setting up separate play/fun get-togethers. Most importantly, ensure that planning and executing your child's birthday party is a fun and memorable experience. Enjoy this big milestone in your child's life. Time goes by fast - before you know it, they'll be planning their own birthday parties!