How to throw a children’s party: tips from Hong Kong events professionals

Long gone are the days when a few balloons, a game of pin the tail on the donkey and a cake are enough to celebrate a child’s birthday party.Organising parties for youngsters can be a minefield, with some families opting for elaborate themes and fancy finger food. And then there’s the delicate matter of the guest list.

Whether you keep it to the few friends a child plays with on a regular basis, or take the populist route and invite an entire class of hyperactive seven-year-olds is a matter that is guided by the choice of budget, venue and activities.

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An outdoor venue is likely to accommodate more children than a typical apartment in Hong Kong, and more adventurous gatherings such as a pool party or rock climbing will require more adult supervision, says Kaye Dong, co-founder of specialist stationery and party design company Poppy’s Trunk.

“Parents should also consider the preference [of the child whose celebration it is]. Some children already have very clear ideas of how they would like to celebrate, some might just want to invite close friends or be gender specific,” Dong says. “The ultimate aim is to ensure that both host and guests have an enjoyable time. Parents should not feel pressured to invite more guests than they feel comfortable handling.”

Hosting children’s parties can sometimes put a wobble in the step of even the most sure-footed of parents, but a few ground rules can avert sticky situations long before the icing is set on the cake.

“When there are plenty of parties going on every year it’s the parties with the unique designs and experiences that stand out. We believe it is all about using creativity to produce perfect parties at any scale and complexity,” says Lauren Roberts, director at Sweet Soirees Private Parties.