What constitutes a successful children's party? You want to create an occasion that's full of fun without overwhelming your pint-sized guests, and that's mess- and stress-free for you.

Start by devising a party concept - who, when, where and what? You may want to take 20 girls to a fairy party at a dedicated fairy store, a show, or a teddy bear's picnic in a park. You might be taking a dozen 10-year-olds to a theme park, swimming complex or go-kart track, or hosting a sports, animals or magic themed party at home.

When you have your concept, you can start sourcing the most suitable venue, entertainers, equipment, activities, food and decorations. Get moving! All of this takes time, and the earlier you book things in, the less chance you'll miss out on your preferred entertainers or suppliers.

Themes & decorations
Party supply stores and "fairy" stores are great sources of decor for children's parties, themed or otherwise. Dedicated party stores carry a gigantic range of stock in myriad hues, themes and designs. Some of the stores are so huge that aisles are marked by letters of the alphabet, but most have experienced staff to point out suitable items for a particular age group, theme or occasion.

Here, you can get everything from banners, streamers and balloons in all sorts of shapes and designs, to party lights, tablecloths and decorations, novelty items, paper goods, masks, hats, place tags, goodie bags, invitations and stationery.

Fairy stores carry all manner of decorative items, costumes and accessories, party goods and favours relating to fairies and fairy stories - wands, wings and full fairy regalia, as well as fairy fabric, glitter, stars, string lights, invitations and stationery, plates, cups, lights and balloons and all sorts of fairy themed gift items.

Sourcing entertainers, services & supplies
There are hundreds of ways to keep kids amused at a party, picnic or outing. Check the net for children's performers' websites, and the classified section of children's resource magazines and directories for more names and contact details. Narrow down the list using friends' and school or kindergarten's recommendations.

Games & activities
Don't limit yourself to pass the parcel and an egg and spoon race at your next child's party. Make the games and activities exciting, fun and different from the norm, using the services of enterprising kids' games and activities providers as well as hired equipment and your own ingenuity.

This chapter continues in Party Magazine