Outsource the entertainment, and 7 other genius kids' birthday party hacks you wish you tried sooner.

My son just turned two, so naturally, our house was filled with energetic toddlers and their tired parents on Sunday.

And, I'm still discovering fairy bread sprinkles hidden behind my couch cushions.

It was a delightful and chaotic experience (aside from the couch sprinkles), and I would do it all over again without hesitation. However, as a kids' parties novice – I knew there was a whole world of time(and sanity) saving hacks that I had yet to explore.

Some of these hacks I learned the hard way, such as keep the birthday cake hidden until it's time to sing. One mischievous little party-goer used her mother's purse as a step to reach for cupcakes perched on the counter...

So, put on your favourite musical chairs playlist and grab your party-planning notepad because these hacks have me eagerly awaiting the next opportunity to try them out, even if it means waiting a full year.

1. Outsource… everything. 

My son is a winter baby. 

This meant that having a pool party was never really an option for him. 

Instead, I decided for next year, to book my favourite indoor play venue, Bounce. Between working and looking after my toddler, I'm often scrambling at the last minute to organise anything... let alone a birthday party. That's why next time, I'm definitely outsourcing to have a hosted party instead, because it allows me to do the bare minimum yet still have an epic party I know my son will love. 

If you've never set foot inside one of their vibrant and bouncy joy factories – Bounce is a freestyle playground that embodies every child's fantasy. They are known for their inclusive and customised party packages for all ages, starting from two-years-old. They've got three different options to cater to various ages and skill levels: junior parties, classic parties, and freestyle parties. With locations all across Australia, including the highly anticipated opening of their Homebush Bounce, it's likely there is one near you. 

Now that I'm a parent, I can truly appreciate the brilliance of approaching a third party to host your kids' party for you. You don't have to worry about cleaning up afterward, dealing with stragglers, coming up with games, being concerned about the weather, or having your carpet dirtied by muddy shoes.

It's a winning situation all around.

2. Pick a theme.

This might sound simple, but choosing a theme provides a framework to work with, helping you narrow down your options and channel your creativity towards a specific focus. Personally, I believe in making it clear that dressing according to the theme is entirely optional. This way, you're not burdening busy parents with the task of buying new clothes that their kids will never wear again. 

Since our son was turning two, his favourite things seemed to change almost daily. We had an overwhelming list of options to choose from. However, once we realised that he would eagerly point out every basketball hoop in the area and loved shooting his little basketball into our backyard mini hoop, we decided on a basketball theme. We casually wore jerseys over our regular clothes, placed mini basketball hoops around, and made the food basketball themed – it was a slam dunk.

3. Don't break the bank.  

Okay, I'll be honest here and admit that for my son's birthday, I used packet-mix cupcakes and ready-made frosting, bought a cake from the grocery store, and ordered some affordable yet adorable basketball cake toppers online.

To my surprise, people absolutely loved the cakes. Almost everyone complimented my cheap packet-mix cupcakes and the heavily discounted grocery store chocolate ganache cake.

Did I confess? No, I did not. And you don't have to either. 

4. Make catering part of the entertainment.

Why not combine an activity with the snacks and make it part of the fun? Consider options like cupcake decorating, a make-your-own mini pizza station, or a build-a-taco bar.

5. Make your décor work overtime.

My toddler has a garden playset that includes a big red wheelbarrow. We got creative and used it as part of the décor by filling it with ice and drinks. This idea can also work with blow-up kiddie pools, old sandpit shells, or play kitchen sinks.

Another fantastic hack is to create an easy photobooth. Simply string up a cheap and cheerful streamer banner, hang a happy birthday sign, and set up a table with stick-on mustaches, funny glasses, and silly hats. It's a fun and simple way to add some excitement to your party.

6. Get creative with DIY activities.

Create a treasure hunt in the sandpit or at the beach, hide small toys that fit the theme of your party, such as toy dinosaurs for a dino-party, basketball keyrings for a basketball theme, or precious gems for a princess party.

Set up a painting station. Purchase small canvases, paints, and brushes from the local cheap shop and hang them at kids height on the fence. Alternatively, invest in mini easels and set up a complete art class at a table.

Arrange a mask decorating station and then organise a parade where kids can showcase their masks and compete for prizes based on the funniest designs.

7. Order everything online months ahead.

I am a classic dreamer when it comes to organising events. I tend to put off thinking about it for months and then suddenly come up with brilliant ideas the week before the event. The problem is, by that time, it's often too late to execute most of my dazzling ideas on a budget. The key here is being organised, which may sound lame, but it's true. If you order everything you need online months in advance, you won't have to worry about long shipping times, and you can find exactly what you want at the best price.

And lastly, here's an important tip...

8. Time the party outside of mealtimes.

If you don’t want to be at the centre of a squad of hungry toddlers or teens – you might want to think about the timing of your event. Take the pressure off the catering budget by running a mid-morning meet up, or an afternoon affair and just provide nibbles and drinks. 

Book a kids' party at Bounce, the ultimate destination for fun and inclusive parties for kids of all ages.

Feature Image: Supplied.