MAKE THE NEXT BIRTHDAY PARTY EASY ON YOURSELF

That special day is rolling around again – your youngster’s birthday – along with all the planning and anticipation that surround this momentous occasion.

Don’t let preparing for what should be a fun and happy event get you mired in stress and tiresome details.

Here are a few pointers for crafting a memorable day without causing yourself undue headaches.

HEAD OUTDOORS

At-home parties can be a super and economical way to celebrate your child’s special day.

However, planning indoor games and crafts can be a bit time-consuming, and games of Simon Says, musical chairs or follow-the-leader don’t ever take as much time as you may think.

Holding your event at an outdoor playground or beach (think a lot of supervision) gives you a nice big block of easy entertainment.

Keep an eye on everyone, pause for food, cake and present-opening, and before you know it, a successful birthday event is at a happy end.

If your youngster is a sports enthusiast, consider an ice rink, soccer field or swimming pool for the event.

Another fun way to keep guests entertained in nice weather is to have a scavenger hunt, hire a moon walk or set up a back yard obstacle course.

STAGE A SUPER SLEEPOVER

Once your child and his friends are old enough, consider having a sleepover party. But don’t expect to get a lot of sleep.

It may sound a bit wild having a bunch of kids bunking at your house for the whole night …

… but if you stick to a reasonable number, a sleepover is a pretty easy shindig to stage.

Most youngsters are just excited to be spending a whole night giggling and watching movies with their pals …

… so you won’t have to worry about extensive game, craft and activity planning.

Keep the food simple; pizza and cake are always big hits.

You can have a lights-out time, but be prepared for some residual whispering and giggling for a while.

A key component to a successful sleepover is to specify a pick-up time for the next morning.

Whip up some pancakes or just take the easy route with donuts and hot chocolate and then have them packed up and ready for their parents’ arrival.

A sleepover birthday party with a small group of close friends can truly be a treasured memory for your child.

KEEP THE CHOW SIMPLE

Remember, this is a kids’ party, so food doesn’t have to be particularly fancy.

It is, however, fun to tie in the menu with the party’s theme.

A few pizzas are fine for the main course and you can make the food presentation fun by serving it up on colorful dishes.

Older kids can have fun preparing the food, whether it’s building their own tacos or sandwiches …

… going wild with an ice cream sundae bar or decorating their own cupcakes.

Serve finger foods and bite- sized pieces to minimize clean-up afterward.

DON’T HAVE IT AT HOME

Although it may be slightly more expensive to hold the festivities at an alternate venue …

… the savings in time, game planning and food preparation are well worth the extra few dollars.

Not all birthday party venues are created equal and not all are prohibitively expensive.

Consider your youngster’s interests and solicit her input as to where she and her friends would have the most fun …

… and then see where this falls within your budget.

Day camp facilities like Maplewood Day Camp are great because they provide a wide variety of both indoor …

… and outdoor activities from rock climbing to bumper boats and moon walks.

Whatever party route you choose, try to just relax and enjoy this special day with your child.

Let your kids enjoy the birthday party experience at Maplewood Summer Day Camp.

Experienced staff will keep your child both safe and busy with arts and crafts, games, water sports, gymnastics and more.

Visit the site at

MAPLEWOOD COUNTRY DAY CAMP AND ENRICHMENT CENTER 150 Foundry St. (Route 106) PO Box 88 (Mailing) South Easton, MA Telephone: (508) FAX: (508)