Children's Party Survival Guide
Teatime
A children's party can strike fear into any parent's heart.
Here are some tips on how to make sure the food meets with their (and the other parents') approval.
A meal of two parts
If you lay the party table with both savoury delights as well as cake and biscuits, don't be surprised if the carrot sticks linger forlornly while the sweet stuff is hoovered up. Serve savoury food first and when this has been enjoyed, replace with the sugary provisions.
If there's time, bake, if not, cheat
Don't beat yourself up about not being able to find time to bake three different types of cake. If you're pushed for time, spend it where you have the greatest culinary strengths and buy the rest in. Great cooking cheats in the know use the ready-made cookie dough available in supermarkets for that homemade look.
Spills and Thrills
Beakers and glasses are just begging to be spilt, so if you'd rather not be wading through rivers of apple juice buy in mini-cartons of juice for the pint-sized partygoers. They're much, although not impossibly so, harder to spill.
A Sight For Small Eyes
Children eat with their eyes as well as their mouths. Make the party table as attractive as you can. If the budget stretches to it, matching paper cups, plates and napkins in the party's 'theme' look good. If not, lots of colourful balloons will gladden the heart of any child.
Sugar and Spice
If it looks as though all that sugar is going to their heads, reserve the birthday cake for their going-home bags. Bring it in, of course, with great ceremony, candles alight etc, but once the candles have been blown, the song sung and the wish made, cut and wrap the cake portions aside and distract the kids with a well-timed game like pass the parcel.
