Birthday Parties – Our Top Tips

We all want our children to have a great time at their birthday parties – and hey, at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about – so we’ve put together our top tips on what to look out for when choosing what to go for:

1. What is your child interested in?

It’s their birthday party at the end of the day so there’s no point trying to get them to do something that YOU want them to do. What are they interested in?  What do they like to do?  Focus on that and come up with some options that fit within your budget.

2. It doesn’t have to be what everyone else is doing

Birthday parties are not all about outdoing your pals ;)  They are about making your child feel special on their birthday.  So whether that’s good old fashioned jelly and ice cream, or pulling your wellies on and going for a muddy hike, a birthday party can be anything you want it to be.

3. Ask for help ;)

It’s pretty tricky to run a party on your own so do make sure you have some helping hands.  Lighting the candles on a cake, whilst cleaning up split drinks can be a tricky one, so make sure you have some extra hands ;)

4. Where to have your party

Fancy a party at home – or prefer to take the party out of the house?  There are tons of birthday party providers and entertainers available.  We are pretty spoilt for choice.  From archery, to lasers, cupcake making, teddy bear creating, dance, farms, swimming, the list is endless – so get your fingers ready for lots of googling ;)

5. What to look for

If you are booking a company to provide your party for you, make sure they confirm everything you have agreed in writing.  It’s also a good idea to look at their website to see the kind of thing they do and to ensure it looks professional.  You can also ask to see a copy of the entertainer’s CRB/DBS.  Ask what is included in the package and whether there are any additional add ons available should you choose to have them.  Invitations usually come as part of the initial package.

Check if the company is providing the food and cake (if applicable) – AND whether you need to provide the candles ;)  It’s not quite the same with a lighter stuck in the top of the cake ;)

6. Double check

Most companies will email out nearer the birthday party date to confirm everything again – it’s always worth double checking with the company if you do not hear from them – nobody likes a date or time mix up at a party!

7.  Party party

All that’s left to do now is to grab your camera (or phone), grab a bin liner to put the pressies in and enjoy your party!

Popdance run birthday parties across the globe – from our first birthday parties in St Albans, Hertfordshire, through to parties in Azerbaijan, Greece and Oregon, USA, we love to party across the world ;)

Find out more about our birthday parties HERE

West Ewell

at Epsom & Ewell High School, Ruxley Lane, West Ewell, Surrey, KT19 9JW

Dance classes for all pupils aged 11-18 of not only Epsom & Ewell High School, but also surrounding secondary schools

Mondays – 3.10-4.10pm

FREE to attend – book your FREE place HERE

Why is dance good for mums?

Dance classes for children and teens are easy to come by, and now dance classes for adults are becoming even more popular.

There are many exercise and fitness classes such as Zumba and aerobics and for those who want a specific genre of dance, classes such as ballet, tap and Popdance can now be found.

The birth of shows such as ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and ‘Got To Dance’ mean dancing for mummies has become more popular – and we are strong believers that dance is for everyone and anyone! You don’t have to be the best, dance can just be about enjoyment, listening to music and putting a smile on your face. Not only that, there are many benefits to dance class for adults.

1. Keeping Healthy
Dance is a fun way of exercising and keeping fit without having to go to the gym! Depending on your weight you can burn between 270-300+ calories in just an hour whilst enjoying it! Dancing works all your muscle groups and can improve stamina, core strength, muscle tone, flexibility, coordination, balance and cardiovascular health.

2. Social enjoyment
For many mums it can be hard to meet others and find time for yourself. At a dance class you’ll meet other like minded people and get an hour of me time, where you can switch off and have fun. I started a Popdance class 4 years ago where a group of ladies met for the first time. They all still attend my class and now see each other socially, having made a whole new circle of friends.

3. Confidence building
Dance class is a great way to build confidence and self esteem through learning new skills in a relaxed and friendly environment. In some dance schools there is also the opportunity to perform in annual shows and take dance exams through a syllabus designed specifically for dance.

4. Reducing stress levels
Many of us lead demanding life styles, working and looking after children, everyone needs a bit of time to de-stress and wind down. Attending a dance class gives you an hour to yourself, away from work or family, plus exercise produces endorphin’™s that make us feel good, making dance a brilliant stress buster.

5. Keeping body and brain active
As well as all the physical aspects listed above, dancing also keeps the brain active and healthy. During a dance class you are learning new skills and having to remembering the order of steps, boosting your memory and keeping your brain active.

Lianne Cloot-Holt is Creative Director at Popdance read her blog coming soon to the Popdance website!

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