Theme Parties

• Instead of creating a party off of the top of your head, decide upon a theme for your child. This creates less hassle and worry when it comes to deciding what type of cake to order, what decorations she'd like the best and what kind of party favors you need to purchase. Always ask the birthday girl what theme she would prefer. Choosing a theme she's not happy with could turn an otherwise easily amused child into a birthday party nightmare filled with tears and tantrums. If her idea of a theme party is inappropriate for her age group, suggest ideas for her. Suggestions include a baking party (children mix up cookies and the birthday cake; you bake the goodies, then allow children to decorate with icing -- leaving the cake for the birthday girl to decorate), knight and princess parties (when both boys and girls are attending) or an art party where kids engage in arts and crafts.
  
  

Game Time

• Because the attention span of a 6-year-old child is rather short, choosing games that will keep their attention is necessary to at least try to guarantee a melt-down free time. Games need to be engaging and relatively short -- never lasting for more than 15 minutes per game. Choose games that the children haven't played before to keep their attention. Also, many 6-year-old kids may feel stressed out or worried about games that put them out of their comfort zone, such as "Charades." Games that require kids to wait in line for their chance to play could lead to unfortunate events. Keep all children involved at all times.
  
  

Be Wary of Sleepovers

• No matter what age, sleepovers are difficult parties to host. However, for 6-year-old kids, that normal stress level is multiplied as they become antsy, uncomfortable or just plain bored. It's not unusual for one child to request that her parent's pick her up immediately or to have a group of 6-year-old girls unable to sit still long enough for you to clean up the party mess. If, despite this, you host a 6-year-old sleepover, keep in touch with the guests' parents and state your expectations about sleep time clearly.
  
  

Party Favors

• Although not completely necessary, party favors are thrilling for guests because they have a "souvenir" to bring home to remember the party after it has ended. During a traditional birthday party, goody bags are generally filled with candy, stickers, party horns and other nifty little items for kids to take home. However, for 6-year-old kids, candy and stickers are probably the last thing their parent's want them to come home with. Instead, opt for crowns, tiaras, small age-appropriate books, whistles, crazy-straws and other cute trinkets.