The easiest way to budget for a party is to decide how much you want to spend per child. If your kids’ party is priced at $15 per child, that puts a limit on venues, party accessories and catering you can have.

Parents now spend an average of $250 on a child’s birthday party held at home. But you can spend less – or much more – depending on the choice of celebration.

Costs can be kept down if you have the space to host the kids party yourself. But some parents would prefer to put their hands in their pockets and let someone else take the strain.

That’s when the services of a children’s party planner come in handy.

Activities can be cheap – face painting, treasure hunts, homemade pinatas; or expensive – professional magicians, clowns, bouncing castles and pony rides, ranging from $50 to $200 an hour.

The thing to remember is that professional kids party suppliers have the experience to let you know what will work within your budget. You can start your search for party themes, decorations and even directories of kids entertainers here. 

If you decide not to have a party at home, you may find it cheaper to take the kids to a venue such as a swimming pool or an ice skating rink. Book ahead and find out if these venues have discounts and facilities for large groups of kids and you could get a unique party experience at a low price.