The Stress-Free Kids Party Checklist (From Someone Who's Done Hundreds)

I've entertained at more kids parties across Dublin and surroundings than I could count, and I can usually tell within a few minutes of arriving how the next two hours are going to go. Not because of the kids, they're almost always brilliant, but because of how well the party has been set up before I walk through the door.

The good news is that a smooth, stress-free party isn't about spending more money or doing more work. It's about getting a handful of things right. Here is everything I wish every parent knew before the big day.

Start with what your child actually loves

The single most common mistake I see is parents planning a party around what they think a party should be, rather than around what their child is genuinely into.

Before you book anything, take a little time to figure out what your child loves right now. What music are they playing on repeat? Are they into fairies, superheroes, K-Pop Demon Hunters or a particular artist? Do they love to dance, or would they rather sit and have their face painted, see some magic and play with some animal balloons, or a mix of different activities? When I know these things in advance, I can tailor everything to your child, and that's when a party goes from good to unforgettable. The parties that work best are the ones where the parent could tell me their child's favourite songs and characters ahead of time, so I arrived already knowing exactly how to win the room.

Book earlier than you think, especially in high season

Parents very often leave booking to the last minute, and then they're disappointed when their preferred date or entertainer isn't available.

In Ireland, the busy season runs from late April right through to August. That stretch is packed with communions, christenings, and end-of-school celebrations, all competing for the same weekend slots. If your party falls in that window, or if you have your heart set on a particular entertainer, I'd genuinely encourage you to enquire as early as you can. For a summer party, thinking about it in January or February is not too early. The earlier you book, the more we can plan together, and the better the result.

Be honest about the number of children

This one matters more than most parents realise. There is a big difference between a party for ten children and a party for twenty.

When I prepare for a party, I build the whole running order in my head around the number of kids I've been told to expect. If I'm told ten and twenty turn up, I suddenly have to compress everything to fit everyone in, which means less time for each activity and simpler face painting for each child. Give your entertainer an honest, accurate headcount. If anything it's better to slightly over-estimate, because then we can plan the right amount of time and adjust the package to suit the group.

Understand that face painting takes time

Face painting is one of the most popular things I do, but it's also the most time-consuming, and it's the thing parents underestimate most often.

Each child is painted one at a time. With a big group and a short booking, that means quick, simple designs to make sure nobody misses out. With a smaller group or a longer party, I can do something far more detailed and special. If beautiful face painting is a priority for you, the answer is simple: book a little more time, or keep the group size sensible. And if a party is short with lots of children, sometimes the best decision is to leave face painting out and focus on high-energy entertainment instead.

Time the food right (this is a big one)

If there's one piece of timing advice I give again and again, it's this: serve food before the entertainment starts or after it finishes, never in the middle.

The moment food appears mid-party, the children scatter. They sit down to eat, the energy drops, and it's very hard to pull everyone back into the fun afterwards. If there's face painting at the start, a little food during that part can work, because the children are coming up one at a time anyway. But as a rule, keep the entertainment as one unbroken block of fun, and build the food around it.

Have the space ready before I arrive

I always aim to arrive early to set up, but I can only do that if the space is ready for me.

A genuinely well-prepared party, the kind that makes me smile when I walk in, looks like this: a clear area with enough room for the number of children, nothing underfoot like toys scattered across the floor, and a designated spot for the entertainment. If there's face painting, I'll need a small table and chair and a cup of water for my brushes. For music and disco lights, I'll need access to a plug socket. None of it is complicated, but having it ready means we start on time and use every minute well.

Sort out parking in advance

This is the unglamorous tip nobody thinks to mention, and it has delayed more parties than almost anything else.

I arrive with equipment to carry in, so if there's nowhere to park nearby, I end up dropping everything off, going to find a space, and walking back, which might take longer than expected and delay the start time. If you can let me know the parking situation in advance, and ideally keep a space free near the door, it makes a real difference to getting started promptly. A quick note about parking when you book is one of the most helpful things a parent can do.

A quick note on power

Most of my equipment, like speakers and microphones, runs on battery, so I can absolutely run a party without a power socket, in a park or a garden, for example. But my disco lights do need power. So if your party is somewhere without easy access to a socket, just tell me in advance. That way I make sure everything is fully charged and we plan around it. Surprises on the day are the only real problem; anything I know about beforehand, I can work with.

The simplest version of all this

If you take nothing else from this, remember these few things: know what your child loves, book early, give an honest headcount, keep food out of the middle, have a clear space ready, and tell me about parking and power in advance.

Get those right and the rest takes care of itself. My job is to bring the fun. Yours is just to set the stage, and it's a lot less work than you might think.