Saftey
If you are to hire a room, ensure it meets safety requirements. Children will run around. 
Remember who the party is really for 
Grand ideas designed to impress other people don’t work. Keep it simple. Children will enjoy playing with balloons and empty boxes. Try not to plan the party you would like or give the biggest ever party but balance somewhere in between.

Costs

Cost will always be relative to earnings, but have a budget. Give the children they party they want (within limits) whilst still maintaining budgets and overall control. 

Invite a family friend to help 
Most people will be thrilled to be asked.

Adults
Try to participate adults within some of the games, especially where a large number of adults are present. This will help keep background conversations to a minimum and not divert attention away from the party.
Food 
Follow the eating with a sit down entertainment such as a magic show or craft. (i.e. not running around). 

Sweets 
Hand out all the sweets at the end of the party. It’s easier to control 30 children who are not pumped high on e-numbers. 
Party Numbers 
If it’s your first attempt at running a party, keep the numbers to a minimum - below 20.
Time 
2 hours is adequate 
Time of party food
Plan the party food to be served near a time when children would normally eat. Take this into consideration when initially deciding the start time to the party. 
Games 
Plan a number of individual and team games throughout the party, however make the final game reveal a prize to share with every child. We conclude with pinata. Children take it in turns to break the party centre-piece. Once broken the floor is showered with prizes to share and everyone goes home a winner. 
Dressing up 
If you have organsied a pirate or a wild west party at your home, a number of the invited may arrive dressed the part. You may then have concerns about children swinging their plastic swords at your newly decorated room or firing guns at your best china-wear. Have an empty box ready to store all armory during the party. 
Ages 
Having a party with mixed ages works really well. Just add an extra hurdle in some of the games for the older children. For our pirate party we play a simple find and collect the hidden treasure. We stagger the start time on this game so the youngest children begin collecting first and oldest last.
Distractions 
Clear away items that will distract children from the main party. A nearby football may interest a child away from the main party game. When one person starts others will then follow this distraction. You can organise too much entertainment! 
Start the party
Start the party with a quick game, to allow for late-comers
5-10 minutes into the party when all your guests have arrived. Sit them in a circle, explain your planned party and any “no-zone areas”.
Tidy up Time 
Parties always take 3 times longer than you expected to tidy up. If you are hiring as hall, Allow time.
Party bags
To prevent party-bags shortages, errors and mix-ups, add a gift tag or sticker onto the party bag with the name of the child the party bag is intended for. 
Party Numbers
Party Numbers will change. Expect the following… (1) to see children who have not replied to an invitation (2) late cancellations (3) for people to reply to invitations an hour before the party.

Games
To keep the party moving, plan to keep the length of each party game under 15 minutes.