• Throwing a party for kids involves more than just cake and presents. Whether you are hosting a backyard birthday party or a game-filled celebration, a few simple planning tips and tricks can make for an entertaining and memorable event. Draw inspiration from the interests of the kids and create an experience that starts with the invitations you send out.
  
  

Theme Party

• When your birthday boy or girl has a favorite movie, book, video game or band, use this passion in your party planning. For example, if your child loves "Harry Potter," transform your house into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, complete with flavored jelly beans, magic wands and a backward version of Quidditch. If your child loves the Jonas Brothers, have the band's music playing around the house and have the kids participate in trivia contests about the brothers. You can even have the guests become their own band and sing karaoke.
  
  

Movie Party

• Put together a movie party. Send out invitations that tell your guests that they are invited to a special screening of a movie in honor of the birthday boy or girl. List the movie on the invitation so parents can decide if it will be appropriate for their child. Hang black fabric over any windows and place glow-in-the-dark stars on the walls. Set up seating in rows facing the television. Send each child into the theater with a bag of popcorn, and finish off the movie with cake.
  
  

Pool Party

• If you are throwing the party during the warmer months, consider having a pool party. Decorate your back yard like Hawaii, with hula skirts and palm trees. If you do not have a pool, set up sprinklers and fill tubs with water balloons. Play diving games in the pool and water balloon tosses in the yard. Barbecue burgers and hot dogs for the kids to munch on as they enjoy the outdoor party.
  
  

Magic Party

• Send your party guests home as magicians with a magic party. Hire a magician or learn some magic tricks yourself to teach to the kids. Give each kid a top hat or ask each child to bring a hat to the party to become a magic hat. Teach the kids tricks using cards and scarves, which can be purchased inexpensively. Add magical touches to the house such as trick candles on the cake and sequined-covered fabric on the walls.
  
  

Dance Party

• Turn your basement or playroom into a dance hall for your young party guests. Create a music playlist of popular kids songs. Hang a disco ball where the kids will be dancing. Attach colored CDs to walls with sticky tack for decorations that also reflect the lights from the disco ball. Replace your standard lights with colored light bulbs to transport the kids into a world of dancing. Encourage your party guests to wear dresses or funky clothes to get them into the spirit of the celebration.