The Northwest Times

CHILDREN'S PARTIES
A children's party can be as much fun for the mother as for her child
A few suggestions may increase the pleasure.
Neither elaborate preparations or expansive food are appreciated. Well planned activities, simple easily served food, easy to eat, and a small memento to take home are all that is necessary.
Most children enjoy coming without their mothers for they feel more important. Mothers complicate situations because the hostess always tends to unconsciously plan for them rather than the little guests.
Furthermore, they often interfere and tend to dominate their own children.
One extra mother is enough. She may be needed to avert accidents when the hostess goes to the kitchen or tends to some child's need.
The hours should be wisely chosen and indicated on the invitation.
Little children who take naps had better be invited from 12:30 to 2:00, and have lunch dessert. For older children, 2 to 4 in the afternoon may be better.
The refreshments are best that require no dishes or linen. Ice cream cones or ice cream sandwiches, cup cakes with one candle on each, suffice. Possibly small decorated cookies might also appeal
or be served in place of cup cakes.
The children can go to the kitchen cafeteria style and each get his own.
Activities must be carefully chosen. All the young guests must be able to do something they like to do. No one must be left out. No one must be made to sit still for more than one minute.
Marching, rhythmic games, noisy games, activity where all have equal status are best liked. Nothing is worse than feeling inadequate at a party.
It is well to put away bric-a-brac, unstable lamps in a closet. It is well, in fact, not to expect tea etiquette of four year olds without their mothers.