This is a sponsored post on behalf of Responsival. All thoughts are my own.

I'm a mom of three kids who are all five years apart in age. I've been a mom for fourteen years, and over the years, I have thrown quite a few birthday parties for my kids. From family-only parties to themed, and even class parties, I've planned, prepped for, and pulled off tons of successful parties for my little loves. Party planning might seem stressful, but there are lots of ways to keep it small, simple, and well managed to ensure everyone has a wonderful time. Check out my best party-planning tips for children's birthday parties!

One of the best things you can do is to involve your child in the party planning. Ask them to help with the party theme. My kids have asked for themes such as TMNT, Cat in the Hat, Fancy Nancy, FROZEN, Beyblades, just to name a few. Once the theme is established, go from there to plan the party details.

Pick a date that works well for everyone. If it's a family-only party, it might be a good idea to plan the party around a holiday (think long weekends), where you know folks might be off from work. Check with family members you want to attend well in advance, and issue a save the date so they will hold the date open on their calendar. If planning a class or friends party, just choose the date that will work best for your schedule. It's better to choose a date that is not close to a school break or holiday, as many families travel over breaks.

Once you've established the date, start planning! You'll want to choose the decorations, games, food, and treats for the kids. It mat seem like a thing of the past to offer party favors for kids, but in my experience, the kids all want something to take home, be it a favor or some kind of art project that they can make at the party. I usually try to have both- an activity, and a treat for the kids to take home.

For decorations, you can go all out, or keep things very simple. I love themed parties that incorporate balloon arches, photo booths, dress up, and all sorts of custom signs. Etsy is a fantastic place to search for party decor if you don't have time to make your own. If you're feeling crafty, Pinterest is a DIYer's dream come true for party ideas and inspiration. You can also shop in store or online for themed decor at places like Party City.

Themed food can be a lot of fun for parties! When we hosted a Fancy Nancy party, we offered brunch to our guests, complete with a crepe' bar. For other parties, we've kept food pretty simple by offering trays of chicken nuggets, chips, fruit and veggies, and bottled water and juice boxes. I like parties where the food is simple and very kid-friendly, as we all know how picky kids can be when it comes to food.

Choose a game or activity that's fun for all ages. Whether you do rock painting, paint pumpkins close to Halloween, host a Beyblade tournament, or set up carnival games in your backyard, make sure you have an activity to keep the kids moving during the party. When all else fails, crank up Spotify and play some fun music for them to wiggle to.

Don't forget the cake!

Whether you serve cake or cupcakes, make sure you offer the birthday kiddo the chance to have their family and friends sing Happy Birthday to them. It's the highlight of every birthday party! Allowing your child to choose their cake theme and flavors will make them feel extra special. Forgo nuts and red dye to avoid kids or adults being left out of the fun due to allergies. It's always best to ask parents if their kids have any allergies before the party.

What fun birthday party themes would you love to plan a child's party around?