Kiddie Parties a big deal

   Used to be hotdogs, Kool-Aid and a game of pen the tail on the donkey guaranteed a great birthday party. Now parents are expected to shell out hundreds of dollars for theme parties.

   Be it in or out of the home, a child's birthday party is no piece of cake. Here are 10 tips for making that party perfect.

1. Send the invitations at least a month in advance to give parents plenty of time to plan. Early planning also means you save the date before another party nabs it.

2. Gently but firmly insist parents RSVP as soon as possible. The only thing worse than coming up short a loot bag or two is ending up with a half-dozen cheap Scooby Doo yo-yos.

3. To cut costs and stress, limit the guest list. Many party planners, including Martha Stewart, recommend inviting as many children as your child's age( as in four friends for your four-year-old's birthday), but the trend now is toward large parties. Groups of 20 or more -- the child's entire class -- are not uncommon.

4. If your birthday party will be held at a location other than your home, include a clear map of the location and allow 15 minutes before beginning activities to give parents time to find the place and park.

5. If you prefer having your party at home, keep the group small to avoid too much mess or lack of seating at the table.

6. For large groups and for small children, make up a master list at the door with the children's names and request a telephone number in case of emergencies.

7. Keep parties to two hours.

8. As for presents, be sure to note the name of the gift giver, which will facilitate the obligatory writing of the thank-you note to the parents, a welcome trend on the scene.

9. Keep the menu simple. The year 1 made deluxe homemade mac and cheese, half the dish went untouched. Mini hamburgers and hotdogs work will, as does the ubiquitous pizza. Fruit brochettes are another good idea. To avoid meal service, stick to healthy snacks and cake and plan your party sometime between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. As for table settings, don't waste precious dollars on matching themed napkins, cups and plates. A Spiderman plate can be paired with a plain red cup and napkin. Or keep all that plain and opt for a cheap table runner that matches the party theme.

10. Remember the balloons. At the last birthday party I did, a five-year-old chastised me, saying, "It's not a birthday party without balloons!"