• Parties are not a time to introduce new foods. You want to stick to the standbys--tacos, sandwiches, pizza--that everybody already likes.
  
• You can jazz up the old standbys, though. Use a cookie cutter to cut sandwiches into star shapes for, say, a sleepover, or cut tuna fish sandwiches into fish shapes for a pirate or mermaid party.
  
• For added fun, set up a do-it-yourself buffet.
  
• It's really fun for kids to cook, so consider setting up a food bar, like a taco bar, where they get to make their own, or let the kids customize their own homemade pizzas.
  
• There are five foods that are the main choking dangers for kids: hot dogs, peanuts, grapes, fruit chunks and popcorn.
  
• To keep kids from crashing on sugar highs, balance sweets with healthy snacks like fruits and vegetable crudité.
  
• Since little kids have little stomachs, keep servings small. If you are serving appetizer-size foods, like crackers with fixings, plan on each kid eating around 12 of them.
  
• Here's a real headache saver--prevent spills by pouring the drinks for the kids after they sit down.
  
• If adults will be attending, you'll be a supreme host if you serve them their own snacks. If you're having a beach party, serve shrimp cocktail for the parents. If you're having a little girl's tea party, be sure that you have grownup tea and maybe some tea sandwiches for the parents as well. It really makes them feel welcome.

Party Cake Tips

• Forget the flavor of the week and stick to kid-friendly vanilla or chocolate.
  
• If you order ahead, most bakeries will create a cake to fit your theme
  
• For a real bonding experience with your child, nothing beats baking a cake together. All you really need is a store-bought mix and a standard-size pan.
  
• Make the cake at least a day in advance, because it's so much easier to cut a cold cake than a freshly baked one.
  
• Always pre-heat your oven at least 12-15 minutes before baking the cake.
  
• For extra-smooth cake bottoms, cut a piece of wax paper to fit the pan before adding the batter. Also grease the paper and the pan sides, then lightly flour.
  
• Bake the cake on the middle rack of the oven so it will bake evenly without burning.
  
• If you're really stuck for time, you can even go to your local bakery and have them bake a round cake. Then add a Twinkie and some frosting for a semi-homemade butterfly cake.

Party Etiquette

Birthday parties are an important opportunity to teach your children social skills that will serve them their whole lives. Make sure you prep your kid on all things mannerly a few days before the big event. Remind them that when kids arrive at the door, they need to stop what they're doing and go to the door and greet the new arrival. If that new arrival is shy, it's your child's job to make the guest feel comfortable and included. When it comes to opening presents, instruct them on how to receive gracefully, thanking the guest when they open the gift and talking a little bit about it. As the party ends, your child should be encouraged to thank people once again and say goodbye.
As for other people's children, if a child misbehaves according to your standards, you can't really discipline him, but you can say, "You know, at our house, we don't use those words." Kids will respond to that. If they continue misbehaving there's not much more you can do about it.