Food, fun, and entertainment – kids love a good party. But anytime a group of youngsters gather in one place, accidents are bound to happen. And it’s the responsibility of the party hostess to do everything possible to minimize hazards during a birthday celebration.
Children’s Birthday Party Food Safety
Food allergies in children are on the rise – the most common are milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and soy. Some of these ingredients are common in party foods such as pizza, birthday cake, buns, and trail mix. So talk to the parents of the kids attending the party to make sure none of their children have food allergies. If there are kids with allergies on the guest list, make arrangements to provide safe food alternatives for them.
Hot dogs, popcorn, and hard candy should never be served to kids under the age of four at a birthday party. Don’t overcook meats such as beef and chicken as they can be difficult for youngsters to chew. And foods that can slide easily down the throat such as grapes, canned peaches, and nuts should be broken or cut or into small pieces. Also, store food at the appropriate temperatures, and practice proper hand-washing during food preparation and service.
Safe Birthday Party Entertainment for kids
Most companies that provide entertainment for kids' parties require criminal background check on all of their employees. To minimize the risk of hiring a dangerous clown or magician to entertain children during a birthday celebration, use a reputable agency.
Balloons pose serious choking and suffocation hazards to young kids. So store uninflated balloons out of reach of kids and clean up popped balloon pieces immediately. Any materials used in goodie-bags and birthday party games should be age-appropriate. Also, avoid birthday party games that require the use of plastic, and sharp objects such as darts or tacks.
Kids’ Birthday Party Location Safety
If kids will be spending time outdoors, remove outdoor dangers such as glass, yard tools, ladders, loose debris, standing water, ant beds, beehives, poison plants, and animal feces. Kids will wander off without warning, so if the birthday party is going to be hosted in an open location such as a public park, request that the parents accompany their kids for safety purposes. And if the party will be indoors, do an inspection of the area, and lock up all chemicals, and put away any other hazards that might pose a safety risk to youngsters.
Choosing safe entertainment, securing a hazard free party location, and preparing food properly can keep kids’ birthday party celebrations fun for all the children who attend.
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