An event that requires a lot of planning and organizing is a party, especially when it is take place in your home. More the number of people you will be inviting, greater will be the list of the things to do. Hence, using a party planning checklist will keep you stress free and help you organize everything effectively. Who says you cannot enjoy at your own party? With a few tips, you can make your house party remembered by all.

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The most important thing to remember before having a party is to select a date and time for the event. It is wise to select a date on which most people can attend, like weekends so your party will be a hit. And see to that the sufficient time should be allotted for it so everybody has fun before they leave. Another crucial element of a party is the food. Estimate the amount of food each person would eat and multiply it with the number of people who have accepted your invitation. Order or make food for at least 10 more people than expected so there wouldn’t be a shortage. Select a good menu which will be liked by many and do not forget to include some greens for the vegetarians.

Make a guest list so that all your friends and colleagues are invited. Set an RSVP date so you’d know how many have accepted your invitation. Estimate and hire tables and chairs for the event. Never forget to include sources of entertainment for your party guests. Everybody will be happy to sit awhile and chat, but not for long. Kids and teens will become impatient, so use music, games, movies or speeches to keep the crowd entertained.

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Organize the hosting duties by listing who should do what during the event. If you have kids at home, letting them take care of greeting and hanging coats will keep them busy while you’re taking care of more important things. Handover bartending and serving duties to others or hire helping hands to do these jobs as well as arranging tables and chairs, if your budget permits it.

Clean your house and arrange your furniture so there is enough room for everyone. Listen to the weather forecasts before planning a garden or backyard party- You don’t want the rain to ruin your day! More importantly, keep breakable and valued family heirlooms beyond the reach of children. Follow these and enjoy a lovely house party!

Every parent worries about their child’s safety, more so when the child is outside the house. But is your home safe for your child? Have you taken enough precautions to keep your children protected against silly mishaps that could mayhem in their lives as well as yours? Many accidents are serious, but preventable. Read on, to learn some interesting tips that could be life-savers.

Before your child starts crawling, start child-proofing your home. Check and re-check to make sure you haven’t missed a thing. It starts with moving breakables to higher spaces that are out of the child’s reach. It also includes locking and relocating some articles that could be dangerous.

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Children who have just begun to crawl are really active and we cannot imagine what they would see and get hold of. Not only that, but they are extremely curious to touch and taste every thing they see, so first of all, all the poisonous stuff like cleaning fluids, insect repellents and detergents must be removed from lower storage places. These lower cabinets must have child-resistant locks on them so they are child-safe. Phone and other electrical cords should be tied together and put out of reach. Some personal and household items like make-up, spices and toothpaste could cause problems too. These must also be bundled up. Moreover, installing toilet lids and doing away with table cloths are good measures to keep trouble around your child as far away as possible.

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Remove houseplants that are toxic to children. Installing gates at the top and bottom of staircases is a good forethought too. Small spaces that might not cross our minds like edges of tables, electrical sockets must have covers. To do away with things that no matter how hard you try, your child finds, put them in a room and lock it securely. Water is another major cause of accidents in children, so keep the water spillage to a minimum and immediately clean up. No bucket or tub is to be filled with water and kept near a child as it would take only a couple of inches of water to drown a baby.

Even after all these precautions, the children might try and injure themselves, so keep contacts of your doctor, hospital or ambulance, allergies and other specifications near the phone and a first aid kit handy. Most importantly- stay alert and monitor your child’s activities all the time.