A pizza birthday party

The theme of the party provides the food, so here are some tips and ideas to help with the initial planning:

• For simplicity, use pre-made pizza bases (available at most supermarkets). Buy the smallest size so that each child can create his or her own masterpiece.
• Offer numerous toppings, from pepperoni to pineapple, to encourage creative pizza making, but provide one standard tomato sauce that everyone must use.
• Eat outside and use disposable plates. Your house may end up very messy if you aren't careful.
• Leftovers go home with the guests. Trust me, you won't want them.

Gifts
Primary school children enjoy building and creating. Activities that incorporate strength or newfound skills are particularly intriguing for this age group. Here are some great ideas for your birthday child:

• Fort/house: as children develop social skills, friends become very important. Build a fort/house and your child can have both his or her privacy and a safe place to interact with friends.
• Hobbies and collections: older children often become interested in hobbies. From stamps to butterflies, collecting is a wonderful pastime. Also, gifts that encourage a child's interest in building, such as doll's house or model ship kits, are great ideas.
• Books on secret codes: children of this age often love making up secret codes or learning languages that aren't understood by most adults. Buy a book on code making, or give a sign language dictionary.