If your child has a birthday coming up and you are planning on inviting some of his or her friends over for a celebration, you certainly have a lot of things to do. There are invitations to buy and mail out, decorations to put up and a menu to plan for-and that is just the beginning!

The best birthday parties for kids include a lot of exciting and fun activities that captivates the children's attention and makes things run smoothly.Party hats, noisemakers and organized games all make for a good time. Successful birthday parties often have face painters on hand to delight the children, a puppet show or a clown stopping by who creates crazy balloon animals.

One of the best ways to buy great birthday party supplies is to do the shopping online. There are numerous websites today that specialize in party supplies. You can find everything you need to create the perfect party includingbirthday candles, balloons and decorations, pinatas, serving essentials, wall decals as well as favors and toys.

The birthday cake is the highlight of any birthday party. You can make the cake an even bigger hit by purchasing one of the many character-themedbirthday cake toppersthat are sold on these websites. For example, if you child is a big fan of Spider-man, you can easily find a cake topper that is in the shape and form of the action hero himself. Imagine the delight and surprise on the children's faces when they see their favorite movie/cartoon character sitting on top of a beautifully decorated birthday cake!

Another great idea is to have a karaoke machine at the party. Kids love to sing and dance and they will surely get hours of fun from singing along to their favorite songs. Karaoke machines are rather inexpensive these days, but if you do not want to buy one of your own, you  can easily rent one for the day from a nearby rental center.

The most important aspect to throwing a successful birthday bash for kids is to keep them guessing what is going to happen next. Kids need a lot of stimulation and variety so be sure to have several activities planned. It is always a good idea to ask one or two of the parents of the invited kids to come to the party to help you out as it often takes more than one person to keep a group of children busy.