By Mary Keating for Family Living

Scheduling activities for any party is a very important step. Although there are no hard and fast rules for what a party must look like, Vicki Lansky of "Birthday Parties: Best Party Tips & Ideas for Ages 1-8" outlines a loose schedule that may help plan the timing of party activities. Be sure to keep in mind that the time suggested for refreshments includes serving time. The act of eating cake and ice cream usually takes only a few minutes.

Below is an outline for a 2-2 ½ hour party:

Arrival: As guest are arriving, schedule 15 minutes of free play or a game or activity that newcomers can easily join as they arrive. Balloon tossing or freeze dancing work well here.

Special activity: Take about 15 to 45 minutes for a major craft project or to have an entertainer, such as a storyteller, clown or magician, perform for the children. Assembling macaroni necklaces, making ice cream, crafting puppets or sculpting with play dough are other great activities.

Refreshments: No party is complete without cake and ice cream. On average, plan to spend 15 to 30 minutes, depending on what is served, rounding up the children, dishing up food, singing and blowing out candles and eating.

A Movement Activity: After eating, engage the children in a movement game. Spend five to 10 minutes getting them from the food and back into the party mode. A hunt of some sort is effective here.

Games: After a hunt or simply as a continuation of the movement activity, spend 30 minutes playing between four and 10 games. Alternate activity levels when planning games — from loud to quiet, from lots of movement to games played in a circle.

Presents and goodbye: Spend the last part of the party, about 20-30 minutes, opening presents, gathering individual crafts and party treats together and thanking guests as parents arrive.