Relax! Deciding to rent an Appian party jump takes the pressure off considerably. It won't be necessary to jam-pack every minute of your party with organized games or other amusements because the jumper will provide plenty of bouncing, jumping, good-time fun for the duration!

Ready to get going? Your first step is to choose a theme. Theme parties are more fun for children and easier to plan for adults. Think about it -- you can design your party activities, food, guest list, invitations, party location and all those other necessary party details around your theme. Organizing your party around a theme eliminates many party planning headaches.

How to decide your theme? Ideally, you'll seek the input of your child. Brainstorm together! Trust your child's suggestions -- he or she is the expert! Your child will be eager to remind you of favorite cartoons, movies, book, toys, games and places -- each favorite is a potential party theme.

You may also want to read to your child the list of party jumpers Appian Party Jumps provides. We've got the classics covered -- Scooby Doo, Strawberry Shortcake and Winnie the Pooh never go out of style. If something more contemporary is to your child's taste, suggest to them our Shrek or The Incredibles jumpers. Is your child a sports enthusiast? Take a look at our baseball and soccer or other sports themed jumpers. Perhaps your young V.I.P. (Very Important Princess) and her friends would enjoy our Castle Bounce and Slide or our Disney Princesses jumper? Please view information on specific themes for our jumps at their "large view" link. Click on any of these links from our home page, and you can find specific information on that jumper, plus: Custom invitations and theme party ideas, including: games, activities, food, decorations, music and more! Don't forget to check our Local Links (at the bottom) section for vendors and services in your area too!

If we don't have a party jump in the theme you want, not to worry. Plenty of our jumpers are appropriate for any theme and all of them are designed for fun!

If you're still stuck for a theme, consider these popular theme ideas:

Aliens
American Idol/Karaoke
Arts and Crafts
Barbie
Beach
Birthday
Bob the Builder
Circus/clowns
Cooks in the Kitchen
Cowboy
Dinosaurs
Elmo/Sesame Street
Fashion Show
Gardening
Harry Potter
Haunted House
Hawaiian Luau
Holiday
International
Kim Possible
Lizzie McGuire
Madagascar
Mulan
Magic
Mystery
Night Club
The Olympics
Pajamas
Patriotic
Pirates
Pokeman
Safari
Science
Star Wars
Tea Party
Time Capsule
Tony Hawk/Skateboarding
Veggietales
Water Fun
The Wiggles
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Zoo

Before you make a final decision on your theme, here are a few things to consider in order to make sure the theme is as practical as it is fun.

First, consider the age of your child and the age of his or her guests. Younger children may not be able to grasp or appreciate overly complicated or more grown-up themes, such as a science-themed party or an international party. And they might not have the attention span required for a Cooks in the Kitchen party, for example. Likewise, older children might be bored by some character-themed parties -- many 12-year-olds have probably outgrown their interest in certain Disney movies and other cartoons. A simple tea party would probably entertain a group of six-year-olds, but would leave older children asking, "Now what?" after about 15 minutes.

Consider, too, the gender of your children's guests. A Fashion Show party would be a wildly popular hit with a group of pre-teen girls, but most boys at that age would rather clean their rooms than parade around the living room in borrowed clothes. Similarly, if your young son is excited about Appian Party Jumps' boxing ring jumper, realize that if you are hosting a mixed-gender party, lots of girls will be completely out of their element. Sure, there are tomboy girls in every crowd, but don't expect that every girl on your guest list is one. Unless your guests will be all boys or all girls, steer clear of themes that are typically skewed toward either gender. You want all of your guests to have fun and participate in the party.

Consider next your budget. Without figuring out exact dollars and cents, common sense dictates that some themes will be more expensive, not to mention more work, to pull off than others. Themes that require extensive decorations to transform your house or other party location -- such as a Hawaiian luau or a "haunted house" theme will cost you, either in terms of money or in time, or both.

Consider the party supplies and decorative items you already have on hand. An American Idol/Karaoke party makes great sense if you already have or can borrow a karaoke machine and/or a starter supply of instrumental-only CDs, but if you have to start from scratch and buy everything necessary for such a party, be prepared to spend a that money before you even begin to consider decorations, food and party favors. You might luck out if you and your child choose a theme that centers around something your child has long held an interest in. Decorations for a sports-themed party, for example, might start with your child's sports equipment, old uniforms and trophies. A party centered around your child's favorite character or TV show might be partially decorated with your child's collection of figurines or posters related to the theme.

Last, consider the season of the party and the likely weather, and whether or not you'll need a back-up plan. A Water Fun party can be fun, indeed, but it is certainly risky to plan such a party in the early spring or late fall, when temperatures might cooperate or they might not. Additionally, any party planned exclusively for outdoors will require a back-up plan including indoor activities in the event of rain.

If you've kept all that in mind and you've decided on your theme, it is time to create a checklist of everything you'll have to do before the party.

Other resources on party themes:
We've scoured the internet, looking for the biggest, best, most comprehensive list of party theme ideas and found this one: http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/party_ideas.html

Games and Activities:

Once you've established the right theme for your party, you will still want to plan one or two activities to structure the party and add even more excitement to the day. If your party guests don't already know one another, an adult-supervised, organized game is a good getting-to-know-you exercise. An ice-breaker slated for the beginning of the party, even as guests are arriving, can serve to relax and involve very shy children. Additionally, a few structured activities during the party can also prevent boredom and, more to the point, mischief-making.

Generally speaking, the larger your guest list, the more structured you will want to make the party. When planning a party for more than seven or eight children, keep in mind that organized games with simple rules require less adult supervision than free playtime, since all of your guests will be in one place at the same time, doing the same thing.

Games can also reinforce your chosen theme, making the party one your guests will long remember. We have provided several, theme-oriented, activities for some of our most popular party jumps. From our home page, you will be able to select the "large view" of the jumper of your choice and see unique party suggestions, including: custom invitations for print or emailing, themes, games, crafts, decorations, music, food and other activity ideas on many of our jumpers!

You may want to explore other games on your own. And we have provided several links to online resources for icebreakers, games and other activities at the bottom of this page as well.

It is important to consider the age and ability level of your guests when planning party activities. There are some activities more appropriate for older children simply because they have better developed social and motor skills, as well as longer attention spans. Having said that, if you are hosting a party for children of a wide age range, younger children are usually keen to try anything the "big kids" can do. In this case, keep your rules simple and praise younger children for their efforts. If your activities include contests and prizes, consider awarding prizes to two winners -- one from the older group of children and one from the younger group.

It is possible, too, that one or more of your guests may have a physical disability. Be sure to include them in the day's festivities by adapting your games so they can play, and by including less mobile activities such as craft-making. A party is only successful if it is a party for everyone!

Other game and activity resources:

Search the game database at http://www.partygamecentral.com for clever game ideas.

We found what must be the end-all, be-all list of kids' games at http://www.gameskidsplay.net. There are hundreds listed!

Similarly, http://www.dltk-kids.com is a lively, comprehensive site dedicated to children's crafts and includes free printable templates for projects such as themed bingo cards, coloring pages, toilet paper roll and milk carton crafts, calendars and jigsaw puzzles.

You might wish to purchase craft kits with all supplies included at sites such as http://store.teachchildren.com/craftkids.html, http://www.creativityforkids.com, or http://www.craftercity.com/KIDS_CRAFT_SUPPLIES_FOR_LE$$.htm. Also view a list of links to craft kits for sale at http://www.best-kid-crafts.com/kid-craft-kit.html.

And please, Check Back Soon! We will be adding more Links, more Party and Theme ideas and information on local vendors too! If you want information on specific theme party ideas, check under the LARGE VIEW link for most of our jumpers from the gallery.