ADMIT it?you miss going to children?s parties. And who wouldn?t? Children?s parties are always big affairs, with games, mascots, loot bags and plenty of food. But now that you?re older, it seems awfully ridiculous to prance around with a mascot, balloon tied to your wrist. But not that people don?t try?a lot of teenagers and yuppies still hold kiddie parties at fast food restaurants in an attempt to bring back the good old days.

However, you don?t have to settle for playing lame games with Grimace while you eat hamburgers and sweet spaghetti. Bring children?s parties to the next level by making the usual elements?venue, décor, food, giveaways?a little more sophisticated than usual.

Don?t know where to start? We?ve got a step-by-step guide to planning a rocking children?s party for grownups.

1. Book the venue

The best (and cheapest) place to hold a party is usually your house, or at a friend?s. That way, you can do almost anything you want without raising the ire of suspicious security guards or worrying about closing time. However, it?s also a hassle to have to clean up after?and, house parties can get boring if there?s nothing to do in the house (if you have a complete Rock Band set at home, more power to you).

A cool place to hold a children?s party for grownups could be at a clubhouse with a pool (if you don?t mind getting pushed into the water at the end of the night) or a high-end videoke bar like Red Box. We like it that Red Box?s private rooms have poker and billiards tables that can entertain people who don?t really want to sing. That way, you can spend the night singing your lungs out with your friends over a drink or two?and you won?t spend the night looking at each other saying, ?Now what??

Lead time to book the venue: Allot 2-4 weeks, depending on the venue.

2. Choose the food

At least a week before the party, get the menu together (and no, you may not serve just beer and chips to all your guests!) Since you?re going for a children?s party, veer away from complicated entrees and choose food that?s easy to serve and eat (especially if you?re holding a mic on one hand). Pizza, nachos, pasta, chicken lollipops and finger sandwiches are always popular, but if you think you can pull off more sophisticated food, go for it.

Try to have a dessert centerpiece that would attract the attention of your guests, like a chocolate fountain or a cupcake tower. 2bU loves the cupcake towers by Yumi Castrillo?she can customize the cupcakes according to your theme. The difference between Castrillo and other cupcake bakers is that she can create more sophisticated flavor combinations that will surely surprise your guests. Try Marie Antoinette (strawberries and champagne), Princess Di (blue cheese and pear) or Swiss Miss (blueberry and white chocolate). For 2bU, Castrillo created a candyland-themed cupcake tower with fondant accents. Call 09178054063.

We also love Chef Buddy Trinidad?s French macaroons, which come in flavors like pistachio, strawberry, lemon and chocolate. Contact Park Avenue desserts at www.parkavenuedesserts.com or call 834-6636. You may also email sales@parkavenuedesserts.com

Lead time to choose your food: 1-3 weeks.

3. Decorate the place

You can?t call a party a children?s party if you leave your venue undecorated. String some banners, pin posters on the wall, tie some balloons around chairs?anything to add a little color to the place. Don?t want to do it yourself? Contact Czarina Ledesma and Ferdi Salvador of Fete Event Architects at 09178257701. Visit their site at www.fetearchitects.com or email fete@fetearchitects.com and feteeventarchitects@yahoo.com.

Ledesma and Salvador actually specialize in corporate events, weddings, birthdays and baptisms, but they?re flexible and can help you conceptualize every area of the event.

Lead time to plan the décor: a month if you?re hiring a pro, a week to a few days if you?re doing it yourself.

4. Plan the giveaways

Again, no children?s party is complete without giving out loot bags to the guests. You can do it the old school way?fill small plastic bags with candy and trinkets?or opt for more grown-up choices. An easy option give away more dessert (like cupcakes in individual boxes). It doesn?t have to be something pricey; just make sure your guests leave with a loot bag for an authentic children?s party feel.

5. Plan the games

While you don?t have to go completely corn ball with games such as ?Bring Me? or ?Simon Says,? you can still play a couple of games with your friends. Have a videoke showdown, or do a modified newspaper dance (the partners have to be the opposite sex so the guy can carry the girl when the paper gets too small?great for setting up friends). Award prizes for ?Early Bird,? Best Dressed,? and whatever private jokes you and your friends might have.

Email the author at biancaconsunji@yahoo.com