Party ideas for kids, plus a few for the grown-ups

Parties covers every gathering that isn’t strictly a birthday: Halloween get-togethers, class parties, holiday open houses, end-of-school celebrations, and the playdate that somehow turned into ten families in your backyard.

Our approach is simple. Plan the parts that matter, which are food, a couple of games and a clear end time, and let the rest be a little messy. You’ll find party ideas for kids that need no props, menus that work for picky eaters and grown-ups at the same time, and honest advice about how many guests your space can really hold.

Some of our party coverage is for the adults. Hosting a parents’ get-together or heading out to one means thinking about sitters, timing and how everyone gets home, and we write about that with the same practical eye.

October is a busy party month, and the headlines below have plenty of Halloween game ideas in the meantime.