It shouldn't be this way and it doesn't have to be this way. Here are 4 super tips for a memorable kid's party that will have your kid thanking you for years to come.

Theme your party and carry that theme through the invitations, games, prizes, and decorations. For example if your child just loves monkeys that could easily be the theme.

The invitation could Say Don't Monkey Around Come to Kayla's Fifth Birthday Party. The cake could be in the shape of a monkey. Serve monkey food like bananas. The prizes could be books or puzzles that feature monkeys. Play follow the monkey, monkey see monkey do, or catch the monkey.

Pick the theme from your child's favorite TV character, movie or book. The possibilities are endless.

Have a photographer and a video grapher. Nothing captures memories better than photographs and movies. The photographs can be put in a really nice scrap book for your kid to look at any time he or she likes.

In addition to that, have movies taken. You can't imagine the joy that you'll both get from watching these videos in the years to come. You can laugh at each other and yourselves. These are memories that can never die when they're recorded in this way.

Share the photographs with your family and the child's friends by posting them to a free blog site, with a brief description of what was happening when the photo was taken.

It doesn't matter where you decide to have the party, but make sure the place that you choose is one that is going to be memorable in itself. Generic locations like banquet halls are easily forgotten. But a party at a zoo or a park will not be forgotten soon...especially if it's at a place your child has never been to before. In choosing a place, keep an ear and an eye open for what your kid likes.

Make notes of his interests. These will come in very handy when deciding on the location. You can integrate the theme of the party with the location. What better place to have a monkey party than at the zoo watching real monkeys.

Finally, if you remember this one thing, you'll give your kid the best party he or she has ever had. The one thing I'm talking about is this. The party you're throwing is not for you, it's not for your kid's friends, it's not for your family, it's not for anybody but your child.

If you keep that one thing in mind, and think only of what your child would want, there is no way that you can't succeed in giving your kid the best party on the planet.

If you keep these 4 simple things in mind, I have no doubt that your kid is going to have the time of his life.