Help me plan our first family Christmas party.

[threefeethighandrising]

We're planning to have a Christmas party this year, the weekend before Christmas. It'd be for our adult friends and their kids too.

This'll be the first party I've thrown since having DCs and I'd love any tips on what makes a good Christmas party. In the old days, pre-DCs, having a party was mostly about making sure we had enough decent booze, possibly some food, but more importantly great tunes, job done!

But I feel things have changed somewhat ... Need to consider the kids for a start. DS (nearly 5) went absolutely crazy with excitement because he had a couple of friends to play last week. I can't imagine how he'll be if the house is full of kids! Need to plan some distractions for the DCs I think ...

I remember going to some great family Christmas parties as a child, and they became part of our Christmas tradition, I'd love this to be like that.

So, apart from having some lovely Christmas treats (mince pies, yummmm!) and mulling some wine, what else do we need to do?

Please tell me about any lovely Christmas parties you've been to? I need some inspiration! Or awful ones so I know what not to do

[TheYamiOfYawn]

A slow cooker full of mulled apple juice, as there will be a lot more non-drinkers.

We have width kids round for coffee quite often, so they are used to it, so will just have some blocks/colouring/spotting games downstairs and they will be able to play in their bedrooms or the garden if they like.

I will also get everyone to bring a party piece, get out the box of bells, drums and shakers, and do lots of carol singing.

[threefeethighandrising]

Ooh mulled apple is a great idea thanks! :)

We do have DS's friends round, honest! I don't know what made him so excitable but his friends joined in and I thought blimey, what would it be like with a whole house full of DCs in this mood?!

DS's bedroom isn't massive so I may open our bedroom up as a kids area upstairs too, perhaps a place for the slightly older DCs to get away. I remember watching Xmas top of the pops with a bunch of kids about my age when I was 10, at a Christmas party and thinking it was the coolest thing ever! Looking back, I don't think it was so much that we were watching TOTP, but that there were lots of us hanging out together.

[threefeethighandrising]

Party piece is a nice idea too :)

[TigOldBitties]

We have quite a lot of parties as both DH and I have large families (7 plus siblings each) and DH in particular is the bloody social butterfly.

Anyway I think that lots of booze, food and music still stands. People don't really want it to be 'kid' orientated, or at least not in my experience.

Its sometimes good to have some sort of game but really it depends on your crowd. I don't know if our games would be popular in the same way that we wouldn't be into carol singing.

Usually the kids:

Play Football- Unless there is snow at which point they will muck about in the snow.

Go On Trampoline- Even if its freezing

Congregate in one/two rooms (normally naturally splits based on age/gender) where I will usually whack a DVD on. So if its a christmas party leave out some christmas DVDs. I find DVDs are better as you don't really want to be having to monitor the TV a 1:00am. Older kids will often play xbox/playstation instead. I usually put some food and napkins out in those rooms.

Come and dance/laugh at adults dancing.

[TantrumsAndBalloons]

Yes, I agree. 2 upstairs rooms for DCs. Playstation/Xbox/DVDs
Food, doesn't have to be elaborate.
Booze, and also choice of drinks for the non drinkers, my DH always ends up drinking squash at our friends house because they forget people do not drink alcohol.

Music, dancing, all the stuff you would normally do.

Soft football in the garden for DCs if there is enough space, or any other outdoor toys.

[TigOldBitties]

And food that you can eat standing up/ without getting messy.

I genuinely once went to a part where they served a giant pot of spaghetti bolognese and the vegetarian equivalent. So not only did you get a choice but it was impossible to eat, and people with kids were right up shit creek. Everyone drinking got absolutely hammered because there was no food, saw them all in the 24 hour mcdonalds after we left!

[BaconAndAvocado]

We've had similar sort of parties and for the DCs things that have worked have included

A recently released DVD that they all want to see with popcorn of course. Very easy to clean, just Hoover!

A table with Christmas crafts set up on it. ELC and Pound.and do lots of this sort of stuff, stickers etc

Good luck! It's got me thinking about doing one this year!

[raisah]

A wholesaler like costco (public membership available) or JJWholesale (no membership required) is your friend. Buy large catering packs of food & drinks & it will cost you less than the average supermarket. Dont forget to provide suitable drinks for the none drinkers & drivers.

[threefeethighandrising]

Ooh maybe a Christmas treasure hunt with chocolate coins?

[BaconAndAvocado]

Treasure hunt is a grand idea but a bit manic with lots of wee ones!

[threefeethighandrising]

I've thought of who we'd invite, trying not to go too mad. Got to 30 adults and 21 children That's a lot of children isn't it?! (Most of our friends here have 2 kids.)

They're mostly boys aged 4-7 and girls aged 1-3. One 9 year old girl. Might have to pay her to entertain little ones! (Only half-joking there!)

Is this complete madness?

Our house is pretty small too!

[threefeethighandrising]

We'd have to open up the whole house to the party I think. So that's a fairly small living room and dining room, a small conservatory, a small garden (for the smokers I think), three bedrooms, one large, two small.

Is it doable?

[threefeethighandrising]

Forget Christmas tips, I should have asked for tips on having a zillion kids in the house! Is it doable do you think?