6 year old birthday

[Rainandclouds]

I have somehow been put in charge of a party for my 6 year old step son. Should we try for games as well or just a bouncy castle? There will be younger siblings there too so can’t do anything too complicated. I have a 2 year old so I am used to baby parties but no clue for older ones. What about party bags? We are trying to reduce our plastic waste so don’t want tat that will just be thrown away or break?

Thanks for your help!

[Originofstars]

Your questions aren't your real questions are they OP? Get your back story out to save people giving you party bag tips in good faith

[Joebloggswazere]

Oh, interesting.....

[Rainandclouds]

Stepsons mum has gone off with the new bloke to France for 3 months , she has a long history of being very useless and having new men, she is really “making a go of it” this time (like the last time) stepson does not want to go to France (we don’t want him to go either) so want to make this party extra special my partner has no idea
About the party either

[MutantDisco]

DS1 had a forest school party for his 6th birthday, it was excellent, would highly recommend.

[Elisheva]

Budget? Number of kids?

[bridgetreilly]

Definitely do games as well. They don't have to be complicated for 6 yos. The balloon game, musical chairs, pass the parcel.

[Nathansmommy1]

A local play centre? If not a bouncy castle, face painting and have a couple of footballs etc lying around that will keep boys occupied, that's what we did for ds who was 5 in September. Face painters also did music games with the girls. Remember that once you've taken out time for food and cake, there isn't a huge amount of time to fill for playing, it will go very fast. Party bags are a must here, all the kids look for them at the end. Any few little treats in it and theyl be happy.
Good luck

[Rainandclouds]

Thanks. Probably about 25/30 in total. Girls and boys. Will probably be a hall as the weather can’t be relied upon! Sweets in the party bag?

[Warpdrive]

When mine were little I only ever put sweets in the party bag. I absolutely hated all the plastic tat that is usually put in there so a bag of sweeties was what we went with. Then parents can ration them if that's what they want to do.

[AmIRightOrAMeringue]

Paper party bags and the kids can always decorate them themselves if it's bad weather and you need an inside activity

Cake and some chocolate and I believe some people do books like a sticker activity book from book people if you want to avoid plastic tat

[livingthegoodlife]

party bags - mini lego sets or beanie boos? just one thing, packet of sweets and a piece of cake.

i would do games. 6 year olds are quite a lot more mature than reception age kids.

[Celp28]

For my ds 4th birthday we did bouncy castle in a hall with a few party games, 3 pass the parcels and musical chairs and statues. We also had loads of balloons and inflatable lightsabers from Poundland that the kids loved playing with.

Instead of sweet cones I did a pick n mix sweet table. Got a load of jars from eBay, I think £8 for about 15 large jars and 5 sweet tongs. I then got loads of different sweets from Poundland, home bargains, b & m etc and filled the jars and some paper bags from eBay and let the kids do there own party sweets (with parents supervision).

[Ohyesiam]

Do games, or the time will drag.

I’m old school so my kids had musical statues, musical chairs, pass the parcel, sleeping lions, grandmothers footsteps, pin the tail on the picachu( see, I can move with the times). If they get some outside time they can do a scavenger hunt, so everyone has to find a pebble, a twig, a dried leaf etc.

[Starstruck2020]

I used to get little note books erasers and a pencil. One year I bought whoopie cushions and put that in the bag with one lollipop.

You could always use a brown paper bag and get DSS to decorate them with cheap stickers from the pound shop

[mummyof2boys30]

My son is 6. He had his party in local soft play. This year wants trampoline park. Other parties he's been too have been bouncy castle, bowling, football party. I find my son's friends generally like to do own thing instead of games. Party bags at this time of year I give Easter eggs. Or how about a book. The works normally do 10 for £10

[Rainandclouds]

Some great ideas. Thanks very much. Really want him to enjoy the day

[blankittyblank]

A friend of mine once gave everyone planted sunflower saplings in her party bags. Really lovely idea, and pretty cheap! Just have to plant them ahead of time to sprout slightly...

[Fraggle84]

The £1 Easter eggs as a party bag?

[Singlenotsingle]

We had dgs's 6th birthday party recently for 30 kids. Harry Potter themed. In a hall at the local leisure centre, bouncy castle, balloons, music. We didn't do games, they were too busy bouncing and playing. A few sweets, a kinder egg and cake in the party bags. It all went very well.

[Booboostwo]

A couple of things that have worked well for my DCs parties...

Pass the parcel but add a small present in each layer, temporary tattoos and stickers are ideal.

Musical chairs but again small gift or a sweet for everyone who loses.

Musical statues and again small gift for anyone who loses.

Table set out with craft activities, e.g. decorate masks or paint bags or paint plaster cast figureens.

If you don’t like plastic tat then small books or colouring books or mosaic craft projects are nice party favors.

[ipswichwitch]

DS1 went to a party near Easter and one game was to pick a number out of a bucket (was written on a plastic egg which I think had a couple of sweets in to keep them going), then go on an egg hunt and find the Easter egg with your number on. The Easter eggs were the £1 ones, and it kept the kids entertained looking for them. They were all helping each other out shouting “I just found number 4! Who needs number 4!”

[MrsDeanWinchester75]

I think 6 is too old for a bouncy castle, yes they enjoy it but physically they're quite big and 25 kids trying to fit on especially with small children there will end in tears.

Dd has recently been to a pirate themed party in a local park and it was really good, den building, treasure hunt etc
The weather wasn't great but the kids just wrapped up and had a great time.

Forestry centres and large parks often have party packages.

[Singlenotsingle]

The bouncy castle are very big, and the children are all 5-6, so no problem there. We had a smaller one for the little brothers and sisters.

[Lolakath19]

Hi Singlenotsingle, could you send me the references of the entertainer that did the Harry potter party? What games did they have planned? how long was it and how much did it cost?
THanks in advacne

[CripsSandwiches]

If you want 0 stress and can afford it you could hire an entertainer or just have the party in a soft play/trampoline park.

If not I would have the bouncy castle and a few "stations" set up fro kids who don't want to be physical. Maybe a craft table, a dress up area and little ikea tent for kids to run in and out of. Maybe set up some games too - a treasure hunt with (cheap) gold coins hidden about and each one gets a small prize.

For party bags - definitely paper bags rather than plastic (off amazon). A book from the book people collection or similar. Slap bracelets have been popular in the past and a piece of cake. I've also been given a personalised seed bag saying "seeds for the bees thank you for coming to Katie's party" on each packet. Apparently you can buy them off ebay.

I find you can't do without party bags as someone will start loudly asking where they are but they don't have to be stuffed full as most of it gets left in the car anyway.