party for a two year old - help!

[poppetskaya]

having rashly decided to have a party for my two year old daughter next week, am now worrying about whether I need to organise games of any kind, or just let them get out all her toys and run around in the garden??

I wondered about a simple treasure hunt in the garden. There will be 8-10 of 'em including 2-3 slightly older ones.

Help!!

Thanks

[TelephoneTree]

definitely loads of free play

• lots of balloons
  
• treasure hunt
  
• pizza +/- sausages??
  
  will be brilliant! they will love it. really.

[ManyMomentsOfMadness]

Ball pool went down a storm at my DS 2nd party :)

[imawigglyworm]

I wouldnt bother with too many games, IMO getting a group of 2ish yr olds to sit down and take turns = nightmare.
Let them get the toys out, manymoments ball pool idea sound good or to do it at home just blow up a paddling pool and fill it with balls.

[Rosebud05]

Get one of those bubble guns from the supermarket.

They don't seem to last more than one party, but they're great.

[ManyMomentsOfMadness]

Thanks wigglyworm, I did mean a diy one at home :)

[sweetiesue]

Would def second the bubble machine/gun idea and the paddling/ball pool. What about huge pieces of paper and trays of paint (warn parents before hand to bring old clothes of a change) with various brushes etc to create with.
Music to dance about to, make shakers etc to join in.
Teddy bears picnic with appropriate shaped foods
Will keep thinking

[Jojay]

Good luck trying to get 10 2 year olds to play a structured game!

I would give pass the parcel a miss, and instead focus on lots of things for them to do - bubbles, ball pits, painting, cars and trains to push round, dolls to play with, tea sets, etc etc. Ride on toys if you have space.

And pray for good weather - if you can get outdoors, it will be much easier!

[ewaczarlie]

and dont forget signing. Just think of all the things that they do at nurseries to keep 2yo entertained! Mainly its unstructured play but when they want them to cooperate there's messy play (use potatoe mash with some food colouring for less mess) and simple arts and crafts. Our son's birthday is coming up in a month and luckily we'll only have 4 kids there but still am preparing for treasure hunt, drawing, stories and songs (and if the weather outlook looks bad i might just get a child entertainer in for an 1hr just to give us adults a break!)