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Parties/celebrations

6 year old Birthday party at home HELP

12 replies

Katastrophe13 · 25/09/2017 16:01

DS has requested that he has his birthday party for his 6th at home. This is good news because it will be cheaper than previous years (soft play party, hall with entertainer), but I don't know what to do about any of it! Here are some questions:

  1. How many children should I invite ( we live in average size house 3 bed semi with lounge diner knocked through)?
  2. Can I tell parents to drop their kids off and leave, as a load of parents will make it even mor suffocating, unless I only have like 4 kids.
  3. What the hell do I do to entertain them for 2 hours?


I am so grateful for any advice. Entertaining/hosting is not my strong suit.

Thanks!

P.s. Also, how many weeks in advance do people normally send out the invitations?
OP posts:
TwigTheWonderKid · 25/09/2017 16:15

Don't have more than 6-8 kids. Definitely try and get rid of most parents but if you know any of the parents well try and get 1 or 2 of them to stay in case you need help.

A theme will help you plan. I'd have a table with a craft activity for them to tuck into when they arrive (decorate swords, shields etc or their own party bag or t-shirts and fabric paint).

Got to pop out now but will post a list of games when I get back.

moobeana · 25/09/2017 16:43

It is perfectly acceptable to ask parents not to stay. Just be prepared for a few to want to stay for a bit at the start to settle nervous ones in.

As far as activities, how about a drive in cinema? Get a load of cardboard boxes and cut them down. The children then have to decorate their 'car'. Then they sit in their car and watch a film / tv episode (depending on attention span!)

moobeana · 25/09/2017 16:44

This is sort of the idea

6 year old Birthday party at home HELP
GingerAndTheBiscuits · 25/09/2017 16:48

We only had 3 for DD's 6th party at home (plus her obviously!). I asked parents in advance not to stay. Had a theme so created lots of lovely activities by hand based on it. Served up lunch after they'd had a go at them all and sent them on their way.

DD cried for almost the entire thing and I've vowed never to have an at-Home party again!

Katastrophe13 · 25/09/2017 17:14

Thank you for the advice so far! I will tell him he can invite 7 friends. I love the idea of decorating t-shirts based on a theme. That gives them something really good to take home with them as well. Any games ideas greatly received. Can only think of dead fishes and musical statues.

OP posts:
TwigTheWonderKid · 25/09/2017 17:32

That looks fab moobeana! I speak here from bitter, bitter, bitter experience that you cannot guarantee the little darlings may want to sit down and watch anything for any length of time so if you do that I'd go for a tv show rather than a film.

For 6 year olds you'd want to have quite a few games sorted then if any of them don't hold their attention you can move swiftly on. And unless you're a fan of meltdowns, avoid having obvious winners...Here are a few suggestions, I found that kids quite like the old-school games we played during our childhood:

The sticker game (basically buy a whole load of small cheap stickers and give each child a supply of them play some music and object is to get all stickers on to your fellow party goers whilst avoiding being "stickered" yourself). Simple but always super-popular.
Lego building competition (you can do this in pairs and everyone gets a prize)
Egg and spoon race if space
Musical bumps/statues
Sleeping lions
Pass the parcel with sweets in all the layers
Duck duck goose
Blind man's buff
Cotton Wool game
Hunt the thimble (tip - put the thimble on your finger and collapse into a comfy chair and watch them hunt!)
Corners
Balloon over head through legs
Traffic Jam( all players stand at one end of room
one player is traffic policeman at opposite end
when he call out green everyone jumps towards him pretending to drive a car
amber -they crouch down and walk
red-they must be perfectly still
Anyone who doesn't obey the policeman has to go back to the beginning,anyone who moves on a red call goes back. The person who gets to the policeman changes places with him and the game starts again.
Flap a fish - cut out a fish shape per team and they have to waft a newspaper at it to make it move along a course
Pin the (tail on the donkey, nose on the pig, cape on the super hero etc)
Simon Says
The donut game - tie a whole load of those mini donut with string on to long stick/broom handle etc. Kids have to eat the donuts with their hands behind their backs.

Another thing that has always gone down really well at our at home parties has been a lucky dip. Get the biggest box you can find and fill it with shredded paper then fling in a whole load of small sweets and/or prizes and let them loose on it. It's a bit messy though easily swept up but definitely good to kept to the end of the party.

TwigTheWonderKid · 25/09/2017 17:35

You can get cheap plain t-shirts on Amazon (perfect for when your child's teacher asks you to send in "just" a plain yellow t £1.39 -shirt for a costume!) White ones <a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/Fruit-Loom-Collar-T-Shirt-Manufacturer/dp/B004053S3M/ref=sr_1_1?s=clothing&ie=UTF8&qid=1506357166&sr=1-1&nodeID=1730756031&psd=1&keywords=fruit%2Bof%2Bthe%2Bloom%2Bt-shirt&th=1&psc=1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">less than £1.50 each

TwigTheWonderKid · 25/09/2017 17:36

Not sure where that rogue £1.39 snuck in from!

Katastrophe13 · 25/09/2017 19:16

Thanks so much for all of those suggestions Twig and the link to the tshirts. I will look through all of these properly and come up with a plan! am feeling very inspired now, and hopeful of making a party that won't be complete rubbish Smile

OP posts:
StrumpersPlunkett · 25/09/2017 19:20

For ds's 6th we did pizza decorating.
Premade bases tomato purée cheese and toppings.
I bought a small pack of plain mini aprons and fabric pens.
I wrote their names and the date on it then I drew a circle in the middle and they coloured it as if it were a pizza.
They loved hanging out and playing with his toys.

kelassa · 26/09/2017 19:43

I think parties at home can be great and the children can really relax and have fun.

  1. How many children should I invite ( we live in average size house 3 bed semi with lounge diner knocked through)? I would probably invite 6-8 guests if you have the space.
  2. Can I tell parents to drop their kids off and leave, as a load of parents will make it even mor suffocating, unless I only have like 4 kids. - I think it is fine to let people know they can leave their children and at that age I think it's expected.
  3. What the hell do I do to entertain them for 2 hours?

  • Pass the parcel
  • Pizza making
  • Pin the tail on the donkey
  • Musical chairs
  • hunt for (whatever you like! sweets, unicorns, bears, lol - great if you have a garden and weather is ok)
  • Sand Art - I attended a little craft fair recently and there was a lady with a sand art stall for children. Have to say, the kids loved it! I think it was the bowl with all the brightly coloured sand that caught their eye. She does kids party packs - www.facebook.com/trusandart/


Kids Birthday Bonanza is a great site for party packages that has all the tableware etc and has some great themes. //www.kidsbirthdaybonanza.com
acarter001 · 24/10/2017 12:30

Science Boffins are great because they come to your home (or whichever venue) bring all the equipment they need...and tidy up after themselves! They are trained party entertainers so they are very experienced in keeping the kids entertained for the entire party and they get all the kids involved in the experiments too! Have a look on their website at //www.scienceboffins.co.uk for more info.

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