"Mad science"-style party - anyone had one? Sounds like just the thing for a 7 year old boy

[Anchovy]

Would be very interested in anyone's experiences. DS will be 7 in October (Nooooo - he is only 3 in my mind), just going into Year 2. We've done the "entertainer in a church hall" type thing for the last couple of years, and I think this will be pretty much my last "whole class" style party - next year I think we will be up for a smaller party with 6-8 friends, but this year we are looking at about 20.

Has anyone done this "mad science" event? Was it good? My nephew had one and I'm pretty sure that he loved it but rather annoyingly they are away on holiday at the moment so I can't quiz SIL.

This would be too convenient for words, but has anyone had any experience of it in SW London...

[Basementbear]

We went to one in Dulwich, it was fantastic! Class of 7 year olds all entranced for the whole show, lots of hands on stuff. Can't remember the name of the people but they kept 25 kids under control and everyone loved it!

[Anchovy]

Oooh - that is exactly what I wanted to hear: thanks a lot!

[Bink]

Only an Anchovy party-thread could lure me back into this nest of ... (what is it nowadays)?

Anyway. Mad Science we know. One of their presenter people (slightly uncoolly, they all have to have the honorific "Mad" so I have mobile contact details for a bloke called Mad Jack) does our communal-gardens children's party each summer & he is always really a hit, even with sporty-uppitty ones who don't immediately think they're going to be hooked by something so nerdy. (He also manages quite well the over-participatory enthusiastic ones ). I specially liked his demonstration of a universal base, which dramatically & rather beautifully changes colour through the spectrum as you shake different nano-particles of something in it.

[GrimmaTheNome]

My DD went to one. TBH I thought it was a bit naff but maybe a PhD chemist isnt a fair judge. The kids enjoyed it.

[Anchovy]

LOL, Bink. It's party season chez Anchovy as DS and DD have birthdays 10 days apart in the year (a fact that can be tied back to extended Christmas breaks and the downturn in deal activity!)

For DD we are staying true to your original recommendation of the Action Station, who have done us proud. DH was a bit hopeful we might get "Tara the Cowgirl" who I remember was a particular favourite of your DH's. But we are going for a Mermaid one as it was a bit of a change from fairies or princesses.

DS is going to be 7, so we are going for Mad Science. I'm glad you enjoyed it - I've had good feedback from everyone so far.

Grimma, I think your standards may be a bit too high! Fortunately, although according to their parents there are some exceptionally clever children in DS's class , none of them have probably got beyond GCSE yet!

[LynetteScavo]

We had sciene boffins, who kept 20 8 year olds quiet and entertined for a whole party. DS loved it.