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Original poster

To half-arse these parts of DD's party

33 replies

Carrotsurprise · 16/11/2025 09:45

DD is going to be 7, she wants a science party (entertainer in a hall). I think this is cool and I want to do it for her but it's pretty expensive so I'm thinking of cost cutting in other areas. One thing is that as part of the science party the kids make their own slime and make their own sweets which they take home in a named pot. Do you think it's okay to say the slime and sweets is the party favour and not do party bags?
The other thing I'm thinking of doing is having the party mid-afternoon so it isn't mealtime, and do cake after the entertainment is finished but no other food. Do you think that's alright as long as I mention it beforehand? My experience of parties these days is that the kids are going mental and don't want to eat anyway!

OP posts:
Overthebow · 16/11/2025 09:59

We’ve been to a party that was exactly this, and the sweets they made all got eaten during the party, and the slime making was fun but some got mixed with others, some didn’t work as well and there was only a few that managed to take theirs home, so I wouldn’t rely on those for party gifts. You could however not bother with actual party bags and just give out sweet cones or bags. I do think you need to do party food even if it’s mid afternoon, but you could do something cheap like cake, homemade sandwiches, apples and crisps, or cut up some cheap pizzas to go with the cake. Cake go to Costco instead of an expensive option, they are £18 for a huge one that feeds loads.

Daisymae55 · 16/11/2025 09:57

i think you’re totally right with the party food.

Food wise, I think maybe have some snacks/drinks but no need for a huge buffet or anything.

Peclet · 16/11/2025 09:55

for the party bags-

brown paper ones from Amazon, they can decorate and as they make things they pop them in to take home. As they leave pop a slice of cake in. Job done.

Id provide some jugs of squash and some bowls of crisps and that sounds ideal.

10-12 or a 2-4 party tike slot.

youalright · 16/11/2025 09:54

I think you can swerve party bags but I would still do food

Merryoldgoat · 16/11/2025 09:53

Dispensing with party bags is fine.

Not providing food is unacceptable in my opinion.

moorishmangoes · 16/11/2025 09:53

Sounds perfect to me. IME the cake often gets wasted because there is so much other food.

SunnyDolly · 16/11/2025 09:53

If you do something like 2-4 yeah you can swerve food. Also, I HATE slime so if it’s cheaper not to make that I’d be binning that off too 🤣 sweets are fine as a party favour!

ACynicalDad · 16/11/2025 09:51

I think party bags are awful and often just create landfill. Quite a lot of parties I’ve been to recently don’t do them, that they take something home is more than enough. As for food, wouldn’t bother me either.