Help with 1 year old birthday party

[Leobynature]

Please help me plan my DDs 1st birthday by keeping costs down.

I would prefer a small family gathering With my immediate family. However DH’s family would need to be included. Both our families are far to big to have anything in the house.

So I need a venue. Found a good venue which is free and holds 100 people. Traditionally we would need to do hot food. Venue says we can use the kitchen and sister in law is cooking. I will buy the food.

But, I need to entertain around 20 children. I can’t have soft play at the venue due to health and safety.

So I may need to get an entertainer however there £200 for 2 hours. Has anyone got any ideas of how I can entertain children at a cheaper cost. It’s fair to say I’m a novice at this.

Thanks

You do know your dc will give zero fucks about any of it?

Take speakers and a play list.

Musical statues/bumps/chairs.

Has anyone got a play parachute? You'll need a half dozen adults to help.

Pass the parcel.

Food.

Cake.

Wave off, clear up.

Santa yes of course but a family knees up is great fun.

Lol. I should have mentioned her birthday is on the 5/01/19. It’s an absolutely rubbish birthday and I will definitely have no money

My DD will not know what the hell is going on and will spend the entire time playing with a box or other innate object in a corner. Although I definitely do want to celebrate it, it’s her first and she has recovered from some heath difficulties. She probably will not have another party until she’s 16/18/married 😂

It’s the other kids I’m worried about and don’t know if it’s better to keep them entertained then standing there bored or running around riot.

😂 would it be absolutely terrible if we just have a knees up and leave the kids to run around high on sugar 🙈

Why bother? Honestly. See immediate family from one side one day, have a little cake, then do the same the following day with the other family.

The only thing you'll 'need' is a picture of dd with her cake!

Who are you doing this for?

Get a load of craft stuff from poundland and put on a table for the children to do what they want with.

Mortified that’s a bloody good question. I have no idea. It just seemed to spiral out of control and now invites are sent 😩

I agree with mortified

?cancel?
Or just ask children to bring one of their biggest toys to play with the other children.

you dont need to "entertain" the children, they can play together.
Just ask parents to bring toys/games whatever for their kids to share and play with.

For my wee girls 1st I was in the same boat. I hired the church hall which cost £40 for 3 hours and got permission to use the church mother and toddler groups toys, so there was a cupboard full of slides/little tikes cars etc so no party games or anything needed. Kids just ran about and played with toys while my dd parked herself at the food table. Are you able to find another venue that’s already used for a toddler group so you can just use all their toys?

Ask each parent to bring a selection of toys. Kids will have a bunch of new toys to play with and will be thrilled. No cost required.

Poor you, I hate having parties, my toddler gets overwhelmed by loads of people saying hello to her so we just fill the living room with balloons and ell the village that we're an open house all day if anyone wants to come and say Happy Birthday to her. She got to blow the candles out about 5 times and loved it, it was a quiet day but easy to manage.
Good luck with your party.

I can’t cancel. I just couldn’t

But I am no longer concerned about entertaining children. They can play together, make up their own games, spin around in circles, scream whatever. They will have to go back to basics

A few beach balls . Light so won't do damage. Can play lots of games.