I need inspiration for a 6th birthday party please!

[squelchyeye]

Please tell me about a successful 6th birthday party you attended/hosted!

Build a bear kind of thing at home went down very well. The kids did a treasure hunt to start with to find their bears, made their bears, decorated some t shirts for their bears, decorated bear cookies, ate some food and went home.

Was low stress and lots of fun.

DS wanted a "home party". I said he could only have 4 friends because our house is tiny. It was the best party we've ever done. It was a "fossil hunters party". We made fossil cookies, played a punch-box game (see youtube) where the prizes were fossil dig kits (pound shop) and then they wanted to open them and do them. They were so excited and cute. Then food, cake and playing with DSs toys til parents came.

We did star wars with themed games and inflatable light sabers.

Paint your own bird boxes party, at our house, sent them down the lane birdwatching with a little chart whilst I made food (pizzas) - quiet private path car free.

I did a science one for ds1 6th birthday, was awesome and everyone loved it

These are so lovely and creative

We are having it at the local trampoline park for my daughters party, goes down a treat (her friend had one before Christmas.) they are fully entertained and then they eat you don’t have to do much 😂😂

We had a science party too. Found a local woman who did it and wasn't too expensive.

We had a bowling party

We did treasure hunt with lego bags as prizes. Everyone got one and then made them..we had load of balloons blown up and a balloon animal kit so showed the kids how to make those. Then did spiderman tattoos and face painting. Had some food / cake. Then got everyone to get their coats and shoes on at going home time and stayed in the front garden blowing bubbles till everyone was collected.

Dd1 I did at soft play (dd2 was 6weeks old)

Ds I did a Lego theme party at home.

Dd2 I did a small craft and games party at home.

Disco party with neon face paint! Biscuit mix and shape cutter as a party bag ( hate plastic tat!)

Hired a Party Bus for DS's 6th. He wanted his friends round, I didn't, so it seemed like a compromise.

I did warn the neighbours though!

Our local pool hires out its training pool (very shallow) for exclusive use and you can bring your own inflatables etc. We’ve also hired the local school hall and a bouncy castle. We also have done cinema - local cinema does a cheap kids showing on a Saturday morning for £2.50 each - followed by chips somewhere. We’ve also had a drama party in a local hall. DS’s friend had a crafty party at his house and DS loved it. Also been to a crazy golf party and a dry-slope sledging party which both went down well.

What is the child like though? Also what sort of parties do people put on near you / in your child's class at school.

My DS is 6 this week. Some of these parties sound great but would be a disaster for him. His friends may enjoy them but chances of him being able to stay still and concentrate for building bears, science or anything else is 50/50 at best. Also no one round us does that sort of parties.

I've booked the local soft play. We have the whole thing for an hour then a room for tea after. I'm confident it will be a success because:

• He's only y1 and still working out who he's friends with at school. This way i could invite the whole class easily and relatively cheaply. About half are coming plus friends from outside school.
• Activity is laid on and is of a type my DS loves, actually he couldn't think of anything better.
• It's a bit off a weird inbetween stage for parents whether you stay or drop off. This way there is space so they can stay if they want but it's contained enough that it's fine if some drop of. There's also space for younger siblings