Children’s party entertainment

[ButCubism]

We are having a party for DS’s 4th. It’s in a hired room and has outside space but we wouldn’t have exclusive use of the outside bit (so can’t have a bouncy castle or anything like that). We aren’t getting an entertainer so what should we do to keep them occupied? There will be party hats to decorate, fancy dress, music (so maybe musical statues but too many for pass the parcel). It’s over lunchtime so we’ll have food. What other things should we do? Treasure hunt/trail?

How long is the party?
There were some brilliant ideas on a thread recently - but it was for a party at home/big garden. One idea I liked was to get some big cardboard boxes and pens etc to make dens/castles with.
Treasure hunt would be good if you have places to hide stuff.
I would have some simple games lined up too - maybe some good ones to calm things down, like 'sleeping lions'

Party is two hours.

That could be a long 2 hours! Have a plan and a schedule. It's too long to expect them to amuse themselves with free play.
Are parents staying? Although I would expect them to at this age you might get the odd one dropped off and left - do you have any extra pairs of hands arranged?
Is this your first kids party?

Pinterest is good for game ideas and other party stuff - food/themes etc

Do the mummy game - get them into teams and one of them is dressed as a mummy by wrapping them with toilet paper. Grown ups will need to help with this.

Grandmother's footsteps, musical chairs (if you have the chairs of course!), pin the tail on the donkey, musical statues. You can do pass the parcel in teams so you have two circles with two parcels. Also dancing, singing along. At my DD's birthday the entertainer had them all singing along to the Sponge Bob Square pants theme tune. Anything where they can shout out parts - that stupid baby shark song will be good for that.

Definitely have a list of activities ready to go and keep the children organised as much as possible or some will go feral while your back is turned(!).

You need to prepare at least twice as many games as you think you'll need. At 4 yo it's never certain what will hold their attention.

There's no reason why you can't have pass the parcel for a big group - just have 2 parcels going round the circle in opposite directions.

Ds 3 went to a hall party, they had hired 2 costume wearers - Elsa and Spiderman, they did the games with the dc had photos done with each dc near the end. Went down great.

I’m hoping all the adults are staying! I’m expecting so anyway. I can’t afford an entertainer so it’ll just be us. It is my first kids party, does it show?!

Pass the parcel with lots and lots of layers

Could you try your hand at face painting or little arm/ hand tattoos. Tesco's have some sets and you could get a book from the library. It would be fun- even if you are not great at it (or you could rope a relative/friend in to do it)?

Homemade piñata
Real egg and spoon race
Pass the parcel
Musical statues
Pin tail on donkey

Those two games were a hoot at my child's parties! Can take up a good amount of time as well.

You can always hard boil the eggs to keep down the mess. Real eggs guarantee no cheating...

The game "keeper of the keys" can work for quietening children down at the end, but I'm not sure if it would work for 4-year-olds. Here it is anyway:

Have everyone in a circle, with one child in the middle guarding some treasure, blindfolded so they can't see. Point at another child, who creeps up very quietly to try and steal the treasure. The child in the middle has to point to any sound they hear; the thief is out if they are pointed at. If the thief succeeds in stealing the treasure, they go in the middle next.

Do more than one pass the parcel so all the kids can join in

Great ideas here, thank you!

Is there room for an inside bouncy castle? That's what we usually do at parties. You can get low height ones.

I have been in your shoes and, trust me, two hours is a LONG time to entertain that age kids. As another poster said, plan at least two times as many activities as you think. I would honestly save every last penny for a bouncy castle if you can afford it. Plenty fit in indoor venues. Good luck!

Have as many 'winners' as you can. You can get cheap medals for prizes or little inexpensive toys. Too many sweets can send some kids loopy!
Balloons can be great fun, play games keeping them off the floor etc.

Make a giant castle or series of tunnels out of cardboard boxes, it has kept kids busy for ages at a few parties we have done. Craft table is good, homemade playdoh is cheap and easy. I find it works well to start with free play, then do half an hour of games, then a party tea, then more free play.

The best games at our parties have been when dp has dressed up as a dinosaur/monster/dragon and chased the kids around.

Could you take some toys with you? So it's a bit like a playgroup? It will help bide you some time in between games.

Some toy cars, a plastic seesaw, slide, some musical instruments, dress up, etc. Bubbles for outside.

How many children will there be?

About 20-25 I think.

GAH nc fail.