Birthday time for party help!

[SparklyMagpie]

This is most likely a first world problem so apologies in advance if i sound stupid

I am currently sorting out my DS's 4th birthday party.

This is his first party where all his school friends will be invited. I have booked the hall for the venue, but I'm a little unsure of how long the party should last?

When booking and speaking to the venue, I asked for 3 hours for the party, we plan on hiring a bouncy castle, there will be half an hour before and after to set up and tidy away.

The lady said usually people only book 2 hours for the party so I am being brave wanting 3.

This has me wondering now. Is 3 hours too long? I'm only thinking if It was 2 hours with the bouncy castle and the children eating would It be too short a time for them to play after food or is that the norm?

If you haven't guessed this is my first time Haha, it's usually family and friends in the garden kind of job

So would you go for 2 hours or 3?

Many thanks in advance

I stupidly had a 3 hour party once and it d-r-a-g-g-e-d! I had a lot of bored kids at my heels by the end of hour 2! And the party up until then had been fab - craft activities, food, birthday cake - but they were fed up by then!

I'd still book the hall for 3 hours though - 30 mins to set up, 2 for the party, 30 mins to clear up.

I'd still book the hall for 3 hours though - 30 mins to set up, 2 for the party, 30 mins to clear up.

Exactly this! 2 hours is more than enough (and standard) for the party.

I agree. 3 hours is too long. I made the same mistake for first party and several of the children were home by their parents before the end because they all ran out of steam.

Right that settles that already then

His dad did say maybe do 2 hours and we already have an hour we can use for the before and after

I just wasnt sure with the children eating and then bouncing around, I have some games prepared for after food.

But if that's the going duration then I'll definitely take the advice and stick with 3

Thank you all very much

• stick with the 2 hours

Do the bouncing before the eating!

I had a bouncy castle party that was 2 hours long for DD5.... after 30 minutes the kids were all so hyped up... 90 minutes would have def been enough to bounce and run around and then eat! Take wine with you!

As an experienced party mum I can tell you, at 4 children will bounce for 5 mins then come off and look for something else to do, they will do this a few times. There will be bumped heads and tears.
They will take a max of 15 mins to eat their food. Then they will get up and start running around looking for something else to do.
Depending on how many kiss you have there games don't really work these days, they're not used to listening and following instructions. Pass the parcel is always a hit though. When I've tried other games I get 5 or 6 little (mostly) girls who want to play and 10 screaming banshees rushing round the hall.
But if you take some toys like cars or train track, that will be another activity. Beach balls are good or balloons if you dont mind someone going round popping them all. And a colouring table usually gets some action too!
They won't all fit on the bouncy castle at once.also, factor in parent chat/bouncy castle hum noise. It makes for a really loud environment so difficult to get attention for games.

*kids, not kiss!

Games can work, however not with a bouncy castle sitting in the room. I would have bouncy castle plus some easy craft stuff set up, some duplo or other activity in another corner, maybe a treasure hunt. If you do pass the parcel then it can take ages if there are lots of children so have two or three parcels, extra layers and some way of spotting who has had the parcel (e.g. a medal). Running around games like corners or what's the time Mr Wolf can work well. Definitely not 3 hours, you would probably get away with an hour and a half - an hour of bouncing and craft and then half an hour for food and maybe a game. At 4 many of them are still at the playing alongside stage.

This is brilliant! Thank you

I'm glad it's been mentioned, I have planned to make a few tables up, so they can decorate/make superhero masks, decorate their own fairy cakes to take home. A classic pin the tail on the donkey but made to our theme

And lots of balloons 🙈🙈

I feel so much better now

Sounds great, and games like pin the tail on the donkey are good because you can do them individually rather than having to organise all the children to do the same activity. You might want to consider whether you are expecting parents to stay and younger siblings to come. Generally at 4 I would expect to stay, but you would be surprised how many will just drop and run.

I thought pin the tail might be a good choice :) although I must admit it's only because I found it in the theme we are having Haha.

Will maybe have a quiet table for any that arent a fan of running around etc.

I have invited his class as theres so much space in the hall, I've also booked the kitchen so parents can help themselves to tea and coffee or refreshments I've provided to keep them going.

Obviously with his birthday being in august and over the holidays, I dont expect everyone to turn up, but atleast I know I'll be covered and children have a few different things they can be doing.

Luckily there is a pub literally 2-3 minutes up the road where I shall find myself after all the chaos has ended 😂

Have about an hour of bouncing and other activities.

Switch the bouncy castle off and have food - 15 mins probably!

Do pass hte parcel - keeps things relatively calm after the food. Do NOT switch the bouncy castle back on after food!!

Luckily there is a pub literally 2-3 minutes up the road
As long as the parents don't just go there and leave you as free childcare for a couple of hours.

@TheBrockmans oh christ hadn't thought of that, I'll leave it with DS's dad and go join them should that be the case