What can I do for DD’s birthday?

[ProfessorRadcliffeEmerson]

DD has her 10th birthday this month. We haven’t had a party at home for years, and I’m a bit stumped for ideas. What do I do with five ten year olds for an afternoon? She doesn’t want to watch a film. I suggested making their own mocktails and pizzas (basically getting them to make their own tea!), and she’s quite keen on that but it won’t take more than an hour or so. Any other ideas? I don’t really want them to spend all their time playing computer games, which is what would happen if DD were left entirely to her own devices.

I also need to come up with something to go in the party bags! Heelllp...

How about karaoke ? Games night? You could do trivia cards .
You could do a slumber party maybe from about 7pm-10pm? They could bring their sleeping bags and they could make the pizzas , decorate cakes then have some kind or games and then a movie with their pizzas ?
In their party bags you could put those eye masks for sleeping / nail polish / fake tattoos . They could use them at the “ slumber party “!

She’d hate karaoke, but games are a good plan. Unfortunately the movie’s already been ruled out, DD isn’t keen.

I meant to add that the party’s in the afternoon as some of the other parents are much stricter about bedtimes, even in holidays, than I am.

Continuing the theme they could do a bit of cake decorating as well.

Fabric pens and a plain white t-shirt each?

Hen do style quiz (obviously age appropriate!) about the birthday girl?

Ooh, I like the idea of fabric pens and a t-shirt - the T-shirt can be the main ”party bag” thing.

DD's last party at home was quite successful. We brought wooden keepsake boxes and they painted them.

Whilst they dried they decorated other bits and pieces we'd purchased like large initials.

We depainted the children and let them in the garden for a bit, they then had traditional junk party food.

To round things off we moved back onto adding stickers, ribbon, pictures to the lids and insides of the boxes. With their choice of music playing.

That was best part of five hours for six children.

I was worried we'd have time to kill.

The crafts were their party bag - with the addition of a few sweets and a wrapped cake.

were having a pizza
picnic with a treasure hunt in our local park for similar aged DD. pizza will be delivered to the park

I have no idea what to do for party bags for this age- maybe just a book and a piece of cake !

Crafting--fabric bag they can paint or colour on, deco patch?

What about an escape game? (At home)

Tie dye! Buy some plain caps/bags/t-shirts, a few buckets and elastic bands and you've a great activity!
DD 9 and her friends love tie dye. It also takes a bit longer and will fill the time.

( I'd send out a note to wear old clothes with the invite)

Apart from gaming what sort of things are they into? Crafts? Pamper party? Talent show? Baking?

You could do t-shirt decorating. Just get cheap white t-shirts, some fabric pens and paint, fabric glue and a selection of ribbons, buttons and off cuts of material. They could take the T shirts home instead of a party bag.
While they're doing the activity, you could do a treasure hunt around the garden if you have one.
My DD played Googly Eyes www.argos.co.uk/product/5587724 at her cousin's house and loved it.

I also like the tie dye idea! They’re a real mixed bag in terms of interests, DD is into music and science, some of the others are more sporty. Baking might work. Two of them are very shy so talent show or karaoke would be excruciating for them.

I don’t want to plan anything that depends on fine weather, it’s looking so unpredictable.