Does this sound ok for a 7 year olds birthday party next month?

[Howsonetoknow]

DS turns 7 at the end of June, we would like to do something special for him but obviously Covid puts a stop to most things.
He isn't bothered about not having a proper party with loads of classmates (previous years we've hired local leisure centre, soft play etc)
He said he would like to go camping, even if it's just in our garden so my thoughts are: (very much weather dependant, but so far every year on his birthday its been lovely weather so fingers crossed for this year too!)

Either buying or borrowing a tent for the garden (Teepee style that sleeps up to 8 if buying) or possibly could borrow a canvas bell/yurt type tent from my sister who owns one if she will let me
Would fill tent with blankets, pillows, cushions, sleeping bags etc.
Set up in our garden and decorate the garden with bunting, balloons, fairy lights etc.
Hoping I can also borrow a projector and pull down screen to put a movie on too.
Thinking of asking 3-4 of his closest friends to come round late afternoon time, would have a little campfire type thing in a fire pit and cook some hot dogs and marshmallows on it, (Obviously me/DH there with them at all times) let them chill in the tent and play in the garden.
Would have plenty of other snacks/food/drink too.
I don't think it would necessarily be a sleepover/overnight thing, but aware that it won't get dark until late so it would mostly be in the daylight, not sure if that would take away from the 'camping' atmosphere or if they'd just have fun anyway.

I know restrictions should be lifted enough by then to mean indoor visits are ok and social distancing doesn't need to be a thing, but whilst I am pretty chill about the whole situation, I'm aware that not everyone is.

The idea would be to mostly stay outside as long as the weather is ok, and obviously I'd run everything by the kids parents beforehand, to make sure they were comfortable with everything.

Would you feel ok sending your child to something like that the last weekend in June, which is straight after restrictions are lifted (hopefully) and does it sound ok or spectacularly shit for a party?

I have quite bad social anxiety and am not especially close to any of DS's friends parents and tend to overthink absolutely everything so would appreciate some opinions!

Thanks in advance!

I think that sounds like absolutely loads of fun!
One of my best memories of childhood birthdays is playing balloon races along the garden. It’s simple, fun things which always go down the best.
Have a grand time with your mates in the garden sounds lovely.

Sounds idyllic and yes I’d send my child! Wouldn’t be happy with the sleeping over necessarily but party sounds fun!

Sounds awesome! I’d be happy to send my son to something like that and might even borrow some of your ideas for future birthdays 😊

Sounds fun.
If all the kids are in the same class at school, I wouldn't mind the distancing as much as if mixing from a range of situations (my DDs aren't going to their close friends birthday sleepover for this reason in a few weeks but will have a separate celebration with friend and her sister. They go to a different school)

My son went to something similar at that age or perhaps 8 or 9 and they did all sleep over, but it rained so they all slept in the sitting room in the end.

They had great fun! Do lots of organised games so they don't get bored.

It sounds great but I think you need to decide if it's a sleepover or not and how you manage it if it is. Kids that age will do very little sleeping, especially as it's light until so late at that time of year. They're too young to be left in the garden all night on their own so one of you will also need to be out there with them, probably in a different tent or that's a bit weird with other people's kids.....or they come inside to sleep which will no doubt be met with some resistance.
Or if you don't do a sleepover then you'll need to set a pick up time which isn't too late because no parent wants to be waiting up to go and collect a 7yr old, you get enough of that once they hit their teens!
Maybe have a teatime / early evening party for friends and then sleep in the tent as a family?

I think if you set it up as a sleepunder rather than a sleepover this would work well.

So get parents to collect at nighttime but they would have had the evening to be in garden and tent, played games, made s'mores watched outdoor movie or whatever you are doing.

Collection around 9pm maybe?

Great idea. My children would love that and I would be happy to let them attend.

I have posted a link before to some ideas from the Scouts for this age group (6-8) for outdoors things you can do with a camping theme for some ideas.

www.scouts.scot/news-events/news/outdoor-programmes-inspiration-for-beavers/?fbclid=IwAR1FAeoxNqSt2G7l7Dsh4m0bKQMAoHKDyeL4fB-pQLDu3cH9KPf9ix-Bh_4

Sounds amazing!!

I’d be ok with that from a covid perspective, assuming the restrictions allowed, especially if they were all at school together anyway. It sounds fun!

I am a bit nervous about fire pits and children though, especially if there’s some party silliness - there’s parents of DC’s friends I would absolutely trust to do that kind of thing safely and some I really wouldn’t.

Thanks for the replies, good to know it does indeed sound fun and not just in my head!
Was thinking I'd do a little set of things for the kids (instead of party bag tat) - a headtorch beanie, mini enamel mug for hot chocolates in maybe? Things they could use on the day and take home afterwards.

I've got loads of visions in my head of how to tie it all together, pinterest is my best friend!

It definitely won't be a sleepover event, think that's too much having potentially 4 kids over straight out of a pandemic, plus that feels too much responsibility for me at this point when I don't feel I know the families that well! plus DS is a terrible sleeper at the best of times

DS and 3 of the 4 kids are in the same class/bubble at school, and one boy is same school but different class. Having said that, from this week his school are easing the rules a bit in school so they will be in year group bubbles rather than just class bubbles so we'll see how that goes.

Plenty of time to decide anyway before the end of June

Perfect idea @emmathedilemma about kids gets picked up then we sleep over in the tent as a family!

So fun!!

[quote GintyMcGinty]Great idea. My children would love that and I would be happy to let them attend.

I have posted a link before to some ideas from the Scouts for this age group (6-8) for outdoors things you can do with a camping theme for some ideas.

www.scouts.scot/news-events/news/outdoor-programmes-inspiration-for-beavers/?fbclid=IwAR1FAeoxNqSt2G7l7Dsh4m0bKQMAoHKDyeL4fB-pQLDu3cH9KPf9ix-Bh_4[/quote]
@GintyMcGinty this is great, thank you - I will have a proper read later on!
I have been trying to convince DS he would LOVE beavers but he is so reluctant to join any clubs/groups

Great idea, they’ll love it. Daytime is definitely best for this age group.
My DC went to a similar party last summer and the Mum managed to find some very cheap camo T-shirts online and they all had camo face paint on when I came to collect. Fire pit and marshmallows fantastic with supervision.

@CadburyCake

I’d be ok with that from a covid perspective, assuming the restrictions allowed, especially if they were all at school together anyway. It sounds fun!

I am a bit nervous about fire pits and children though, especially if there’s some party silliness - there’s parents of DC’s friends I would absolutely trust to do that kind of thing safely and some I really wouldn’t.

@CadburyCake Yes very good point.

I like to think DH and I would be fully trusted by the other parents - we have had other at home parties before which have gone down well, but none involving fire to be fair

Suppose we will bring it out just for the food part and then put it away. But obviously would NEVER leave the kids unattended.
DH and I will be present at the party the whole time and actually, there's nothing to stop the adults staying if they wanted and just chilling with a drink in the other part of the garden.

@Moonlaserbearwolf

Great idea, they’ll love it. Daytime is definitely best for this age group. My DC went to a similar party last summer and the Mum managed to find some very cheap camo T-shirts online and they all had camo face paint on when I came to collect. Fire pit and marshmallows fantastic with supervision.

Oh I love that idea and so will DS! Adding camo tshirts to list and we already have face paint

My kids would go bananas for this (5 and 7.5).

I'd bill it as a backyard cook-out or similar, and say there'll be a den in a tent or the like, so parents don't think they've managed to get rid of their kid for the whole night. I'd do:

4pm - arrive, run round like lunatics/do garden games (have you got anything like kids archery or similar?)
5pm - hot dogs cooked over a firepit/BBQ and s'mores/bananas with a flake inside cooked in the coals
5.45pm - movie in the tent?
7pm - parents collect

Give them all a headtorch as a party gift - boom, nailed it 😁

Just double check dc are ok with face paint.
One of mine is fine, one flares up badly.