How can I make this feel like a party??

[DyingForACuppa]

Help! It's my son's 3rd birthday. 1st was in the first lockdown so no guests. 2nd we had to have in the freezing garden with maximum of 6 people, was ok but no one wanted to linger (understandably!).

I have spent all my spare moments this week, cleaning/rearranging to make space and baking/cooking for a great party today only to have all the guests getting ill over the last 24 hours. 3 families with covid for at least one member, stomach bugs, you name it. We're down to one guest.

We had another family member have a party last weekend that had loads of guests so I'm worried my son will compare (his was always going to be smaller).

I'm about to wrap some hand me down toys to add to the one toy we got him so he has more to unwrap, we have cake and (far too much) party food, but is there anything else I can do to make it feel less like another afternoon at home and more like a party?

Balloons and party music. Everything a 3 year old could want.

Balloons, pass the parcel, musical chairs, musical statues.

Put some music on and dance like a loony with him.
Party hats, make them if you have to. Make some paper chains and hang them.
Balloons and bubbles.
Party games.
Maybe dress up in good clothes so it’s more special, like you would if going to someone else’s party.
Just try and be high energy, fun, and make it look like you’re really having fun.

Have you got lots of decorations and balloons up? Maybe get some little pots of bubbles and blow bubbles for them to burst. Have a dance party?

Balloons instantly turn a gathering into a party. You don't need fancy helium ones (they have a tendency to get free and float off and end in tears), but a pack of cheap blow up balloons that the kids can kick about.

Not sure pass the parcel will work with so few guests, but have some balloons and can do musical statues. Thanks for all the ideas so far!

I would consider postponing. Surely would be better to wait a week and have more guests? Could you take him out for the day instead? Party next weekend?

@DyingForACuppa we did pass the parcel for ds when he was 4. There were 2 children and 5 adults, we included the adults.

Party games
Music
Decorations

Is there anyone else you can invite last minute? Although I don't think at 3 he will notice too much who is or isn't there, he will just love all the attention and games.
Hope he has a lovely day.

I did consider postponing, but with covid it seems likely those families won't be here next week either, some people have other plans, etc, and I didn't want to make him wait another whole week (which is aaages to a 3 year old) only for there to still only be a couple of guests.

He’s 3 so he won’t have any concept of there being fewer people.
3 year olds are concerned purely with themselves!
Just tell him it’s a party and it is one!

Can the attendees who now can’t make it join on screen at various points? Could be fun, lots more people to join in with a disco game?

I can tell you that I absolutely cannot remember my own third birthday, and my DC cannot remember theirs either except for photo prompts like the cake. We only had family tea parties at that age and it always seemed like “a party” as long as there were decorations.

[quote ImFree2doasiwant]@DyingForACuppa we did pass the parcel for ds when he was 4. There were 2 children and 5 adults, we included the adults. [/quote]
There will be 2 children and three adults one of whom will be stopping the music! It might just about be doable if I can work out a way to stop the music and play??

You do pass the parcel with extras like get the parcel, stand up , turn around, sit down and then pass it on. Take on and off a hat, do a star jump , count to 5 etc.

Don’t you have any friends with young children who could be last minute guests ?

Have you got a couple of small things ( pack of sweet/ toy ) that you can wrap up and hide and draw a treasure map .

The shops already have packets of small foil wrapped Easter eggs for a Birthday Egg Hunt 😬

Just wanted to come back and say thanks to all! As soon as the kids were playing with balloons with the music on it felt 'partyish' and I pulled out a game (we did do pass the parcel! And I drew a quick pin the tail on the donkey and did musical chairs, and racing with balloon held between legs) or did food/cake/presents/zoom call to grandparents each time it felt like it was starting to flag. Finished with a boardgame.

Generally kept things at a relaxed pace and it was a lovely afternoon.

Thanks for the update – sounds like it was a great success 🎉🎁🎊