Kids party without an entertainer/disco. Can it be done?

Seeline · 11/04/2022 14:34

What age?

starlight36 · 11/04/2022 14:34

Yes if you gave enough help to sort out all of the food and organise party games etc to keep the kids happy, I think a lot of the parties my kids went to had hated entertainment because the parents couldn't do it all on their own but if you have enough help you could set up music and run through the traditional party games.

Original poster

Caky30 · 11/04/2022 14:35

Dd is turning 7 and the youngest in her class so all 7 year olds, some nearer to 8!

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Caky30 · 11/04/2022 14:37

@starlight36

Yes if you gave enough help to sort out all of the food and organise party games etc to keep the kids happy, I think a lot of the parties my kids went to had hated entertainment because the parents couldn't do it all on their own but if you have enough help you could set up music and run through the traditional party games.

Thanks. I'm hoping that a few family members will like to help!

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Marblessolveeverything · 11/04/2022 14:37

I've done them at home. So a treasure hunt, ring toss, charades, and target practice. So paper targets on washing line and water pistol. Ring toss etc like a mini fair, kids had a ball. Needless to say we were wrecked afterwards 🤣

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 11/04/2022 14:38

Have a focus... pottery painting, cake decorating, making something etc. Some games. Food.

Seeline · 11/04/2022 14:40

Yes - that's doable.

Set up a couple of craft tables - you can get kits from Baker Ross, or decorating biscuits or fairy cakes.

If you've got outside space, bring some kit for out door playing - balls, bats etc if you've got adults to supervise indoors and outdoors.

Design a treasure hunt for outside - everyone outside for that.

Maybe a bit old for traditional party games, but lots of games played at cubs, brownies etc could be done if you know anyone with those connections.

Never too old for pass the parcel!

Half an hour for food.

Original poster

Caky30 · 11/04/2022 14:42

@Marblessolveeverything

I've done them at home. So a treasure hunt, ring toss, charades, and target practice. So paper targets on washing line and water pistol. Ring toss etc like a mini fair, kids had a ball. Needless to say we were wrecked afterwards 🤣

Thanks, sounds good but don't think I could take a party at home 😅 but the village hall is pretty cheap!

We have some ring toss, Tin can games too actually. Bought at the end of last summer and never used - might be a good idea!

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MobLife · 11/04/2022 14:42

@Caky30

Book the village hall for daughters birthday later in the summer so 3 months away yet. Have had no luck finding a disco or entertainer of any kind, keep getting told it's peak season.

Can it be done without? I mean when I was a kid we never had entertainers, probably hard work for our parents but we just had party games or the local kids play centre (that was pants comapred to today's standards).

Anyway, ever party my dc have been to has had a wow factor thing - disco, entertainer, face painter, bouncy castles (bouncy castle is a no due to Dd having a mild physical disability and she hates them!)

Can it be done with a speaker, Bluetooth and Apple Music? Party games? I have a microphone and a disco light too!

Any advice? Don't want to stress myself out.

It can be done but......you'll be wrecked as a PP said! Also with a class party of 7-8 year olds you literally need just one loose cannon (and every class has at least one) and it's game over. I speak from bitter experience 😬

If you're able to I'd throw money at the problem-they're at a good age for enjoying an entertainer and the entertainer will have all sorts of crowd control tactics up their sleeve.....the entertainer I booked for my DCs 7th birthday was worth every single penny!

Original poster

Caky30 · 11/04/2022 14:43

@Seeline

Yes - that's doable.

Set up a couple of craft tables - you can get kits from Baker Ross, or decorating biscuits or fairy cakes.

If you've got outside space, bring some kit for out door playing - balls, bats etc if you've got adults to supervise indoors and outdoors.

Design a treasure hunt for outside - everyone outside for that.

Maybe a bit old for traditional party games, but lots of games played at cubs, brownies etc could be done if you know anyone with those connections.

Never too old for pass the parcel!

Half an hour for food.

Thanks. The village hall I am booking has a fully enclosed park/outdoor built on to it which might come in handy!

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Original poster

Caky30 · 11/04/2022 14:44

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Have a focus... pottery painting, cake decorating, making something etc. Some games. Food.

Thanks. Cake decorating good idea!

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Original poster

Caky30 · 11/04/2022 14:45

@MobLife thanks, money is not the issue, I'm willing to pay for an entertainer for my own sanity but not having much luck. I've been told 'peak season' by a few. I've just emailed another couple I found 🤞

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Caky30 · 11/04/2022 14:46

It seems a lot of the parents stay too (i have to stay too as Dd has some degree of sen) so feel under pressure with watching eyes 👀 😅🤦‍♀️

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Seeline · 11/04/2022 14:48

@Caky30

It seems a lot of the parents stay too (i have to stay too as Dd has some degree of sen) so feel under pressure with watching eyes 👀 😅🤦‍♀️

No watching - if they stay they supervise an area! Lots of cups of tea as a reward

Original poster

Caky30 · 11/04/2022 14:49

Does a summer games party sound lame? As above I have a brand new ring toss, tin can alley, maybe buy a few cheap skipping ropes, hula hoops, the range is cheap right? Obviously I don't want to buy too much because it isn't good for the environment but staff my own dc could use after?!

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Original poster

Caky30 · 11/04/2022 14:50

Is is the games idea a bit young?

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Caky30 · 11/04/2022 14:51

@Seeline good idea. From experience they just like to grab a drink from the bar next door though 😅

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winesolveseverything · 11/04/2022 15:06

Party games would be fine- my son has been to lots of parties this year for his classmates turning 8 and they've all been more than happy to do musical statues/bumps/chairs, pass the parcel (get a couple of parcels going round if there's a lot of them).

You could divide them into teams and do relay races- I used to do kids parties and these were always a huge hit. Simple races from run to the cone with a bean bag and back so the next person can go, to running down the length of the hall with a balloon which they then had to sit on to pop before they could run back.
The absolute favourite was to have a box of ball-pit type balls, get each team facing each other at either end of the hall, then throw the box of balls into the air. They hit the floor and go EVERYWHERE!
Winners were the team who collected the most balls. We used to have to do this about 3 times as they loved it so much!

Don't forget these children have missed out on a couple of years of parties and games- they won't have outgrown them.

And on a side note- I once spent a fortune on an all singing, all dancing entertainer. It was a great party, but the second it finished, it was never ever mentioned again! Literally forgotten the minute we got in the car to leave.. 🙄
Sometimes the simpler things are the best..

ODFOx · 11/04/2022 16:03

Of all the parties we have given over the years (5 DC grown up) the ones which were described as 'best party ever' were the ones which broke the mould of the hat the current trend was. Something which seems a bit dated for a parent will still be fresh and new for a 7/8 year old.
What is your DS into?
You can go full on party games and tea, or mix and match team games and races, provide crafts as a main activity or just to dip in and out of if they need a rest.
I'd recommend an adult/child ration of not less than 1:8 so that 2 can be running the activities, one watching the borders or
Just keeping an eye on boisterous play and one checking the loos/generally tidying round and 2 spare for cutting cake, laying out tea, getting the party bags ready etc. these roles can move around of course but better to have an adult spare than too few.

ODFOx · 11/04/2022 16:05

Blame the brain fog! I don't mean you need 8 adults, just have each role covered.

PineappleWilson · 11/04/2022 16:09

Bouncy castle with slide and a disco. Add in pass the parcel and they'd be happy at 7.

Original poster

Caky30 · 11/04/2022 16:11

@PineappleWilson

Bouncy castle with slide and a disco. Add in pass the parcel and they'd be happy at 7.

Dd hates bouncy castle as I would have. Wouldn't be enjoyable for her at all 😪

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PragmaticWench · 11/04/2022 16:17

You can get a cheap set of coloured sacks for children's sack races, went down amazingly with my 7/8 year olds. Oh and buy a whistle for you!

Littlemissprosecco · 11/04/2022 16:19

Face painting! Just a few stars and hearts etc….
You’ll have them queuing up!

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Caky30 · 11/04/2022 16:23

@Littlemissprosecco

Face painting! Just a few stars and hearts etc…. You’ll have them queuing up!

My artistic skills are appalling but it is a fab idea. Dd went to own recently which had a face painter, was a hit. She was very pricey though!

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