Easy time-fillers for 7 year old party?

[ThePug]

I'm about to book a Pizza Express party for my son's 7th birthday in February (any feedback on that as a general idea for this age group appreciated!) They've said I should have a 10 minute time filler activity up my sleeve for when the pizzas are cooking. We'll probably have about 15 children, mix of boys and girls.

As they will be at a table in the main restaurant I think it needs to be something they be can do sat down without much noise, so definitely not old school party games like musical chairs / Simon says. He moved schools in September so I don't know many of his classmates well, but I'm hoping I can find an easy craft thing to do that will occupy most for a short window. I've looked on Baker Ross but there are just loads of sets so I thought I'd check here if anyone had any suggestions. My ideal criteria:

No glue!
No paint or colouring pens needed as don't want to have to buy loads
Something straightforward a 6/7 yo can do with minimal adult input as not sure how many parents will stay
Easy /quick to tidy away - not zillions of small pieces
Not more than £1.50 per head (nice for it to be something they can take home as part of party bag)

I found these bookmarks but not sure if they'd be too quick! www.bakerross.co.uk/jungle-animal-bookmark-kits Or keyring sets? www.bakerross.co.uk/rainbow-wooden-keyring-bag-dangler-kits

Any other ideas? Or games they could play at the table - Chinese whispers maybe?!
Thanks!

A quiz with a prize
Feely bag game - they can pass them round and guess
who am I ( pre written post it’s)
origami - cups are easy to make and when made you can pop a treat in them

Thank you, they're all great suggestions!

I think the first bookmarks are better than the second as I can picture beads going everywhere!

I like HopeandMoss's idea of the quiz though, you could even make it pizza themed. Or similarly that game where you have a tray of objects and then hide it and they have to remember what items are there. Pass the parcel would also work around a table

Just remembered when I was younger one activity we loved at a restaurant party was drawing on the white (paper) table cloth. Something about collaborating on it was really fun

The stinky pig game
www.amazon.com/PlayMonster-7384-Stinky-Pig/dp/B00LLNB3PQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=stinky+pig+game&qid=1672774677&sr=8-2
Basically you set it going and the children pass it around . It randomly makes a farty noisy - everyone laughs and the child holding it gets a Percy pig sweet.

no mess and they absolutely think it is hilarious

I spy

I don’t want to be negative (but you did ask for feedback!) but in my experience at this age they want to play games, dance around etc - I’m not sure sitting at a table in a restaurant is something they exciting. And Pizza Express is such a staple they’ll all have been many times. Trying to chill 15 7 yrs olds in a restaurant seems madness to me!!!

I got scratch off masks in similar situation from baker Ross.

I agree with this. Sone 7 year olds will be fine others will run riot. Unless you know them all well its a risk

Chinese whispers
I went to the shop one day and bought (Change it to pizza express)
This is a bing, this is a bong

😄 that sounds right up my children's street, thanks!

Scratch art - Baker Ross do all sorts of designs. Has kept every child I've given it to busy from about 4-11 plus some teenagers with SEN.

Hmm yes this is my slight concern too, although I don't think my son has been to Pizza Express since I used to go on NCT lunches during mat leave so it's exciting for him! He's in Y2 but came from a much smaller school where nobody did whole class parties or anything similar and thanks to Covid hasn't been to many parties until this year - since September he's been to 4 class parties all of which have been a bouncy castle in a hall (3 the same hall). I've got bored of going to them as they're so carbon copy (his little brother has just started in Reception and also been to 3 parties the same!) so was trying to think of something a bit different with the bonus of me not having to make any food 😆. He's keen on a nearby farm that does parties too but I'm wary of February weather, and if feeding animals might be deemed too young for some 7 year olds 🤔

We have sometimes decorated plain paper party bags!

Kim's game.

At 7 you can try for about maybe 15 objects - just stuff from round the house, each one different (hairbrush, book, spoon, jug, animal ormament etc etc). Take the objects in a bag, a tray and a cloth big enough to cover the lot.

Put the objects on the tray. Cover and put the tray centrally between the children. Explain the game. Uncover the tray for 10 seconds or so, let them look but not touch. Take the tray away. They close their eyes, you remove one object. You put the tray back, uncover and the first one to say the missing object wins that round. Repeat until you're down to 2 objects.

'Prizes' can be nothing, or a sweet if you really want.

I know you didn't want felt pens, but what about these? Only £1 each, 3 different designs, and when the pizzas are ready they can pack the pens in their bags and take home to finish.

www.theworks.co.uk/p/craft-activities-for-kids/colour-your-own-bag-assorted/5052089294622.html

Have you booked a kids party where they make their own pizzas or just booked a table? If you’ve booked the party, the staff do all the games and entertainment for you!

I haven't booked it yet but it'll be a party where they're making pizzas. I asked the manager what the format was and if I'd need to bring any filler activities and he said yes something for 10 mins while the pizzas are cooking. He said they get colouring packs and dough balls on arrival. I'd seen some reviews mentioning "entertainment" from the staff but I think that's very branch/ staff dependent hence why I specifically asked!

Oh these are PERFECT! I don't mind colouring if the each get their own set of pens. Can use them for party bags too and just have some stuff ready to put in when time to go. Thank you!

21. On your go, you can say 1-3 numbers, counting up in order. So the first person can say 1, 1 2 or 1 2 3. If I say 1 2, you could say 3 4 5, etc. If you say 21 you're out.

Glad I could help! 🙂

Hi @ThePug did you do this party in the end? Im debating it for my DD’s 7th bday

Yes we did - it was good and they all seemed to enjoy themselves, for ages 7 it worked well. Our branch didn't do any entertainment while the pizzas were cooking so the bags to colour in as recommended by another poster were a really good time filler. Only negative was we had a massive wait for puddings as the restaurant had opened and was busy by then, and they got a measly half scoop of ice cream.