What did you do for your five year old's birthday?

[NutmegSnow]

DS is turning five in October, just after starting reception.

I'd like to throw him a party, but I have no idea what the done thing is these days?

I'd like to invite his whole class (30 kids) then some cousins, family friends etc.

Probably 40 invites would be sent out.

Hire a venue? Soft play?

Please give me ideas!

My youngest has just finished Reception. We went to about 15 identikit village hall / bouncy castle / party food parties - some hired ride ons as well and had face painting and temporary tattoos. Most had some colouring sheets or crafts out too. Kids all seemed to enjoy running around with their friends for 90 mins or so but was getting pretty repetitive by the end. We also had a trampolining party and two forest school type things. My son is the youngest in the class and only just turned 5 so we did something completely different (animal experience) last weekend but only with half the class.

Clip and climb birthday party. It also had soft play. So all kids were busy at all times. They served pizza. Was brilliant.

Long time ago but we had a party for him, at home. We hired a magic show (nothing sinister, just rabbit out of hat and that sort of thing. Ended with him making animals out of balloons. It all went down well,

DS1 we hired a hall and a Pirate, he was fab and did lots of games and made up songs about all the children which they loved. We decorated the hall as a desert island and we did individual lunch boxes with a sandwich, drink, fruit etc in

DS2 we had a lot going on in our lives so we just booked a soft play party and let them deal with everything. More expensive but super easy.

Years ago but hired out a church hall and did a cold buffet and hired an entertainer, She was like a Butlins Red Coat and did lots of games and the Cha Cha slide and such like. It was brilliant ,kids loved it.

Bouncy castle, church hall.
Jam or cheese sandwiches. Fruit. Squash.
Cake.
Tea for parents.
Lovely.

Hired a hall, did bouncy castle/music and disco lights/ride on toys/ball pit package. Hall hire and entertainment came to about £270 in total. Invited the whole class (26), plus siblings where parents asked if they could bring them/were already friends with DS and a few friends from outside school. We did finger food with bottles of fruit shoot. I bought a cake. Parents stayed, they picked at the food that was left. The hall had a kitchen so parents could make tea/coffee. Everyone had a lovely time. One thing a friend did at a subsequent party that I’ll be stealing for next time was to make up some party bags for younger siblings as I felt a bit rotten that some of the things I’d put in weren’t suitable for under 3s so toddlers went home without one.

We did a party package at a nearby trampoline place, an hour of bouncing then a buffet in the party room. No fuss, no cleanup.