Kids party in a hall

[Ak627]

We’ve hired a hall with bouncy castle and soft play for a 3rd birthday. We invited his full nursery class, but also have some friends coming plus younger siblings.

I thought some people may not be able to make it, but everyone has rsvpd yes (I should have staggered the invites). In total we’re looking at just over 30 kids 😱 plus parents (this includes a few babies and younger children).

Is it ok to just have an unstructured party and just let the kids just go nuts on the bouncy castle for a couple of hours?

We’re going to put some food out (sandwiches, crisps, cakes etc) and kids and parents are welcome to help themselves, but we’re not planning to get all the kids to sit down and eat together, they can just eat as and when.

Anyone have any advice based on parties you’ve attended? I don’t really want to hire an entertainer, the plan is just to keep it relaxed….is it going to be chaos?! 😆

We did this for DD at that age and about the same number of kids.

2hr party, 1st hour they ran wild on bouncy castle, we also had music playing in one corner of the room and balloons thrown around everywhere.

2nd hour was buffet food and blowing out the candles, that took about 30 mins leaving the last 30 mins for them to have a final play while you clear up, get cake into party bags and then the kids start to filter off home,

For food they don't need tiny chairs and tables just normal sized is fine, they kneel on them or sit on their parents lap.

Set up a long table against a wall where you put the food and then a couple of long tables for sitting to eat and for the parents to hang out.

Thanks all - some really helpful suggestions here. And I feel reassured by the number of people who have attempted the same type of party. Wish me luck! 😆

I’ve done hall parties with a bouncy castle. I generally did let them just play BUT I made them sit down for food at a set time otherwise you’ll end up with food and drinks everywhere. Have lots of balloons! We usually did pass the parcel before food to calm them down and switched the bouncy castle off. I also had a quiet area with some crafts for those who wanted to do something more sedate.

This, definitely.
Plus, I think you are being very optimistic to think you can entertain over 30 x 2 and 3 yr olds on one bouncy castle for 2hrs

In all fairness if they all turn up that would be a miracle. Had similar but on the day only half came

I wouldn't do balloons lots of little children are scared of the 'pop' and you don't want tears.Keep balloons for when they are older especially if you are likely to have younger siblings there as the balloon parts are choking hazards.
I'd go for a bubble machine instead

We went to a birthday party like that - unstructured play with food out. It was great. Children happily played as supervised by their parents, and as there were usually two parents per child, it allowed one parent to chat to others and have food whilst the other was with the child, and then swap.

Bubble machine
Mini pots of bubbles for the kids
Face painting/glitter tattoos
Lots of balloons
Decorate you own fairy cakes (you can buy plain ones and icing pens/edible decorations)

It will be carnage and everyone will be exhausted afterwards, but it will be a great party!

Don't overdo the food, they don't eat much ( really don't bother with sandwiches) and don't do the typical parent of child who hasn't started school yet mistake of thinking the adults will eat the food, after a few letters home about worms in the class you'll never eat anything that's been anywhere near other people's children again! You'll need about t times tgd amount of drink you think you will. Just get squash and paper cups. Don't waste money on more expensive options the take a sip, abandon it, forget which is there's and get another.

We've done sit down and not sit down and decided, food out on a table for them to help themselves when they want it works. At that age you'll have parents to help supervise. Towards the end gather for pass the parcel and do the birthday cake, then give 10 minute warning.

Entertainment wise, you'll have the 2 hour bouncers and then the too scared to go on groups. Take some other toys (duplo etc), have a colouring table and loads of balloons.

Don't forget your 'miscellaneous' pack.

• bin bags - rubbish cleanup and way to carry 30 large and strange shaped presents to the car. Don't mix up the bags
• blutack - banners/balloons/whatever other decorations you're taking
• kitchen roll - at least 3 kids will spill their whole cup of squash and you could end up with a 'too busy playing to go to the toilet' situation.
• pack of plasters - someone will fall over
• duck tape - just always comes in useful somehow like sticking down paper tablecloths to tables
• ziplock bags - leftovers
• Knife - cake cutting

For a party cake don't bother with a ££££ one, children don't care

Trying to host and cut cake is a nightmare so prepare party bags before hand. Get a large M&S Colin the Caterpillar cake for DC to blow the candles out and then take it home, pre-fill the party bags with the M&S individual Colin mini rolls so the children effectively have the same cake with the bonus DC hasn't blown all over it

You would be fine with just the bouncy castle. My dd had one like this at that age. I tried to do games but they just kept going on the castle instead 🤣

You cannot have anything other than an unstructured party I think!

People will come and go, eat, play, leave

They'll have a blast

Colin caterpillar mini roll is a golden idea

not your first rodeo #teaandtoast

Yikes is it a very large bouncy castle set up?
There will be a max number allowed on at a time..
I think maybe some music and toys... Ride ons ..see if friends will bring things to loan .

I wouldn't recommend face paints or glitter / transfer tattoos this year, they aren't suitable for 3 and under due to increase skin sensitivity in that age group - keep that for next year.

@coxesorangepippin DD is 14 now, I learnt after years of trying to host single-handed and keep up with Jones' and have a posh personalised cake (single parent didn't want DD to go without) that cost £££ that the children don't care and my own DD doesn't even particularly like icing, she does like mini rolls though :). Her favourite cake is Madeira nowadays which is what she had this year.

We went to a birthday party like that - unstructured play with food out. It was great. Children happily played as supervised by their parents, and as there were usually two parents per child, it allowed one parent to chat to others and have food whilst the other was with the child, and then swap.

usually two parents per child

What fresh hell is this ???
Why on earth would any sane person go to a toddler's birthday party when they weren't needed ???

We did similar many moons ago and it worked best to take the castle down for a break to encourage kids to eat. Otherwise you risk them taking food on with them and bouncing which is messy, can cause skips or even a choking hazard.