Village Hall Birthday Party Tips Please

[Youdontgettohateme]

We are having a village hall birthday party for DD for her 4th birthday. This will be our first time hosting a proper party rather than just a few friends at home.

We have hired a bouncy castle and some soft play equipment.

I was thinking of doing individual lunch boxes for the children with a sandwich, raisins, crisps, carrot and cucumber sticks and a chocolate bar with a fruit shoot. Then a platter of sandwiches and biscuits with tea and coffee making facilities in the kitchen for adults to help themselves to. I thought I'd just do ham, cheese and jam and lable the boxes so kids can pick for themselves (and set a few aside for any dietary requirements as needed).

I was thinking a little sweetie bag to take home rather than a proper party bag.

I've made a playlist on my phone of songs DD likes and just plan to take a Bluetooth speaker for light background music.

I hadn't really planned any games, was just going to let the bouncy castle work it's magic.

I have 20 names of children to invite including my friends' children and cousins and 4 children from nursery I know DD loves. I was also thinking I'd ask nursery to tell me how many other children DD really does play with at nursery so we can invite a few more too. She's been at nursery for 3 years so I'm certain she has more friends there she's just not amazing at telling us names.

I'll bake a cake so we can sing happy birthday then take it away to cut up and have slices on a platter for everyone to help themselves to. I'm in two minds on this actually and might bake the cake for DDs actual birthday and just buy a store bought cake for the party for ease.

We both work full time, also have a 1 year old, minimal family nearby to help so need to make everything as easy as possible. The party is a Sunday so we'll have all Saturday to prep the lunch boxes etc.

Is there anything I'm missing or planning that just sounds ridiculous? Any tips or advice is greatly appreciated!

Sound great,if not a bit stressful lol.

Maybe some banners / balloons?

I always print some colouring sheets and take a very simple Craft and make a quieter corner. Plenty of squash and water , take a sharpie to write names on cups.

Sounds great! My 4yo would love that.

You could do cupcakes to make life simpler, bought or homemade.

And yes to some balloons, kids love chasing after them and throwing them around.

I would plan some games as well ... pass the parcel, musical bumps etc otherwise it could just be a free for all on the bouncy castle. We always used to do village hall type parties ... but we are ex Cub / Scout leaders so well used to organising children. Not sure about the picnic box idea ... a lot of work to prepare & a lot of wastage - we just did a few large platters of food on the centre of the table (check for dietary restrictions of course).
Delegate a couple of competent people to help.

Lovely party ideas. Remember to take washing up equipment (not always supplied) and tea towels. Don’t assume they’ll be cups/mugs available. Also a broom, as some hall floors are questionable in terms of cleanliness. Double check the height of the hall and the height of the bouncy castle. IME, village halls are either run by lovely laid back people who are super-helpful, or the sort of people who shouldn’t be allowed near the public. There is no in between 😂 So be prepared for odd rules (no helium balloons, no blu-tack and no bouncy castles…!) and access can be frustratingly close to your party time so make sure you have enough hands to help set up. Also buy banqueting roll as it is easier to cut to the size tables you have. As it is your first party, make sure you make clear the RSVP date, the party timings and that it is/is not a drop off party and whether or not siblings are welcome.. (you won’t believe the cheekiness as your child gets older) Always have spare party/sweet bags.

Good luck!

Don't bother with picnic boxes. Too much trouble. Can you still order platters from Costco? You will definitely need games. Bin bags. Lots of squash.

I’ll also add, A first aid box, water wipes and ice (for bumped heads etc). Order a giant Colin the caterpillar cake from m&s - best party cake (and not too expensive either)

Table with random cheap items the kids can play with whilst there

Those funny things that travel down/stick to the wall
The things you push down then they spring up and bounce
Mini pots of bubbles for the kids to use while there
Some tattoo transfers and someone who doesn't mind sitting putting them on the kids

I did go to a bouncy castle party for a 3yo once before and they had a load of sit down ride on toy things and they were really popular

Craft/colouring in table

Check with parents about dietary requirements, personally the picnic box parties I've been to the parents look a bit harassed (I've not done it myself) though I do think the kids love them. But we have a lot of children I know with dietary requirements and juggling that plus the occasional 'my child doesn't eat cheese have you got any ham' requests whilst handing out boxes to the mass of children may not occur for you!

Party bags vs sweet cones etc doesn't matter too much long as you can hand out something visible to show everyone to clear off

And I do think you may need something more for the kids to do, if you end up with 30ish and 1 bouncy castle then the ones who don't go on bouncies will get bored, there will end up being a little group of boisterous ones on there who put the other kids off using it in the end!

It can be just music related games - sleeping lions, musical statues, pass the parcel, limbo etc. Or you could get a couple of sports day kits and have some egg and spoon races etc. if you really don't want to get involved in doing stuff like that/leading the kids in games/activities, then maybe set up - target board and bean bags in a bucket, a load of balloon swords in a bucket, mini goal and soft football. For me I'd go with a few party games but I have been to a couple with none and they did have more stuff to 'do' around the room just so kids can pick what they like!

You've had great advice from seasoned party throwers!

I've done the lunchboxes, except I didn't put the sandwiches in them, I put everything else in them and then did platters of sandwiches so there were no left over boxes and kids didn't get a sandwich they didn't want.

Limbo is a good party game, and dead easy for 4 year old to understand.

Blow up balloons and have them in the floor, kids can play for ages batting balloons around.

I'd also do cupcakes instead of a big cake. No cutting, no mess. In fact, we would stand at the door with cupcakes and the party bag/lucky dip as people left.

A table for the gifts too, and take big bags to get them into the car. And take a roll of black bags too.

One year, we did a temporary tattoo station and that went down a storm. But you'd need an extra pair of hands, because there will be a huge queue for it!

Don't forget to take photos! Have a great time!

With pass the parcel you can just get them to pass a bean bag or similar, when the music stops the child holding the bean bag is out, gets a sweet or chocolate and goes to dance.
If you plan to have candles don't forget a way to light them.
You sound very organised. Good luck!

Another one saying don’t bother with lunch boxes. Just sandwiches, cheap mini pizzas and wee sausages for them to help themselves.
And someone to police the bouncy castle in case they go feral 😂
village hall parties are the best. Enjoy

Don't allow back flips on the bouncy castle.

I'm not sure about the boxes, you could give each child an empty box and have them queue for sandwiches etc.

Sleeping lions as the last game will have other parents thanking you.

You do need an adult who just monitors the bouncy castle as things get out of hand quickly. Also allow plenty of clearing up time, remember bin bags, lighter for candles, tea & coffee for parents who stay. Every bouncy castle we hired never turned up so check the day before that they're definitely coming.

Ahh amazing advice! I'm writing this all down to discuss with DH tonight! Thank you so much everyone!

Definitely some games as they can't all be on the bouncy castle at the same time and someone always gets hurt.
Great easy games:
Musical statues (don't kick them out if they lose give a sweet to whoever stays still longest-;stops the boredom of being kicked out - when a bit older do dancing when it's quiet and still with music for some reason this is hilarious to a 7 year old!)
Musical bumps (again sweet for the winner)
Dancing competition
Sleeping lions
Sleeping bunnies
Limbo (so easy and keeps them entertained for ages)
Find the star. (Before the party hide 5 paper stars in the hall, prize to whoever finds them)
Do not do parcel the fecking parcel. Someone always gets upset and it's annoying!
Try and make sure everyone wins something during the party. - I used to ask another to help me clock who needs a prize!

I miss my party days, now I have to hide our alcohol and tell off some random 16 year for vaping in the kitchen 😭