Not AIBU, but in need of help - Party panic!

[thatsenough]

16 children due to arrive in a few hours (aged between 2 and 8) for a 4th birthday party. The bouncy castle has arrived and the outdoor games are planned.

The weather forecast has changed from ok last night to awful this morning.

I have a few prizes available, but need some quick ideas of how to keep them occupied inside that don't involve me going and buying stuff.

Please help! (and yes I so know that I am stupid for not having a contingency plan)

borrow some tents from the neighbours!

Let them bounce in the rain! Have a pile of towels by the door to dry them off when they've had enough. Do a pass the parcel, that'll kill 5 minutes also passing an orange from chin to chin, musical chairs, musical bumps. Dead lions, pin the tail on the donkey....

Mh, games such as musical chairs is probably not possible due to the number. We played a game a bit like it when little where we had to dance and when the music stopped you had to stand still. Whoever moved too long/first was out. That might be nice for the older ones. Do some traditional stuff such as pass the parcel, donkeys tail, etc. The small ones will probably be happy with just toys for a while?

Oh, we also played a fun game in which we were in teams and had to make mummies as fast as possible. Meaning we wrapped my sister/my mum in toilet paper and who ever finished their mummy first won. Greatest game ever if you are not the mummy
That way you might just need more toilet paper.

Can't think of any other games right now somehow.

I know this is for 7-8 but some could be adapted.

guidezone.e-guiding.com/jm_games_brownies.htm

I have the same problem only our party is tommorow morning and the forecast for us is thunderstorms.

We have a small tent but it will be a squash.

Am currently sorting out music to turn it into a mini disco - lots of action songs like agadoo and the birdy song, and horrible girly music like steps and s club.

You could try wrapping them up like mummys if you have plenty of loo roll, do it in teams and give them a couple of rolls each team.

Or teddys pants, this is funny. You need a teddy, four different coloured pairs of pants and a picture of each pair of pants (just draw them) You put a picture of each pair of pants in each corner and dance around to some music. While the children are dancing, somebody puts a pair of pants on the teddy. When the music stops you run to a picture and the teddy is held up. If he is wearing the red pants and you are standing by the picture of the red pants you are out if you se what I mean!

Simple, but it involves pants so its hysterical if you are 5.

Get some smarties and straws. Put the smarties on plates and take turns to see how many they can suck up with the straw and place in a bowl next to them in 45 seconds. (Still is!)

Do you remember musical statues? It takes forever and is very funny.

Put music on. All the kids have to dance around. Music stops. All the kids have stand as still as statues in the exact position they are in when the music stops. The one who is judged to be moving or twitching the most is 'out', and has to sit down and watch. It's fun to watch because the job of the adult judge and the kids who are 'out' is to pull funny faces to try to put people off standing like statues. Lots of giggling and laughing.

Print out loads of colouring pictures (eg from here

If you have card and glitter/collage stuff you could get them making hats/crowns, or cut out shapes such as butterflies/stars for them to decorate

Get them to ice and decorate rich tea biscuits or cupcakes

Simon says

This might sound mad but have you got a train set? Im only asking as I had planned shedloads for my sons 4th birthday but once the kids discovered the train set they spent the whole 2 hours building that and playing with it , completely engrossed. I had to drag them away for the party tea. Me and the other parents were bemused.

What... half my message dissapeared! Oh well basically they eat the smarties they get. And it was/is my fave game!

In SW London and it's brightening up from the West. I don't know where you are but you might be OK. Send a quick text and ask them to bring spare T shirts/shorts because as the bouncy castle's up you will never keep them off it and might as well go with the flow.

Brilliant ideas - I love you all! Off to find smarties, pants etc

Dancing competition....always takes ages! Whack the music on loud and have them do their best...they'll also get knackered!

Having a party next week and wondered if it is ok for them to go on the bouncy castle in the rain? Is it allowed and safe etc? I'm thinking of getting a cheap gazebo so if it spits at least they can go out the back door. Just looked on Argos, the cheapest one is 16.99. A quick dash perhaps?

We are in the North and the weather is grim, we've just had a heavy downpour and it looks like there is more to come.

So,
I have colouring stuff, glitter etc
DS1 is about to set up a train set
I have smarties- dh off to the supermarket to buy straws and loo rolls
Prizes available for the other games
And finally lots of towels for those that insist on using the castle!

Is it to early to open the wine?

Are the parents coming too?

QQB The instructions say not to use in heavy rain, but it does have a shower cover for drizzle - I'll be happy if they are outside for half an hour or so.

Yes parents will be here, most are good family friends and will muck in and help!

or get them to change for a SMALL bouncy castle and clear out one of your rooms. we did that one year when Exactly the same thing happened to us. worked a treat.

Corn flour and water to make slime. Full fat coke and mentos, vinegar and bicarb... kitchen chemistry is always a win! Or, cover a dominate or wood floor with paper, strip them all and they can create an arty keepsake.

But I'm insane, I don't mind kids making a mess.