To have no idea what to do for ds birthday?

[xmyboys]

You would think it would be easy but I seriously have no idea.
Ds turns five over the Christmas/New year holidays.
He wants a party.
New to reception so think it's a good idea to have a class party.
I cannot justify a large amount of money-ie hall hire and entertainment and food = £400+
Maybe just hall hire and food but what would you do for entertainment? (visions of too many five year olds running wild!)
We won't be in our home at this time so can't do anything at home.
WWYD?

At this time we won't be in our normal home, so no chance of a small gathering

This is so in the wrong area

If you can afford the hall and food, you can provide the rest.

A two hour party sounds daunting.

First 15mins is really people arriving, have some music on. Then 1/2 hour of party games, you can lead them you really DO NOT need an entertainer. 1/2 an for food, another 1/2 an hour of games, and the last 15 minutes, party bags (even if its just cake!) and a general run about. It soon goes.

I did it last year and spent about £150. I borrowed some disco lights from the local pub, DH already had some amps (but you don't need BIG music, a Iplayer will suffice, but it depends on the size of the hall) and I borrowed a load of decorations from other mums. The food was simple, boggo standard part food, I make the 'puddings' (flapjack, brownies etc) and we just had big jugs of juice for the drinks.

It wasn't the best party I've been to, but the kids all had a good time and another parent said it was lovely to see an 'old school' proper party happening.

My only other tip is buy wine for when the kids are in bed because you'll need it.

YANBU to have no idea what to do... there ya go, now its in the right area!

you could hire a bouncy castle too, about £50

I am in the same boat! I am considering taking ds and maybe 3-4 other kids bowling or to the cinema and then to maccy d's!

Is that all that bouncy castles cost?

yes they do round here
some halls can be cheap to hire too

Near me the bouncy castles are about 60. Well worth it!

Unless you live somewhere mega expensive £400 on a party sounds an awful lot of money to me. Of course you can always spend it, but in most places you don't need to.

Round here (Cotswolds) you'd pay about £40 - 60 for hall hire £60 for bouncy castle then you just need food and party bags, but this is as expensive as you make it.

Usually a hall with bouncy castle will happily keep the children entertained for most of the time. Just throw in a few party games and job done. It doesn't need to be extravagant.

Thanks for all the messages. I think I will do a bouncy castle, hall hire, food and simple party bags.
Just need to get OH on board to man the castle so that I can run some games.
Have googled and found lots of great suggestions.
Three or four games should be enough don't you think?

At my DSs party I blew up about 30 balloons, and they spent the first half hour kicking them around!

Could I suggest something else? My grandson's birthday is 20 December (going to be a big 6) and, if he has a birthday party, it's usually around 6 December to keep it separate from Christmas celebrations. My family is lucky in that they live in the Southern Hemisphere so will have warm weather and it can be in their large garden. Plus point there is that the food droppings will be cleared up by the birds.

But he still has his party separate from Christmas and a small family get together on his actual birthday.