to think that you should have games or something at a 4yo's party?

[FunnysInLaJardin]

I am totally prepared to be told IABU, so today we went to a party for DS2's nursery friend. Whole class kind of thing, 25 odd kids. When we arrived there was a bouncy castle in the hall which was great. The kids ran about etc and I waited for the games to start. They had party tea and then back to the bouncy castle and that was it. No games or music or anything. AIBU to think that was a bit odd for a 2 hour party? I don't think I have ever been to a party where there was no pass the parcel or musical statues or something!

Whoops! In the freezing cold and getting dark. I was but must say my DS loved it and had a great time playing in woods with his friends. But asked to go home before end as getting cold. I was relieved as had frostbite by then! Really strange.

4th birthday party, so presumably most of the kids only 3? I wouldn't have expected games.

Have you ever tried to organise a whole nursery class into a game?

Totally need to preview messages and stop hitting post by accident before I criticise others party hosting

For my dds 4th birthday party I decorated with bunting and balloons and had a bouncy castle in the garden. They played with toys, had a bounce, came in for party food and birthday cake, another bounce and a play and that was it. Brilliant time had by all. What else is needed?

I organised games and did a lovely party tea for DD's fourth birthday. I suggested a quick run around in the garden first, as it was a gorgeous day, and that was it. Couldn't get them back in for love nor money; you'd swear they'd never seen play equipment or a sandpit before.
We were living off mini sausages and pineapple chunks on sticks for days after. But they all had a good time.

Structured party games are not always a good idea (speaking as a playworker). We as adults are kind of conditioned to expect them because it's what most of us grew up with, but children this age often have a much better time just running around in the woods or jumping on a bouncy castle and inventing their own games between themselves.

Not sure it's necessary to have games if there's a bouncy castle

I've been to manymanymanymanymany 4yo parties and a bouncy castle is enough. Really.

More important criteria for a 4yo+ party is the availability of good coffee or alcohol for the parents who choose to stay.

We ever only organised party games when we didn't have a bouncy castle. (Think March birthday). For parties with a bouncy castle, I never organised games.

Formal party games at parties happen rarely now. But this has the knock on effect that the children are not used to the way it goes.

So for our parties when I was little: You played a game: You were out, you sat and watched the rest of the game. Winner got prize. Next game started.

Now the children don't know about sitting and watching. So you get "what do I do?"; "I'm bored"; "I want a prize"; racing up and down; trying to join back in; not ready for the next game because they've found something else to do etc.

We've done it a few times, but had colouring for them to do when out. But I know someone who tried it without that as back up, with only a few children (about 8) at their house, and they found the children were dreadful when out of a game-it was a 6th birthday too, so they weren't tinies.

I don't know about four year olds but pass the parcel is always a shambles at most three year old parties I have been to.

Bouncy castle, run about, sounds great.

IME DCs don't like organised games.

I tried throwing in a few if my old Brownie companies favourites, but they aren't interested. If they are all the same school year, they seem to just like to chase about together.

I had to strongarm the kids off the bouncy castle at DD's party, to do pass the parcel. Won't bother next time.

DS hated party games and refused to have them at his parties.

Presumably most of these dc are 3, if it was a Nursery class party ? In which case structured games would be beyond most of them - certainly would if you were trying to organise a game for 25 children to join in. I guess that's why they hired the Bouncy Castle ?
I would have thought they'd need other things too - you know, a bit like a playgroup, so people could go and do a bit of duplo if they liked or sit and do some craft or whatever, or even read a book, but I wouldn't attempt structured games with dc that young then again, I wouldn't contemplate inviting a class full of 3 yr olds to a party.

Yanbu I took dd1 to a party like this recently. I don't object to the lack of games in principle but after a while the kids got a bit boisterous and rowdy. I took dd1 home early as she was getting shoved around a lot. I thought if there had been a structured game or two it might have prevented that.

mine hate party games

if you think about it, most party games are crap

God we had a 4yo birthday party and we had neither bouncy castle or games. Adults sat around eating and drinking, kids ran around playing with whatever they could find.

Everyone seemed happy!

my sons 5th birthday party literally had a couple of bouncy castles and an area with a climbing frame and some trikes and scooters,no party games,ive been to loads of parties and none of them have had games except the ones at peoples houses.