To think 3/4-yr olds need more entertainment at a birthday party?

[Butttons]

It is eldest DD's 4th birthday party next week. We have booked room downstairs in a pub with a photobooth for 2 hrs in the afternoon. I figure we can have a couple of party games (musical chairs, pass the parcel etc) and the photobooth itself will be the fun for kids and parents (we'll be laying on some food and drinks too obviously).

Just got back from another 4-yr old party and they had a pirate who entertained the kids with a show, some magic tricks and a parachute. There was also a bouncy castle so plenty of opportunity for them to off load energy.

Now I am worried that the party we are planning with DD won't have enough entertainment laid on. We can't afford a formal entertainer on top of everything else so it would have to be me or DH living out our worst nightmare and doing the entertainment ourselves. The horror. Am I worrying unnecessarily or should I start a crash course in balloon animals?

A photo booth will not entertain 4 year olds. Cancel it.

I think your party sounds like more than enough.
Games such as pass the parcel, pin the tail (use blu tack lol) on the donkey, musical chairs, lots of music to dance to.
They just want to charge about and play at that age.
Sorry, I'm another one who immediately thought "photo booths for 4 year olds?"
Would they even sit still long enough at that age to get their photos taken?! However briefly and fun it was made out to be? Mine certainly wouldn't have!

A room in a pub with a photo booth... I think you have to scrap the entire thing and start from scratch, to be brutally honest

I'd ditch the photo booth and get an entertainer too. Photo booth seems a strange choice for that age group

Obviously every else disagrees but i think they might like it. And taking it in turns can be a winner. They are amazingly good at queuing for facepaint ime and this keeps at least a few of them out of mayhem for a few minutes.

That's true, 4yo DD will queue forever to get her face painted! I just can't imagine a photobooth having the same appeal.

For pre schoolers, a photobooth is a strange choice, good for tweens. See if you can hire an entertainer or a bouncy castle.

Facepainting is completely different though. Its a novelty and something that doesnt happen often. Having photos taken is just the norm for most of them these days They'll be so used to parents taking photos with phones etc I can't see them even fully grasping why they now have to stand in a queue to have photos taken.

Photo booth will not interest little kids. Everything else sounds fine.

I don't think you need an entertainer for 4 year olds. When I were a lass ( hundreds of years ago) we had children's parties at the house, and one of the parents organised the games.

Have a really long pass the parcel - little presents in each unwrapping is the norm these days - and enough layers to ensure each DC gets a turn. Some other great suggestions from teenandtween up-thread. Ensure you and your DH have agreed who is doing what and approximate timings, remember for things like pass the parcel, the person doing the music has the very important job of making sure everyone gets to unwrap a layer.

2 hrs is quite a long time - if possible can you cut it to 90 minutes, or encourage parents to come back a bit early.

I'm not sure on the photo booth - some of the DCs may enjoy it, if it's possible to change it for a bouncy castle, then I'd do that, but if not, then I'd not sweat it.

Chill lots of wine for afterwards .

You need to do more games , very simple crafts and a bouncy castle if room. Ditch the photo booth.

I didn't know what a photo booth was - had to google it. It seems a bit of a passive non-activity for small children unless there's some extended dressing-up play to go with it.

Make the party last no more than an hour and a half

went to a party in october for a child turning 5 with a photobooth. it was entirely ignored, as was the mask-making area.
my kids were more interested in balloons and games.

DD has her 5th birthday party next month, we're having a bouncy castle, play doh, stickers & colouring, decorate a biscuit, balloons & music. I'd recommend cancelling the photo booth if poss, think you can do without the bouncy Castle if you add more games.
To be fair, most kids that age are happy with balloons & music!!

My DD is about to be 4; we've hired a hall with a bouncy castle & are having a 45min "Boogie Beats" party. Total 90 mins & we'll take boxed lunches too.

I agree with the majority that 90mins is long enough & a photo booth party not the best idea for that age group.

Wow I thought the photobooth would go down well! My DD is obsessed with dressing up, as are many of her friends. I'd have thought the props and instant pictures would be a hit. Plus they get s unique souvenir. There seem to be quite a few companies offering kids photobooths so i didnt think it was that unusual. Think it's probably too late to cancel it now.....

I love the idea of a craft table though to decorated their own masks. Thanks for suggestions!

When DS was in reception (so 4-5 year olds) most children didn't have a long enough attention span for games - they'd play for a bit, then get bored.
Most children were clinging to their parents, though.

Personally, I'd cancel the photo booth, but prepare a couple of easy games. Get a bubble machine, that works really well.

I have a theee year old she loves to dress up but she was have zero interest in queuing to have her photo taken.

Keep the photobooth but you seriously need more entertainment than two games that will combined last less than 10 mins and food that will be eaten in 20 mins. You have an hour and a half more to fill.

Get on youtube and learn to make balloon swords and get the children to copy you and make them. Then send them on a dragon hunt or simething? Another 15 - 20 mins.

Ooh, I don't know. We don't have friend parties until their 5th birthday. Before that, family and a few balloons and cake.

After 5 - garden / indoor party depending on season. Paddling pool one was a hit (6th bday) Games, bit of food, favourite friends, cake, balloons, done!

Teens are another matter altogether though!

Just be aware that if you do pass the parcel, approximately 50% of the kids will cry when the have to hand the parcel on or when they don't get the present the want.

How many children are going? If this is a party for six kids with their adults there, it could be fine, but make sure there is some colouring or something and bring bubble wands for the adults to blow bubbles for the kids to pop. That'll keep them going for hours.

30 kids - not so good.

Long time ago now but what about another mum/teenage cousin, friend doing nail painting, giant bubble wrap to jump on and pop, usual party games with assertive adult in charge, decorating digestive biscuits and action songs. Worked for mine.

I went to a four year olds party last week and the Mum had bought lots of those large punch balloons in a pack from pound land. She blew them up and tied an elastbsnd around the top and gave them out. They kept the children entertained for ages.