To get outside catering in for a 5 year olds party?

[BakerBear]

Or am i being lazy?

Dd will be 5 soon and is begging me for a party. We have never done her a party before so have decided that when she starts school we will invite the whole class and hire out a room.

The room doesnt do food so we would have to provide our own.

I have a 4 month old and i really dont want the hassle of a buffet for 30 kids. There is no kitchen there so i would have to prepare the food at home and bring it all in.

The party is a dance party which dd will love.

Would you get catering in? Is it extravagant for a 5 year olds party? Its £4.50 a head.

Or am i being lazy?

Totally do it, I would.

The cost of food, plates, napkins etc. adds up, then add the time required to do it...

10/10 get it catered.

Why not if you can afford it? I have never done any of the food for any of my DC's parties. Never have them at home either though. We usually use a lovely lady who does sandwiches etc, platters of cakes. Some parents have been a bit that we have not done food ourselves but I really don't care. I hate cooking and organising things in the kitchen and will manage the budget so I don't have to! I tend to do cheap party bags but good food for the kids and always enough for parents too.

Definitely worth looking at the different options though and getting the best price.

To be honest I think you'd be better off to make 30 dairylea or ham sarnies (get a cutter), 6 Pringles, 2 cocktail sausages, 4 strawberries and half a dozen seedless grapes, oh and two party rings. 30 cartons juice and water as required (Not in jugs).

Bought cake for party bags.

I used to pay my babysitters (a cpl of 15/16 year olds) to keep an eye on the children and do wee runs while I set it out on a paper plate with a party napkin. Then cut the cake for party bags.

I think you'll find the extra help more useful than very very simple party food to be honest.

Kids that age don't really go for the sandwiches, it's all about the crisps in my experience.

So I wouldn't many sandwiches at all, 1slice of bread each max. what is that catering actually providing?

Dominoes do individual kids sized pizzas for £1.99. Or sides of chicken Strips for kids that dont like pizza. On the invite request rsvp with pizza choice. Order a a couple days before. No plates needed as they have the box. Quick and easy tidy up.

Agree with PP that having (focused!) help for a full class is a good idea. I struggled keeping x 20 kids happy! I had some help from DH and a friend and an entertainer. It was hard work! Had a combo of pre-ordered food and some home prepped stuff.

If you do the food box thing consider keeping sweet stuff back as many kids will go for that first and refuse the savoury stuff, which makes for more waste.

Fruit shoots or water in sports bottles avoids spillages. Buy cheaply in bulk from Asda.

Kids love party bag shit, but if you want to avoid the inevitable pile of plastic you could get one decent item from Poundland or Wilko.

Adults appreciate chilled bottled water as well as booze if you can't do tea and coffee. As a parent of a child at a party I wouldn't expect a hot drink.

By age 5 you might find many parents will expect to leave kids in your care for duration. And watch out for unexpected siblings!

Good luck. Am sure your DD will love it.

I don't get why people think this is really lazy whereas if food was included as a package they wouldn't bat an eyelid? If you can afford it why not? Just make sure the food provided is the sort of food kids will actually eat and nothing too fancy!

Don't bother making sandwiches. If the party is, say, 2 - 4pm then you're feeding them an afternoon snack not lunch. Making sandwiches is a pita. Just do cocktail sausages, mini sausage rolls, crisps, biscuits etc.