Child birthday party?

[sadkoala]

Can anyone advise what I can get/make? I need any hacks I can get!

We have had a horrendous couple of weeks where we basically had to put 99% of stuff on hold and we are hosting a 2 hour party on Sunday for our DS (1) as the venue has been booked ages ago and people invited.
Its before 1pm so I can't imagine having to put on lots of proper food however I would definitely like to feed adults as well not just DCs.
What foods and snacks are good and fairly easy to put on? All dcs are under 6 there is also 2 parents and one DC who are vegan.
There will be the standard coffee/tea and cake OFC.

Also we are doing it at a local hall and there is some toys we can use but was wondering what else I could potentially put on to keep DCs occupied and entertained?

I'm feeling horrendous about this already as where I come from 1st birthdays are really special and I really wanted to do something for my DC and my family will be there too but I'm giving myself a firm kick up the backside and will get through it. Me and DP have about 5 hours tomorrow to sort it out and need some tips?

I have managed to sort out some last min balloons and dug up some nice bunting from the attic. Got 50% of the party bags sorted just need a few more bits and picked up some paper plates/cutlery and tablecloths.

Help?

Is the party 11 til 1? If so I would kind of expect to be fed lunch, as most kids have lunch at 12 / 12.30 not 1.30 (by the time they get home and make lunch).

Do you have many family members coming, could you ask them to bring something to share (you could offer to contribute to costs). For my DDs first birthday, my MIL brought some cupcakes and my mum made sausage rolls and pizza to bring.

Otherwise I would say go to Iceland or Aldi and buy a big family platter of chicken bites or Chinese snacks, a couple of Margherita pizzas and cook them all tomorrow and serve cold at the party. They might have a vegan pizza too.

As for entertainment, all kids love bubbles so get a bubble machine in. Download some kiddy tracks on your phone and play them through a Bluetooth speaker, like a disco? Ask around friends and family if anyone has dress up stuff and do a fancy dress chest with funny wigs and stuff?

Party is 10-12.

For the 3-6 age group, balloon games, singing games, musical bumps, statues etc. Write a list and organise some music/ ask someone to take charge of games/ music.

Quiet corner for babies with a soft mat and blanket and a pile of suitable toys.

Aldi party food is ace, (mini eclairs!) also breadsticks and crudites with dips, fruit slices laid out prettily, and a pile of sandwiches. Biscuits and crisps. 10-12 is an odd time, will you have family staying for lunch afterwards?

Kids love fancy drinks - fizzy water and juice with a slice of lemon will make them feel very sophisticated, and please the adults too.

Def a bubble machine! Stick it in the corner and they will all amuse themselves.

Drag whatever toys you have at home or get a mini ball pit if you have a toysRus near you.

Food- biscuits and cupcakes (buy don’t bother making) and include party traditionala like choc fingers and party rings.

Do some token sadnies but cut the crusts off and slice one round into three or make into four triangles. Use vegan spread and include cucumber sarnies for the vegans. Could get a vegan pate too.
Make the rest ham, cheese.

Crisps like hula hoops and chip sticks again check and ensure vegan

Crudités and some easy fruit like tangerine pieces maybe. No grapes or blueberries (choking risk)

Get a few sausage rolls or cocktails sausages. Buy pre cooked. Maybe a few vegan bits separate.

Give the kids drinks cartons as less spillage.
Remember nut milk for the vegans in coffee.

Just relax. Everyone coming cares about you.

With two school age children here and been to lots of parties over the years, I think at 10am until 12pm people coming to the party will think there's some sort of lunch going on, especially if you say you want to feed adults too?
Doesn't have to be anything fancy.

• 10 until 11 party games or some music and dancing

• 11 - 12 food such as jam/ham sandwiches, sausage rolls, crisps, buns

• vegan food could be hummus sandwiches, plain crisps, crudites such as carrot sticks.

Asda offer vegan cheese for their create your own pizzas. You could fairly easily and cheaply offer pizza, chips, sandwiches (homous or jam would suit many kids). Pom bears, party ring biscuits, ready salted hula hoops and many brands of veggie saus rolls (linda mccartney, tesco, prob asda too) are also vegan friendly.

I suspect people will be grateful if there is food as by the time they travel home and prep lunch it will be deemed fairly late for the kids if you are not feeding them.

Have fun

Good thing lately is that it is so easy to get hold of vegan stuff in the supermarkets - Holland and Barrett do stuff like vegan sausage rolls/cocktail sausages, Asda/Tesco/Sainsbury's do Free From desserts such as buns and cake bites if you look (have no egg, milk etc )

Second the bubble machine!

Take a ball pit if you have one or any tents/pop up houses.

Squishy mats or throws to put babies down on.

Music playing.

Just do sandwiches, mini sausages, sausage rolls, cakes, cold pizza and lots of sweeties like haribo/Chewits will keep the older ones going!

Adults should be happy with that food too. Maybe bring a kettle and leave somewhere for folk to make a cup of tea/coffee too with some paper cups.

Xx

A bubble machine indoors = slippy floor essentially covered in washing up liquid! Made that mistake myself!

Morrisons do party platters.

Can you ring round to try to hire some in of entertainer or bouncy castle if you can afford it? Take the pressure off you?

1. Take a deep breath. You’re going to be fine!

1. I know it’s not super glam, but you can ask Subway for a big platter of sandwiches. There are vegan options. They are filling and “meal like” but easy to hold and eat. You won’t have to do anything.

1. Take all the (toddler safe) toys / blocks / train tracks etc from your house and set them up in the hall (nothing super special, in case). Can also text nearest and dearest to bring theirs too, if applicable.

1. Ask your nearest and dearest to each bring a play mat / sturdy picnic rug etc - put them around the hall so each thing at (3) has its own place.

1. Take a deep breath again - you’ll be fine! Enjoy!!

Or you could do a brunch box? Pastry, fruit, yogurt. Parents are fine with tea,coffee and cake.

What did you decide in the end? Hipe the party goes well tomorrow.