I help in their school on school trips and things, and most kids were from school, so they already knew me in an 'authority' position, so if I said - that's enough, they listened
What I always do is keep it moving so every minute is structured, game to game, to treasure hunt, to food then home. No time to mess around. I have never had a problem over the food but then I do always do it so the food comes at a normal food time, so they are hungry, and we were sitting around a table in my home, I don't know if that makes any difference
I think, if I had been party mum, I would have raised my voice and then been very firm. Nice, but firm. A bit of shaming goes a long way - Come on boys, you all know how to sit and eat properly a a table, you don't want to show yourselves up as the only one who can't behave? Lets SIT down, EAT properly, and KEEP voices on table level, not shouting
Wow, I could've written this post myself.
I've been involved in more kids' parties than I care to remember, and I've never experienced anything like the stuff mentioned in this thread. I would assume poor parenting if I ever did come across any of the bad behaviour mentioned here, especially if the same kids display it at other events too.
The silliest behaviour I've ever seen has always come from girls, but it was never outright bad or feral behaviour as has been mentioned here, and was always sorted out with a gentle word.
I have never had a problem over the food but then I do always do it so the food comes at a normal food time, so they are hungry, and we were sitting around a table in my home
I've found this to be very important. I absolutely loathe kids parties where a few bits of food are put on a side table at random intervals and kids just come up and take it 'whenever'. I always make sure we stop and either sit down or stand around the food table and that there's a variety of food (fruit is usually very popular and goes before all the cakes/biscuits). Eating is like another activity in itself and keeps them occupied for 20-30 minutes.