To host my daughter's 11th birthday party..?

[XelaM]

Hi All,

My daughter is turning 11 in early February and it now appears that everything (even her riding stable and even the zoos which remained open in Tier 4) will be locked down, so there appears to be nothing at all that I can do that doesn't involve the usual crappy "zoom party". She's in year 6 and I'm quite sad she won't be able to celebrate it with her primary friends who will be going to separate secondary schools next year. But trying to make the best of the situation...

Does anyone have any ideas and/or has anyone hosted any successful online parties that were actually fun and maybe slightly different that just everyone shouting on zoom? I read something about online party entertainers - has anyone used any services like that?

Open to any suggestions - the more unusual/bonkers the better

People seem to be recommending online Escape Room parties. I have never done one, so can't really comment on them!
I guess you could also try and adapt one of those Murder game dinner party mystery games (sorry, I have forgotten what they are called!) so that you could do it online. The guests could all get dressed up in character, and your DD could decorate her backdrop so that it was in keeping for the venue. You would have to get a children's version (if they exist), as the ones I have done always seem to involve extra marital affairs which is probably not appropriate!

A magician friend has been doing Zoom magic shows for parties. I've been a guinea pig before his first gig and it was great. I think there will be plenty of performers who've transitioned to online gigs over the last year

@Leeds2 @PinkArt Thank you both! Will look into the Escape room and murder mystery. Could you please pm me the name of your magician contact if possible?

I find with zoom you need a common activity to do.
Could you drop a party bag with the same activity in it for each kid? Such as one of those painting kits or something similar you could order. Then put a cupcake and a party hat etc. Or make it fancy dress?
Good luck x

@WineIsMyMainVice Yes, you’re right. I was thinking maybe get them to cook something together and drop if a bag of “supplies” plus party stuff for each kid?

My dd did baking over zoom where they all baked chocolate brownies.
My friend did karaoke over zoom. She said it was loads of fun.

@Foghead ah, thank you! Great ideas

What about an online animal encounter party like this:
www.teachingtalons.co.uk/zoom-parties

Thanks for starting this thread! I had no idea so many things were available for virtual parties! I'd written off our next birthday party. Rethinking now.

A friend used this chap. He's London based but don't suppose it matters over zoom. Apparently it was surprising good.

www.facebook.com/samuel.hurst.921

I own a teepee sleepover company. We are just about to launch a virtual party. Basically deliver teepees to each child's home (some with extras such as little manicure bags) their parents set them up and the kids have a virtual sleepover. I'm in the north east but I'm sure local companies to you will be happy to help x

Maybe forget the 'online party' concept altogether and make it a very special day with her immediate family and/or bubble. Total 'she time' for at least 3hrs or make the whole day DD Day. She can share parts of it with her besties if she wants to.

And next year she can have a proper party , if she still wants one after the DD Day she has this year of course.

My friend offers Art parties over Zoom!

Thank you guys! Have never heard of the virtual animal parties but will definitely have a look. Am reading all the replies, but as I’m meant to be working I can’t reply to everyone individually for now

There are some ideas here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4119535-help-i-need-zoom-party-ideas

Love the teepee ⛺️ idea! We are unfortunately in London, but would have loved this

How confident are you with zoom? I did a quiz for my son and put them into teams in breakout rooms to confer etc. They were all 12/13 boys
Had to find things round the house - scavenger hunt , name that tune?, who is this actor? All stuff they all knew like Harry Potter and Star Wars and Big Bang theory . Had a name the chocolate bar from the cross section picture. It was quite hard.

All found online. I also had a round with instructions on something to draw and they all had to have a try. Special prize for best/closest finished drawing .

I dropped sweets and drinks on doorsteps before the party. Lots of parents have since texted to say it was the most they had largesse boys laughing in hard. I think the breakout rooms and teams were key. I didn’t it randomly but you can assign people to teams .

It depends on how confident you are as a host i guess but we just did a 7yr old party where the kids made a cake in a mug, decorated it and then each lit a candle for the 'birthday cake' that worked well...
Have a look at the guiding adventures at home and scouts great indoors for some ideas. You could do a 'camp at home' if you want to get really involved? Plenty of scout/guide examples of those - but quite time demanding!!

My 12 yearold daughter went to an online s'mores party. She was sent a parcel of biscuits, marshmallows ,chocolate etc and a gel burner thing in a tin.
They had a great time on zoom or whatever platform making s'mores.

She loved it!

Check out eco teepee on Facebook, my friends kids loved theirs.

You could do a "build a den" instead of a teepee. My kids used to love the dens they build with sheets and string in any room in the house. Making the den could be part of the fun and then do their sleepover.

Hangman, Pictionary and bingo (cards distributed in advance) have all worked well for us.

Love the cake in a mug idea too

Seeds make a great 'going home' present. One packet for sprouting over the next few days and another to plant (sunflower seeds work well for both) later in the year.

Offer a prize for the best picture of the sunflower.

My nieces had Dungeons & Dragons parties hosted by professional games masters from the agency Rolldark. My sister was so impressed she arranged a weekly adult games which we still do. Great fun.

We had a team meeting before Christmas and two days before a little box came through the post - a gingerbread man, icing, sweets, and we all had to decorate, and the boss judged the winner. The boss had even baked all the gingerbread men. It was ace.