Kids parties...what do you do?

[Snoozingaway]

Dd will turn 3 this summer, we were supposed to have a biggish party last year with friends, but covid made things different obviously. This year seems it might happen.
I’ve found a venue (restaurant with outside space to play and tables etc) they’re offering a package which includes use of venue, their bouncy castle and play area. The children would make their own pizzas from the restaurant and drinks included. This is all for a price that’s fairly reasonable. I’d provide the cake and balloons/decorations etc and party bags. They said the adults can order food and drinks from the bar/restaurant with a 20% discount...does this seem rude? Should we be supplying food for the parents, not just the kids?
Also, as silly as this sounds, how long would you host a party like this for? I’m thinking two hours? What do you actually do as the host? Are the children left to play on the castle/play park and then make their pizzas and eat. When do you do your child’s cake and do you make a speech 🤷🏻‍♀️🙈
First time parent here and haven’t been to a lot of kids parties, because of the pandemic. The few we have were fairly different.
I’m fairly shy and the food onus being all on us to run it all, is putting me off a little, am I totally overthinking?
Does this party sound ok?

*Not food onus 🤷🏻‍♀️Not sure how that happened

It sounds fun to me
I wouldn’t assume you’d pay for the adults if my child was asked to a party

You pay for the party, the kids food, cake, balloons, party bags etc. If accompanying parents want to eat or drink (unusual because most party venues don't even have this option) then they pay for it themselves. No speech, gather kids round after food to sing happy birthday and cut the cake. To make it even more obvious you aren't feeding the adults hold the party 10 till 12 or 2 till 4 so it doesn't cross with an adults normal meal time.

No, you don't pay for the parents, and no speeches. Have a fun party!

Are your guests your friends or your kid’s friends from nursery or similar? If the former that sounds great, if the latter I’m not sure it’ll work. I’d not expect to buy food for myself (or even be fed) while observing my child play with nursery friends. I’d buy a drink probably but sounds like I’d have to be extremely sociable which might be weird with a load of strangers.

Sounds good but possibly quite challenging with such young children. Patents will stay with kids that young & help them make the pizza.

I'd leave them to play on bouncy castle, call them over to make pizza. Go play whilst cooking then all sit up to eat. Do the cake quickly once most kids have stopped eating (before they get restless).

No speeches! Just sing, candles out then chop cake for party bags.

More play then hometime.

No food for adults! I wouldn't expect any. I might appreciate a drink or I'll order my own.

Bring the party bags out when you want everyone to go!

2 hours is standard.

Have fun!

Adults won't expect to be fed you can just let them know on arrival the venue is offering 20% discount if they want to get themselves anything, don't do a speech, cake after food, relax 😂

It sounds lovely but as you're quite shy and most 3-yr-olds won't be used to big parties, I wonder if something smaller might be more enjoyable? 3-yr-olds don't tend to do much playing with each other, it's often side by side or together but for short periods of time. A series of smaller picnics in a park, a couple of friends coming over to play in your garden (if you have one) and a simple lunch might be less pressure but would also offer you the opportunity to actually chat to the people who've come along. It may also be less overwhelming for the children.

If you are feeling generous get the parents a tea/coffee/hot drink.
Cake do just before they leave. Easiest thing is a small cake to cut and lots of cup cakes for the guests in the right colour/theme. Or indeed, just cupcakes, as people might be a bit more weary of blowing out candles over cake now outside immediate family.

For DDs 3rd we had a big room at the local leisure centre with a bouncy castle and soft play stuff, lots of balloons and finger foods.

Played music and the kids ran around like crazy things for an hour and a half then we had 30 minutes for eating, singing happy birthday and eating cake.

The kids spent about 5 minutes shovelling crisps and bits in their mouth then ran off for more bouncing, they enjoyed singing happy birthday and licking the icing off their cake then more bouncing till their parents could convince them to leave.

No entertainment or leading needed, they just ran and played.

The parents ate the food the kids didn't but there was no expectation that parents would be fed and we never expect it when we go to other kids parties.

@Hellocatshome It’s because it’s at a restaurant, I guess it benefits them if the adults pay for foods and drinks whilst there 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Orangedaisy Well, they’re our friends who also have kids who play with our Dd. She starts nursery in September, so it’s friends I’ve met through mums groups, play dates etc, they have children of around the same age but also some older and babies, so a bit of a mix.

It's fine not to provide food for the adults, 2 hours is perfect, do cake about 30 minutes before the end so you've time to slice it up and add to party bags which you then hand out at the end as a hint for people to start leaving. No speech required, just chat to people, make sure everyone knows where the loos are and introduce people you think would get on / are there by themselves.

@livingthegoodlife Wouldn’t you serve the cake then & there after cutting up?
Not a speech as such but a thank you to everyone for coming and/or perhaps a ‘Get stuck into the cake’ 🤷🏻‍♀️🤣

Birthday party veteran here! It sounds really lovely op! Is there enough room inside the restaurant for activities if it rains though?

Two hours perfect.

How big is big? A whole class party? You need as many helpers as possible.

And what do you mean about the food onus being on you? Are you leading the pizza activity? At that age you may need quite a few helpers to do that. And to help cut up and serve afterwards. There needs to be clarity between you and the restaurant as to who does what exactly. And who is responsible for letting children in and out of the main entrance for safety reasons.

Apart from the pizza eating and blowing out of the candles you can let it just flow naturally or you can draw out a rough schedule that you and your helpers can refer to. You need to decide when you do cake and presents. And a quiet activity like pass the parcel after food. And a colouring activity or bubble machine to keep them occupied while everyone arrives. And maybe prepare a game like Simon Says. You can download a party activity "tape" on your phone and play it on a speaker.

Personally I find a party that is roughly planned out a lot less stressful but I'm a bit of a control freak!

Finally, it's fine to just write a note on the invitation saying that parents are welcome to eat at the restaurant at a discount while the party is going on. But again, make sure there is clarity on who is supervising.

Good luck!

@livingthegoodlife All parties I’ve been to so far, all the parents stay and many know each other so it’s a social event for them too. Would making the pizza be a pain in the arse for the parents do you think? I’m wondering if the staff there help and supervise this mainly?

I’d say you’re good then. If it’s adults you know and get on with and have kids used to playing with yours it sounds like a lovely party. Have fun!

@SE13Mummy We have a garden but it’s then who to invite. It’s an ok size garden but with a bouncy castle in etc, I couldn’t have too many over and then it’s leaving some out

Speak to the restaurant about the pizza making activity, do they know its a load of 2/3 year olds? I would say for that age each child will need a helper and I doubt thr restaurant will provide that. But also most parents won't drop and run at that age either so there should be plenty of helpers around.

We usually eat cake then and there, after party food, but if you are giving pieces away at the end, it's usually much easier and less faff to have a second cake all sliced and wrapped and bagged up beforehand.

Eat the cake at the party (small portions) have a different cake ready sliced and put into party bags or an individual cupcake in the party bag. Dont have candles on the cake to blow out (do that separately at home if you like) people are no longer happy to eat cake a 3 year old has blown/spat all over.

It sounds very similar to the wacky warehouse type parties mine hadcwhen they were little. Most parents stayed but I was prepared if not everyone did.

I wouldn’t do pizza making with 2-3 year olds though. Too young.

@Physalis I’m British but abroad, it should be roasting hot by her birthday, it would be highly highly unlikely to rain (thank god!)
The parents would all stay and would have to supervise their children (the restaurant also mentioned this to me) surely the parents would realise that and I don’t need to say to them, that seems very awkward 🙈I’m not sure about doing extra games really as I’m hoping the pizza making, eating, cake, playground and bouncy castle will keep them occupied enough, what do you think?
I was thinking I could possibly add a couple more things for entertainment, maybe a face painter and craft table/bar type thing? I have a friend who provides these services quite reasonably..or is that over the top?
In terms of decorations I’m thinking the balloons display, table decs and cake probably all in a theme, with matching party bags/favours? Any ideas what to give 🤷🏻‍♀️
My friend gave all the children a largeish bubble wand last year, instead of faffing with party bags. Do people still do party bags or is there something else I could give?

Don't add any other activities they will be hyper enough as it is with a play area and a bouncy castle!

@Comefromaway Yes, I was wondering if it was a bit of a faff, they suggested the pizza making of their children’s bambino pizzas. I would have personally preferred a buffet type table with kids sandwiches, crisps etc. I may ask them if they’d do that instead. On one hand, the pizza making adds another element, on the other hand it could be quite stressy! All parents would stay id imagine, as I’ve not been to a kids party (yet) where anyone just dropped them off 🤷🏻‍♀️
I’m assuming the chefs would be around to be the ones doing the pizza making and the parents would help? In that case, it could work quite well? Then maybe the parents of younger children (smaller toddlers) could almost make the pizza for them and the older kids could help out perhaps