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?

@Hellocatshome I just don’t want them getting bored..2 hrs could be quite a long time in the same area?

@Hellocatshome That seems really sad she couldn’t blow the candles out 😒

@Snoozingaway does it? I've always thought it was a fairly disgusting element of birthday parties especially when they are small children who can't blow properly. If it bothers you get them all an individual cupcake and stick a candle in DDs so she can blow it out and eat her own germs. Or just have candles anyway but don't be suprised if some parents don't want their child to eat it.

At that age pizza making is too much of a Faff and the restaurant is not an ideal environment
I’d find something simpler

Just don't have one. Who is it for? A 3 year old won't remember it.

@Snoozingaway often the cake is sent home. But sometimes it's served. Up to you.

I think the parents would help with pizza. I can't imagine the venue are going to supervise enough? Ask the venue how many staff they supply for the party?

I'd ditch the bouncy castle for a home party and invite four or five children over to play and have lunch. Have some toys out, things like buckets of water and paint brushes so they can 'paint' the fence, plan a pass-the-parcel, sit them down for pizza, sandwiches, crudité type finger foods and sing happy birthday. Bit more playing whilst cake is cut up and put in a party bag to take home. Repeat with multiple small groups of friends if you're worried about missing people out.

@SE13Mummy That’s really sweet but seems more hassle in a way to keep repeating it 🤷🏻‍♀️Bouncy castles are fairly cheap here and I’d order a smaller, toddler one

Reading this makes me nostalgic for the days of 3-5pm parties at home, max 10 kids dropped off, party tea, ice cream/jelly, squash, games and maybe a treasure hunt. NO PARENTS seen until they picked up their wains at 5pm and went home with cake wrapped up in a Wombles napkin and a balloon.

@crosstalk Oh 😟 I thought she may enjoy it and her pals?

@maddiemookins16mum 🥰All these parents would def stay

What do I put in party bags? Doesn’t that end up being a bit pricey 🙈there could be around 20 kids

Get all the parents a drink, especially as they're friends.

I'd see if your friend who does crafts could did an activity with the kids and maybe moot do the pizza making unless this is accident run by the restaurant.

We've done bubble wands, gymnastic ribbons, fairy wings and skirts, books and balls that your catch in a cup gifts instead of party bags, bags full of plastic tat can be irritating!

Cake wise it's often good to give out cupcakes over the actual cake, saves you having to slice it and hand it out.

You're daughter will love it and although she may not remember it all the photos will make it that she does. We make photo books for our children after each birthday and they're so special to look back on!

I looked into pizza making for 5 year olds and decided they were too young.

I wouldn’t bother with that, bouncy castle is plenty. All they do at that age is run around. Cake about 30 mins before finish time so that people can slink off at that stage if they need to.

Don’t stress

Sorry about the typos!

Also make sure you're able to enjoy it, keep your involvement in activities to a minimum for the day and make sure you get someone to take loads of photos for you!

Mine adore party bags. You don’t have to overdo it, just a bag of sweets, a lollipop, balloon, a bit of tat. The big supermarkets do bulk buy options.

@TheKeatingFive They offered the pizzas and said they could make them if they like (doing toppings etc) if I say no, the children will just have the pizzas cooked and ready for them and they come to eat their pizza, which seems much easier but I’m wondering if this takes the fun out of it a bit and maybe it could add another element 🤔

I’m also wondering if perhaps my face painter friend could do a few games with them or does that seem unnecessary?

@TheKeatingFive They don’t tend to have them in the supermarkets where I am (not that I’ve ever seen) I looked on Amazon and they were awful bags of plastic tack 😬I think I’d prefer to get creative and do them myself as you say and put a few bits in 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’d just serve the pizza. I don’t think you’ll get much interest from 3 year olds at a party.

Face painting is good. Maybe 1 simple party game, but honestly don’t stress. They’re tiny. Not only that but the whole thing will be such a novelty for them. Go with the flow on the day, whatever works.

My sons 4th birthday last summer we had a bouncy castle and someone making balloon animals. The kids had a great time and no one wanted to leave after 2 hours. Kids love party bags so I'd do them. We didn't do party games.

At 3, I would just do a bouncy castle somewhere. They're not going to be in to pizza making.

I would make it more 2.5-3hrs, my theory is they spend the first 30mins running round, if you do the pizza making this is another 30mins then it can take a good 30-45mins to get everyone sat down, eating and then do the birthday cake.

I think it’s a lovely idea, I had our DC birthday booked for something similar. I had it agreed that if a child dropped out we could use that money towards a large pizza for the adults to share.

Sounds fine. Cut cake at end, round my way it goes straight into the party bags to take home, usually there's plenty of sweet stuff as part of the lunch or tea already (cupcakes or what have you).

Ps no you don't need to pay to provide food. Often at a party usually the meal is at the absolutely earliest possible "children's" meal times - noon or even 11.30 for lunch, or 4/.4.30 pm tea.

Definitely too young to bother making pizza, also too young to really get excited about face painting IMO. Save all these lovely things for when she is older. Bouncy castle and cake is a enough!