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?

Sounds fabulous!!

I wouldn’t bother with party bags, usually just full of sweets/choc/plastic which most parents want to avoid.

I also wouldn’t pay for the adults drinks/food but cover all costs for the kids

Have fun!

Sounds like a load of hassle and overload for 3 year olds! Do it in another year and everyone will probably have a much nicer time. They don't need parties at this age, just a few balloons and family at home.

That sounds like a lot for a 3yrs old birthday. I would head to a local park/playground for a couple hours. Grab a picnic table, set out a small snacks buffet & juice boxes, maybe some coffee for the adults. Take along some balls & bubbles etc
Have a small cake to sing happy birthday & do candles (take that one home). Give them all a cupcake & a balloon to take home. Jobs a good'en

Oh, or even better just order a couple pizza's to be delivered to the park

Although it sounds like a lovely idea for older children, this isn’t a party that’s suitable for 3 year olds. I think pizza making parties are aimed at slightly older children.

I've done pizza making at a 4 year olds birthday party, but it was a specific cookery school session in a big kitchen with no other activities or distractions at the same time and even. The children are unlikely to be interested or have the patience to finish making their pizzas with all the other fun distractions.

If the intention is they then eat what they make you'll potentially have a lot of hungry children whining, or harassed parents hastily finishing off pizzas to get them cooked. Given your friends have babies to look after along with their toddler and may be expecting a nice chat with friends, I think it sounds madness. Can't they just serve ready cooked pizzas for the kids?

Are you sure you want pizza making for 3 year olds?

Al you need to do, have a picnic, some balloons, cake. It doesn't need to last more than 2 hours

I'm going to go against the grain here and say provide a coffee and a slice of pizza for the adults on you. Let's face it, this party sounds like a dream for the kids and bloody stressful for the parents, who have to supervise throughout and are going to get a hyped up rather filthy kid to take home (I have made pizza with 3 kids of that age at home...omg the mess). I also would not finish up pizza a bunch of toddlers had had their fingers in.

These parents are your friends. In what other situation would you not feed friends a snack at a party? (bit different with school age especially if you can drop and go).

I think you'll find that the restaurant will mysteriously make this a 5s and over activity afterwards .

OP, just to stress again that 2hrs is more than enough for excited 3 year olds who will be unused to this kind thing. It’s stressful for you too, bear that in mind.

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 used to run birthday parties at a leisure centre (brilliant job btw 11-7 on a saturday). I also have 2DCs now 14&17 so a children's parties veteran. My thoughts are at 3 2hrs is plenty. You need structure but some flexibility. Some 3 years old are still very unregulated so 1.5 hrs free play in a stimulating enviroment (allowing 1/2 hr for food) may be too much. Pass the parcel is great (sweets between layers), musical statues etc interspersed with free play. Parties at this age come in 2 flavours: intimate affairs at home with max 6 DCs including birthday child or whole class in a rented venue. I hate party bags with a passion. If you have to then a paper bag with a book, a pen and a bouncy ball is good.

Mine wouldn't have been interested in pizza making at 3. They'd have been happier with some cocktail sausages, party rings and cucumber.

It sounds lovely but very stressful! My DS will be 3 soon and I wouldn't consider him or his friends to be old enough for a party like that. Can you keep the whole thing more simple? Toddlers are very easily pleased!

It's nice but definitely not compulsory (, I'd say 50 50 in years of parties for two kids) to by the parents a tea/coffee/soft drink) some places make it part of the package as an add on. I've done it in soft play type places for about £1-1.50 a head. But would not expect it or think anything of it if had to buy own

Definitely no more than 2 hours, I think 1.5 is optimal for a 3year old. 1 hour play, 30mins eating/cake, then by the time you say goodbye etc it's 2 hours.
Party bags are a good way to signal end of the party, I used to do books as I couldn't buy 10 for £10, but a piece of cake and a balloon works just as well.
We've always used candles on a cupcake so child can still blow out candles without it going on the cake.

This party idea isn't suitable for 3 year olds. They would all need constant supervision.I wouldn't have taken my 3 year old to a restaurant
Your better off sigh a village hall or something like that

No you don’t pay for the adults or do a speech. At 3 I’d expect parents to stay with them but I’d say from 5 or 6 onwards, parents tend to leave them to it (I definitely did!). Pizza making sounds fab.

Pizza making sounds like a nightmare. 20 kids, 2 and 3 years old throwing anything and everything onto a pizza, then it needs to be taken away and cooked. Then you have the nightmare of figuring out who’s pizza is who’s when they bring them back! No way would I be doing that. To be honest, the whole thing sounds like a lot of expense and hassle for what is essentially a bouncy castle and a playground. I would choose a more appropriate venue for 2&3 year olds.

OP don’t throw the baby out with the bath water here.

The basics of this are perfect. Just simplify.

So, bouncy castle is the main attraction. Perfect for this age. I wouldn’t stress about any other entertainment. The only thing I’d do is bring simple outdoor toys to distract those not on the BC. Bubbles, hula hoops, that kind of thing.

Let them play for 80-90 mins approx. People will be late anyway, so not that long a period.

Serve the pizzas then. Simple cheese and tomato, no fuss. Then the cake. Hand out the party bags to signal the end, job done.

It would be a nice gesture to pay for some refreshments for adults, but it definitely won’t be expected, so don’t stress.

This is what worked for us at that age.

Omg 🤣you know what, I’m just thinking of doing another garden party with Dp and her grandparents, we did this the last two years. Balloons, presents & cake in the morning, tea party and play in garden with them and out for pizza and ice cream at the marina in the evening 🤷🏻‍♀️Just wonder if she needs to have a ‘Party’ with friends though? I feel a bit guilty 🤔

@Snoozingaway

Omg 🤣you know what, I’m just thinking of doing another garden party with Dp and her grandparents, we did this the last two years. Balloons, presents & cake in the morning, tea party and play in garden with them and out for pizza and ice cream at the marina in the evening 🤷🏻‍♀️Just wonder if she needs to have a ‘Party’ with friends though? I feel a bit guilty 🤔

Yes, that sounds like a much better idea.

3 year olds don't want to make pizza.

Why on earth would you feel guilty. Your 3 year old won't care.

Can you remember your 3rd birthday?

A 3 year old will be so happy with a little party in the garden! It's exactly what I'm planning for DS. He will have about 4 friends but only because our relatives/friends have kids a similar age.

You've got years of kids parties to come, which are properly organised, hectic and full of screaming kids. Enjoy the quieter ones while you can! Your latest plan sounds a lot more special.