Hosting my first ever kids party!

[Newe1]

Please give me your experienced advice. I’m really unprepared. It’s for a 4 year old. They will arrive at 12pm and then party games/entertainer. Food will be 1:30.

1. Do I have snacks and drinks for them at the start or just feed them at 1:30?
2. what the heck do I do for that 1/2 hr whilst waiting for games/entertainer to start?
3. not met lots of them so advice on how to break the ice?

Music and balloons are my top tips for parties. Also, get some games out.

Why does the party start before the entertainer arrives? 1 hour with entertainer, 30 min food and cake, then 30 min free play/disco/more of entertainer etc works well. What kind of entertainer is it?
No snacks before food, but 1.30 quite late for lunch.
No need to break ice, kids will just run in and go mad. Parents will linger around chatting. Providing tea/coffee and biscuits for parents works well.

Following as I have a party Sunday and weather is crap so bouncy castle has cancelled!

(I have an 11 year old, I should know better but am at a loss due do ages ranging from 9m - 12 years old!)

pass the parcel??

I'd definitely have drinks out from the start, plus some simple toys (train set, doll house, etc). I'd also make sure to tell the parents what time the food will be happening, as 1:30 is quite a late lunch for a 4yo so they might need something before they get there.

9m - 12y?? That's just masochism 😆 best of luck to you!

Thank you all! I stated 12pm on party invite as most will probably arrive 10/20 minutes after and didn’t want them to miss the entertainer as I’ve paid a lot of money for it. Good idea about tea and coffee for adults, I didn’t think of that! And biscuits too.

do I need to label the food? I’ve started to make food labels but then won’t it look odd as they can see what the food is without me labelling it!

The bouncy castle was supposed to be entertainment for all of them.. bloody rain!

it’s a christening party at home for my 3 year old so just family really but so so many little ones!

I will have wine waiting in the fridge for when it’s over!

@Anxietyandwine i also had a bouncy castle and cancelled it as it’s raining all day here! DH was worried kids will fall

I’m really regretting having this party. I’m so anxious. Also my kitchen is open plan and entertainment will be happening at one side of it. I’m worried as I have to make some food fresh like the pizza and chicken nuggets so parents will be watching me doing this lol!

100% agree with this and it's the norm for the countless 4th birthdays I've been to recently. It doesn't matter what you paid, your DC will be there from the start and far better to get them all in the party mood rather than hanging around like lemons for 30 mins.

Okay so shall I text the parents and tell them entertained will be here so and so time so they can arrive when it’s more suitable? Or shall I have an activity set up in garden do kids can come in and do something?

You might want to warn the entertainer that the party will start 1/2 hour before they are due to start. Usually they arrive about then in order to be able to set up to start on time. I can think of nothing worse than trying to set up while parents watch and the kids get impatient for you to start!

I always did pizzas, chips, buns, jellies & ice cream, never bothered with games if it was at home they usually ended up putting dancing games on the television. Otherwise we went to the local soft play place who organised everything except for the cake & party bags.

1:30 is late for lunch. Most will be used to eating around 12 at school/nursery. I would feed first, then do entertainment. TBH it's an odd time to start the party, I'd have done it 11-1 or 3-5 covering lunch/tea in the middle.
Don't bother labelling food, people will ask if they want to know details!
Agree you need to offer tea etc to parents, they will probably pick at the food once the kids have finished as well!
Make sure they know what time the entertainer starts, then it's their fault if they're late! Agree with you that many will turn up after 12. Rude imo, but some don't seem to take kids party start times as firm!
If you want to fill the time as they arrive, have some loose balloons, music and a bubble machine if you have one - they'll be happy just playing for a bit.

In my experience, most people turn up on time for children’s parties, because they are often only 2 hours long.
If your guests are invited at 12, I’d ask the entertainer to start at about 12.15. But if that’s not possible, just get some balloons and music and the children will run around until the entertainer starts.

Definitely agree with this. Depending on the type of entertainment you've booked they may have props/equipment to bring in an that's not easy with loads of children running around. If you haven't already discussed what time children will be arriving I would definitely call and tell them- they may say they need to arrive earlier and start earlier.

Shall I just text the parents and tell them entertained is arriving such and such time do party will start 1/2 hr later?

It’s a nightmare isn’t it! I will be prepping as much the day before and probably knock up some pass the parcel and get the karaoke out. Good luck!