AIBU to ask you for your children‘s party tips?

[PartyTips]

DS is going to be 4. He’s never had a birthday party before because Covid hit his first and second but then his 3rd had a whole disaster so his party was delayed and eventually just cancelled (because he was three and a half by then). He’s really, really, really excited for his 4th birthday party? Obviously don’t want to waste money/time/energy/stress on things that don’t work out well or don’t matter.

So, what are your tips? Which things have you enjoyed at parties your DCs have been to? Which things didn’t work? What were good/bad for you either as a host or a guest?

I’d really appreciate any input on this because I don’t know where to start.

I forgot a knife for the cake one year and the sports hall didn't have one and it was a sandwich and crisps type of food event so no cutlery. DH ended up finding a staff kitchen and we had to use a fish slice....

I used to say "The venue is very strict on the numbers of children so sadly we can't accommodate siblings"

Two hours long. Never longer or other parents will hate you

God yes.

Ask for info on allergies with the RSVP, and make it but free anyway.
have 3 extra party bags because someone will come who didn’t RSVP / a sibling will stay even if you’ve said no.
mouth the end time on the invite and make it clear that doors are closing. Take bin bags to the venue.
plan nothing for that evening other than beta blockers and wine.

I second get an entertainer. Don't do loads of party food - just do pizza or sausages in a roll. Or veggie equivalent.

Instead of rge traditional 'beige buffet' make a packed lunch for each child. You can buy colourful paper lunchbags very cheaply on ebay. Pop in a sandwich, crisps, fruit shoot and a chocolate biscuit or similar. Less waste and easier to cater for any dietary requirements.

Following!

“Unfortunately we won’t have room for siblings”

My 'extras' kit is

Cake knife
Duct tape - you can fix anything with duct tape. I've taped paper tablecloths down before when excited kids kept yoinking them down the table
Blu tack - for any decorations
Kitchen roll - someone(s) will upend a full cup of juice or wee on the floor
Bin bags - clean up and to move presents to the car. Don't confuse the 2 and throw away the presents!
Ziplock bags - for any leftovers or doggy bags or wet pants

We did parties in the park.
2 hours at that age.
8 children max.

First lot of games were races/obstacle courses - we made them run until they were all lying on the grass exhausted (we have 2 boys with ADHD so we know how to tire boys out!)

Do you know the kids invited? Cos craft stuff just wouldn't work with my DC and over half of their friends.

Their favourite games usually involved DH chasing them/playing dodgeball/tig etc.

We loved their parties as it was a brilliant way of getting to know their friends. Exhausting. But brilliant

I would just put on the invite ‘no siblings’, otherwise I’d end up waffling on trying not to offend and end up in wedding-gifts-poem territory 😄

Ikea bags are great for moving presents!

My sons 5th was a bouncy castle and didi cars. I decided to take a box of colouring pens and printed out a few themed colouring sheets.... ALL the kids wanted to colour, I ended up giving out paper plates for everyone to draw on!

Don’t bother with sandwiches! Have mini sausages, carrots, cucumber, hoummous, crisps, cold chicken nuggets,egg bites etc. Have tea and coffee available for parents to help themselves with biccies if can afford them. Balloons are always fun for little ones

I always did small - so the friends my children actually liked and played with!
So then I had a really good budget to make memorable for them.

so we did at primary…
go ape climbing

insect experience in the garden (company came and children got to hold giant snails, tarantulas etc)

hired a pool and inflatable set and invited 10 children

Chocolate making party

No stress, no hyper children, no left over food and mess to deal with, no worrying about providing tea and coffee to parents and whether or not they’d stay!