Things you like and dislike at kids parties

[icequeenelsa]

Dd turns 4 in May and has asked for a party this year. Will need to invite her pre school class and friends/family so at the moment I’m leaning towards hiring the church hall. She loves Frozen so I thought about getting an Elsa character to come and sing some songs. I think they are relatively cheap. Other than that I’m stumped.

I’ve been to a few kids parties recently and the ones I really dislike are soft play parties, I know they do everything for you but they tend to be very busy and chaotic. Also been to a few village hall ones where they’ve just hired a bouncy castle and played some music. Games and entertainers don’t seem to be a thing at this age (at least not from what I’ve seen) maybe because they are quite little and don’t have the attention span!

So if your dc got invited to a party what do you like to see there and which ones do you dread? Thank you!

I absolutely hated the free-form bouncy castle, no structure, village hall parties.

having an entertainer that gives the parties structure are ideal, in my opinion.

My DS had a magician at his 4th birthday party who was great and kept the kids’ focus by asking for volunteers and making balloon sculptures and things.

My DS would get bored at parties with just an entertainer or a longer activity.

Agree the one bouncy castle for 30 kids is the worst. I am not a relaxed mother so not an option to ignore and hope for the best. Much prefer someone else (entertainer) taking responsibility.

Dislike: Elaborate facepainters that take ages ler child.
A lot of the stuff in party bags
Elaborate birthday cakes that the child blows out the candles on

Like: A cupcake in a box as they leVe, preferably without a pile of icing.

I like the soft play ones really as a parent I know my daughter will have the most fun at these. She definitely doesn’t have the attention span for games or entertainment like characters. She’s also in a nursery pre-school class. Sports hall parties with more space than a village hall also are fun for her, with a bouncy castle and other activities like scooters and a football net. I think for the age group timing is important, parties can’t be too long or they get tired and stroppy before happy birthday has been sung. 1.5hrs has been ideal, starting at 11.30 with food at 12.30 and kicked out around 1.

When my older child was little every party seemed to have an entertainer but that was more at school age. Just haven’t seen it as much with pre school parties. Maybe a game of pass the parcel, otherwise it’s just let them tear about for 2 hours.

Normally the characters will also play some games and entertain the kids. You need some sort of structure so it doesn’t feel like a free for all

I always provide food for the adults as well- just a tray of sandwiches or something. Put chairs out round the outside of the hall so parents can sit and have a chat.

I have also got an ice cream van to turn up at a few parties which was a massive hit and not actually very expensive

Soft play parties are exhausting, but so are all small kids parties. Village hall is the worst. No real structure, concerns they can escape the venue... my DD is 4 in the Spring and has only ever been to soft play parties and is having one herself.

Like- an entertainer who engages all
the kids not just the birthday child.

drinks for the parents

food that is a mixture for kids and covered with tongs utensils to take

I went to a soft play one a few weeks ago and they hadn’t hired the place exclusively so it was open to the public too. It was a rainy Sunday and absolutely packed. Loads of older kids too and I think at least two or three of the little ones got hurt. No seating, couldn’t even get a coffee as the queue for the cafe was massive.

Since when are soft play parties exhausting?

What's exhausting about them?

Personally, I like bouncy castles and I went to one that had a Dj who played music, but also mc-ed them through all the party games. Soft play also worked really well at this age.

I grimace at actual entertainers though. They aren’t interesting enough to deliver a lecture that keeps them entertained for 90 minutes. I’ve been to a couple parties with an actual entertainer and half the kids were just hiding behind their parents the whole time because she was so loud and over the top in your face. It didn’t really get anyone engaging and it didn’t let them just play with their friends.

Tea and coffee for parents (or a cafe to buy it). Keep the food simple. Parents don’t want to eat. You don’t need 16 types of sandwiches. Some cocktail sausages, crisps, party rings, some fruit, cake. The party bags are the most exciting bit. They love party bags, so put some fun thought into them.

I worry that family function room type parties will be full of relatives, and that it'll feel a bit awkward if not many from school turn up. I attended a one where there really wasn't much to do, just this big sparse hall, and it was mainly family, and I felt a bit like an "outsider." I tend to now avoid those kind unless they are children my dcs play with alot.

The soft play parties are guaranteed entertainment for the kids and larger less intimate venues, always a little cafe to get a drink as well. These days we tend to do houses with the dcs close friends. I'm please those full class parties are behind us.

I think if I can get the Elsa then that would break it up a bit. Half an hour messing about on a bouncy castle if I can get one. A bit of food then Elsa would arrive for the second part and hopefully entertain them for the last part. Definitely 2 hours at most!

DD is tiny but fearless and often gets knocked about by older or bigger kids and has a habit of throwing herself on/down equipment which is likely to end in injury! Plus I am autistic and find the noise really overwhelming. We've only been to exclusive hire parties (and we're doing the same) but there will inevitably be older cousins etc of the birthday kid.

I took my reception aged child to a party the other day where they had an Elsa entertainer - honestly, the only kid interested in her was the birthday child. The boys particularly are so boisterous, they just want to chase balloons and jump on the bouncy castle and tussle on the floor. Soft play parties hurt my soul, but they’re by far the best kind of party for this age group, or trampolining; otherwise the vast majority of kids will get bored.

Like soft play parties when the venue is small and it's exclusively hired.
Like park parties that is essentially a play date with party food.
Like swimming pool parties where they are all enclosed and engaged (dislike if it's my turn to get in for ratios), thankfully I just sit in the edge.
Pottery painting was lovely when they were 6-10. Relaxed and plenty of time for the kids to chat.
Dislike village hall free for all parties and those with loud screeching entertainers whose main aim is to rule the kids up as much as possible. Hate it when the only activity is a bouncy castle.
Dislike when you are basically just paying for a group of children to attend an activity and they all just scatter like trampolining or ninja warrior.

Absolutely a cupcake in a box over a mashed up bit if cake in a napkin. One of these and some bubbles is ideal for a party favour rather than a bag of tat.

Like: outdoor space ( if weather ok) few or no sweets and crisps etc, something for parents to eat/ drink, bouncy castle or other toys- eg loads of big cardboard boxes and a Make Do kit or tape so the kids can build forts

I don't mind either way about an entertainer or games as 4 is a bit young for those.

Dislike: venue that isnt exclusive hire, very loud music

Those saying about village halls with only bouncy castles has also reminded me of one particular kid whose parents hired a village hall and nothing else 🙈 most boring 2 hours of everyone’s lives - and then they did it again the following year 🥴

Hate: the sweet stuff being put on the table with the savoury. The kids grab the cake and biscuits and the sandwiches get ignored.
Love: Giving the little darlings back at the end!

This reflects what I was going to say - my son is a bit younger, but I've been to parties with Elsas, and it's kind of only interesting for those who care about Elsa.

If you're going to go that route, I'd either make sure 100% you know all the attendees are into frozen, and if not, make sure you hire one who is entertaining in their own right i.e. if a child had no prior knowledge of Elsa/froze , would she be able to hold their attention?

Anywhere where the music is club level loud. So unnecessary.

One I hated was for 2-3 year olds and was a very loud disco with nail varnish painting and tattoos. The kids couldn't talk or play as it was so loud.
Other than that I liked all sorts. Soft play, boucy castle, zoo, magician, science, traditional kids games at home, park. We did go to one where the kids weren't fed which was a bit ..unusual. The parents weren't poor. Just mean.

Some judgy, snobby people here. It's a kids party. Do any parents like them? They're for the kids, not you.

Alot of parents can't afford to hire an entertainer for 2 hours.