To think it’s impossible to do a whole class party on the cheap?

[Andjustgo]

Is it possible to have a party without spending close to £500? (I’m talking around 25 kids here, there isn’t really a way of inviting fewer guests.)

Definitely absolutely do not want to host at home, it wouldn’t be practical as they are young children so parents would have to stay. And the thought gives me the shivers.

So local soft play / inflatables / role play cafe either charge per head at around £20, working out at around £500, or you pay for exclusive hire of the place for a bit more money. Both these options include food etc.

Or I could hire a hall (but then would need entertainment and bouncy castles seem popular 😱) or a magician / princesses or something. That’s around £200 plus hall hire, food and party bags. On the face of it cheaper but a lot of work involved.

I don’t mind paying but I’m just wondering if this is typical now.

(I do get a large percentage of MNetters wouldn’t dream of anything as vulgar as a kids’ party - this question is for those who do!)

We have a community centre not too far from us where you can hire the room, then pay a little bit extra (less than £50) and also use their bouncy castle, a couple of tunnels, a couple of space hoppers and some mini car things (2-3+ but also had a couple of adults on them at one point). Stick a load of balloons on the floor, some of those punch balloons and you’re good to go. We put food out on the tables and the kids sat down and ate when they were feeling peckish, which worked really well, rather than a set time to eat.

We also did a craft table with fake tattoos, crayons, some colouring pages downloaded free, some Pom poms, pipe cleaners, wiggly eyes and some pre cut masks they colour in themselves, which I wasn’t expecting anyone to go near it, but it was quite popular and the kids just didn’t stop, it was lovely to see. There were about thirty kids there between the ages of 3 to ten. Really relaxed, they were all playing, parents were all chatting and eating rice crispy cakes. We’d done party games the year before, but didn’t bother this year and it was fine. We lit candles and sang happy birthday at one point, but other than that, the kids all entertained each other and just played.

Locally we also have a woman with just about every Hotwheels product you can imagine who sets up a play area, as well as a Nerf themed entertainment, which just seems to me to be asking for trouble, and we might do those as he gets older, but no need for it yet.

I have done it far cheaper: hire a hall (£100-£150), then do traditional party games. Standard party food fare. There is no need for an entertainer or bouncy castle.

My son got invited to a whole nursery party (2 to 4 years olds, maybe 30 kids) at the park in January which I thought was a terrible idea but it actually worked out really well. They set up a marquee with a table and had cake, drinks and balloons. Also it's quite a posh nursery so I imagine they could have done something more expensive but it was a really nice morning even with a bit of drizzle.

Well, I’ve just sucked up the cost and booked! It’ll be fun, and ‘tis only once a year …