Ds birthday party - 5 yrs

[BernieBear]

Ds1 has asked to have his birthday party at home and has chosen 3 friends to come around.

I may seem a little out of touch - but what do I do? He had his party at a play centre last year but he has decided he wants it at home. I remember that when I was little the parties were generally "pass the parcel, musical statues etc" with a birthday tea. Is this still the norm? How long do the parties go on for? What do you do for a tea? Very very confused.

I have awful memories of my own birthday parties at ds's age and would hate to do the "wrong" thing for him.

A very confused Bernie.

I've 2 dds but the odd times I've done parties at home for them I've done all the old favourites. Wht don't you ask him what he would like to do - for myy dd when she was 7 we did some arts and crafts / decorated biscuits / played the old favourite party games and had tea. 2 hours max for a party at home or you'll need a bottle of gin never mind wine to recover .

Why not have a film party - DVD of their choice / popcorn / pizza?

Hi Bernie,

Don't stress. Birthday parties are pretty similar to when I was a kid. Be glad your DS only wants 3 guests, as this will be a nice number, and you probably know the kids quite well.

Sundew's ideas are great. Here are some more:

Food: Sarnies (cheese, cream cheese, jam, ham all pretty safe bets), pizza, crisps, grapes, carrot sticks, juice cartons

Games: Pass the parcel (one thing that has changed is people generally put a prize in each layer-just something small like a sweet or badge)
Musical statues/bumps
Treasure hunt - this one has been v successful for me - put clues around the house - can be written for an adult to read to them, or pictures (eg draw a picture of the bath and put the next clue in the bath) Emphasise that they are to work as a team. If you do this first the prize could be some chocs in a treasure chest to keep them going until tea.( I'd do at least 10 clues)
Memory Game: the one where you put some itms on a tray, cover with a dish towel, remove an item and they guess what has gone

Timing: Max 2 hour (make it 1 and a half if you're nervous). Most people do 3-5pm, but I quite like 10am-2 or 11-1 as most kids are in a better mood in the morning and your DS won't have to wait the whole day and possibly be over-excited. Don't know if you'll expect other parents to stay, most don't at that age, which should be fine

Party Bag: A lot of people I know are beginning to hate the pesky things (the presents seem to get passed round and round to successive party bags). At my DS2s last party I did a sort of lucky dip with just 1 present each (wrapped up). That worked well . If you do party bags, those Go-Go things are a winner.

Presents: Most people don't open them at the party itself, which I think is a real shame because the birthday boy/girl doesn't get a chance to thank the guest (mind you, that's at parties where the parent has invited the entire class, and that's a whole other thread.....)

Hope your son has a great time, 5 is a lovely age
x

Oh sun and screaming - my lifesavers!

Wonderful wonderful advice. Will make it 3 - 5 (meaning that wine o clock isn't too far off after the event )

Will def do the games suggested by screaming, wonderful - ds loves treasure hunts too.

Thanks for the menu idea - that is wonderful too, had no idea at all. I do remember at parties I went to it was sarnies, crisps, biscuits and cake (jelly and ice cream too I think) but remember my mother serving beans on toast once and being mortified (as were my friends) so those suggestions got me out of a tight spot - thanks

Will head to shops to top up on party bag stuff (visions of landfill come to mind) Actually - would a helium balloon be a good idea instead? Mmmm pondering.

For a moment I had visions of having to hire magicians/bouncy castle things - thank goodness that isn't what is required.

Thanks again - very much appreciated.

Oh I have just remembered I have face paints somewhere - could I do face painting for them - or is that too much?

Great idea. Never met a child yet who didn't like them!

Re: magicians and all that. Pressure to do all that comes later, but you don't have to give in to that pressure (though if you are in the London/southeast I'd recommend Mr Marvel (Google it) for a larger party. Expensive though

We went to one at the weekend and they decorated their own party hats. Dead cheap to do and they all loved it.

Party bags idea - for my dds party this year I've bought some Usbourne sticker books from The Book People (20 for £13)- all the children are getting one of those and a fairy cake (so I don't have to be madly cutting cake before they all go home).

I do face painting usually - but you need to have another competent, helpful adult at the party to deal with all the other children - preferably a friend (who will be get stuck in and not drink beer in the kitchen as my dh did one year - I was not best pleased )

Also, try and persuade the parents to go home - otherwise you end up trying to make tea / coffee / conversation with them. Children tend to behave better when their parents aren't around as well.

Sundew, i agree - better for parents to go

Face painting is a good idea but some parents are a bit funny about it - my 5 year old ds loves those fake tattoos you get at theme parks of spiderman and such though again some parents find them a bit 'common'.

You could also get one of those decorate your own helicopter/racing car etc kits - Wilkinsons do them for a fiver each and then let them go mad with the paint in the kitchen.

They could also make their own pizzas or flavour their own popcorn.

You should write out all the options and let your 5 year old decide what he wants to do.