London - Christmas Children's Party

[IlanaK]

It was suggested today at the summer picnic at Coram Fields that a Christmas children's party would be a nice idea. I am more than happy to organise this but want to gage opinions first. Coram Fields would be a great venue again assuming we could get it. Here are some questions for you to answer or put suggestions if you are interested.

1. Venue - would Coram Fields suit everyone again or can you think of somewhere else?

2. Would you want to attend during the week or on a weekend?

3)I was thinking of a bring a dish or two party (sort of like today) and we would decorate the hall all christmassy and have christmas crackers for the kids, etc. Also maybe some inside christmassy activities such as art stuff, games etc. Is this ok?

4. WOuld anyone want it to be more multicultrural - a seasonal party? I am Jewish so I would certainly understand if people preferred this.

5. OK - the big question is cost. I know that today was free and people just made donations to Binkie as the hall cost £32. However, for a proper christmas party I think we would have to charge. My reason for this is partly the venue - if say 15 families came (about what came today I think), that is £2 per family for the venue. Also, there would be some cost for the crackers, decorations, etc. How would people feel about this?

Ok, so, this is just an idea at this stage, but if we want to do it I am guessing we have to book quickly. If people aren't interested, then I will not be insulted! However, I am happy to do it if people want to come.

What do you all think?????

Piximom - welcome! There is certainly room for you and your family. I will add you to the list.

SusieS - I don't think there is a car park, but there were certainly meters on the roads around it. I don't have any other info on how easy it would be to park though - sorry.

Everyone please note - we are up to 27 families on the list with an additional 2 possibles (charliecatthenonsmoker are you coming?). This leaves only one more place available. If there are any lurkers reading this who are undecided - I advise you to get in quick as we will be stopping the list at 30 families. If you are already on the list, please think carefully about whether you are definately coming or not as I will start a waiting list for any families who are not added to the list.

Below are revised details. Please add your name to something if you haven#'t already!

Revised list:

Date and Time - December 18th from 12:30 onwards

Venue - Coram Fields near Russell Square tube station (large park and playground). We will be in the Band Room

Families attanding:
IlanaK
biketastic
binkie
prefernot
lydialemon
cori
welshmum
tigermoth
sis
aelita
blu
marina
ks
merrygoround
hoxtonchick
prufrock
posey
zinger
yingers74
arabica
motherinferior
onlineid
JJ
SusiS
Skmoo
Unicorn
Pixiemom

Activities:

1. colouring festive pictures (I will provide)
2. card making with ks and marina 3)decorating biscuits with sis and binkie 4)pin the tail on the reindeer with marina
3. dancing to music with bubbles added (bubble machine - tigermoth) 7)pass the parcel 8)story telling/singng session (Ilana, Arabica and prefernot)

Decorations - tigermoth (streamers) and possibly cori?

Tidying up - arabica

Santa - Welshmum's dh (yippee!) Bring your own present wrapped and labled for your child and Santa will give them out.

Savoury Foods:

1. crips, breadsticks, other finger type crunchy food (IlanaK)
2. raw cut up veggies and dips, hummous, etc (biketastic - veggies and dips plus salad pots)
3. cold meats - salamis, ham, chicken, sausages, etc
4. sandwhiches or rolls
5. cheese (prefernot)

Sweet foods:

1. mini cakes or a large cake (ks and pixiemom)
2. biscuits (hoxtonchick)
3. chocolates or chocolate bars (skmoo)
4. jelly (binkie) drinks:
5. juice (apple juice carton - prefernot)
6. soft drinks like cola
7. water

Paperplates, cups, etc - (prefernot, susies)

As you can see this is by no means a definative list as I am lacking in imagination. If you want to bring something not on the list, please do.

Ok - I think this is all the info. PLease let me know if anything is missing!

Is there a limit on the amount spent on the Christmas present? - to avoid embarrassing comparisons, maybe £5?

I'll second that.

Sorry if this has been covered but how long is it expected to go on for? DD currently sleeps about 12.30 - 2 -- I'm sure it will be a bit less by December but if we arrive a couple of hours late will we have missed Santa and all the fun?

Sis - good idea about a limit on the pressies. Let's all agree no more than £5 then. Please remember to clearly label your child's present so Santa can call out their name.

Zinger. we have not set a limit on the time. I think we have the room up until 6pm,but that is too long for me. Perhaps we could agree on an end time so that people know what's what. I would suggest 4:30 as that seems plenty of time even for late comers and also allows us all time to get home before little ones need tea and baths. Is this ok?

hey, poor arabica is going to do all the tidying up!
We can do tidying up too -so she won't feel on her own.
We can do deccos too, we've got party lights so can bring these along.
Parking in the street outdise was free on the sunday we went, but supsect it will be a meter or ticket on the saturday.
I didn't realise the jelly was veggie, binkie. Will be first in the queue for the xmas tree jelly next time. And ds can have his frst taste of jelly at the party.
Can we all label the food so veggies wil know what is what? Sounds a bit anl I suppose, but good when you are a veggie....get those sausages away, damn you MI!

Any room for anymore - not quite sure if me and DP but I will talk to him. I'll have 3 year old and 16 month old so not able to direct any activities but happy to bring some cold sausages and ham.

Good idea about labelling the veg things - and yes, confirm my jelly is from veggie crystals - here are the makers

Welcome Kaz33 - I have added you to the list. I have also added Edam who emailed me. This means that with charliecatthenonsmoker as a possible, there are now no more places. If you would still like to come, let me know and I will start a waiting list if anyone drops out.

Godd idea about labeling veggie foods. ANd also a couple of reminders - please snure that you do not bring baloons or anything else that goes bang as we have some children attending who are sensitive to this. ALso, no nut products as we have a child attending with a nut allergy.

Revised list:

Date and Time - December 18th from 12:30 onwards

Venue - Coram Fields near Russell Square tube station (large park and playground). We will be in the Band Room

Families attanding:
IlanaK
biketastic
binkie
prefernot
lydialemon
cori
welshmum
tigermoth
sis
aelita
blu
marina
ks
merrygoround
hoxtonchick
prufrock
posey
zinger
yingers74
arabica
motherinferior
onlineid
JJ
SusiS
Skmoo
Unicorn
Pixiemon
Edam
Kaz33

Activities:

1. colouring festive pictures (I will provide)
2. card making with ks and marina 3)decorating biscuits with sis and binkie 4)pin the tail on the reindeer with marina
3. dancing to music with bubbles added (bubble machine - tigermoth) 7)pass the parcel 8)story telling/singng session (Ilana, Arabica and prefernot)

Decorations - tigermoth (streamers) and possibly cori? Biketastic lights.

Tidying up - arabica and biketastic

Santa - Welshmum's dh (yippee!) Bring your own present wrapped and labled for your child and Santa will give them out.

Savoury Foods:

1. crips, breadsticks, other finger type crunchy food (IlanaK)
2. raw cut up veggies and dips, hummous, etc (biketastic - veggies and dips plus salad pots)
3. cold meats - salamis, ham, chicken, sausages, etc
4. sandwhiches or rolls
5. cheese (prefernot)

Sweet foods:

1. mini cakes or a large cake (ks and pixiemom)
2. biscuits (hoxtonchick)
3. chocolates or chocolate bars (skmoo)
4. jelly (binkie) drinks:
5. juice (apple juice carton - prefernot)
6. soft drinks like cola
7. water

Paperplates, cups, etc - (prefernot, susies)

As you can see this is by no means a definative list as I am lacking in imagination. If you want to bring something not on the list, please do.

Ok - I think this is all the info. PLease let me know if anything is missing!

Where do you need helping out - I may need to get someone to keep an eye on dd2 (who'll be 18 months by then!), though.

Will not be bringing DP as he has TWO Christmas dos the previous day and will presumably be lounging around the Inferiority Complex emitting faint and pathetic groans. Sorry about the soss - they are the only quick-picnic things I can usually get round to doing. They are organic and freerange and all that, for those of you with carnivorous qualms.

IlanaK, could you add to your ongoing list: (1) pressie price limit (2) end time (4.30 seems good to me)? (Just in case these things get lost way down the thread.) We'll bring some bottles of water as this is all DD drinks so far.

Good idea zinger - I will add them below.

Motherinferior - I don't think there are any other activities that need helping with. Perhaps you could just generally help with whatever you see needs doing on the day. What we really need now is for people to pick food/drink to bring.

Revised list:

Date and Time - December 18th from 12:30 onwards

Venue - Coram Fields near Russell Square tube station (large park and playground). We will be in the Band Room

Families attanding:
IlanaK
biketastic
binkie
prefernot
lydialemon
cori
welshmum
tigermoth
sis
aelita
blu
marina
ks
merrygoround
hoxtonchick
prufrock
posey
zinger
yingers74
arabica
motherinferior
onlineid
JJ
SusiS
Skmoo
Unicorn
Pixiemon
Edam
Kaz33

Activities:

1. colouring festive pictures (I will provide)
2. card making with ks and marina 3)decorating biscuits with sis and binkie 4)pin the tail on the reindeer with marina
3. dancing to music with bubbles added (bubble machine - tigermoth) 7)pass the parcel 8)story telling/singng session (Ilana, Arabica and prefernot)

Decorations - tigermoth (streamers) and possibly cori? Biketastic lights.

Tidying up - arabica and biketastic

Santa - Welshmum's dh (yippee!) Bring your own present wrapped and labled for your child and Santa will give them out (limit £5 spent per pressie).

Savoury Foods:

1. crips, breadsticks, other finger type crunchy food (IlanaK)
2. raw cut up veggies and dips, hummous, etc (biketastic - veggies and dips plus salad pots)
3. cold meats - salamis, ham, chicken, sausages, etc (motherinferior - sausages)
4. sandwhiches or rolls
5. cheese (prefernot)

Sweet foods:

1. mini cakes or a large cake (ks and pixiemom)
2. biscuits (hoxtonchick)
3. chocolates or chocolate bars (skmoo)
4. jelly (binkie) drinks:
5. juice (apple juice carton - prefernot)
6. soft drinks like cola
7. water (zinger)

Paperplates, cups, etc - (prefernot, susies)

As you can see this is by no means a definative list as I am lacking in imagination. If you want to bring something not on the list, please do.

ooopS! WOuld you believe I forgot the end time!

Try again!

Revised list:

Date and Time - December 18th from 12:30 to 4:30pm

Venue - Coram Fields near Russell Square tube station (large park and playground). We will be in the Band Room

Families attanding:
IlanaK
biketastic
binkie
prefernot
lydialemon
cori
welshmum
tigermoth
sis
aelita
blu
marina
ks
merrygoround
hoxtonchick
prufrock
posey
zinger
yingers74
arabica
motherinferior
onlineid
JJ
SusiS
Skmoo
Unicorn
Pixiemon
Edam
Kaz33

Activities:

1. colouring festive pictures (I will provide)
2. card making with ks and marina 3)decorating biscuits with sis and binkie 4)pin the tail on the reindeer with marina
3. dancing to music with bubbles added (bubble machine - tigermoth) 7)pass the parcel 8)story telling/singng session (Ilana, Arabica and prefernot)

Decorations - tigermoth (streamers) and possibly cori? Biketastic lights.

Tidying up - arabica and biketastic

Santa - Welshmum's dh (yippee!) Bring your own present wrapped and labled for your child and Santa will give them out (limit £5 spent per pressie).

Savoury Foods:

1. crips, breadsticks, other finger type crunchy food (IlanaK)
2. raw cut up veggies and dips, hummous, etc (biketastic - veggies and dips plus salad pots)
3. cold meats - salamis, ham, chicken, sausages, etc (motherinferior - sausages)
4. sandwhiches or rolls
5. cheese (prefernot)

Sweet foods:

1. mini cakes or a large cake (ks and pixiemom)
2. biscuits (hoxtonchick)
3. chocolates or chocolate bars (skmoo)
4. jelly (binkie) drinks:
5. juice (apple juice carton - prefernot)
6. soft drinks like cola
7. water (zinger)

Paperplates, cups, etc - (prefernot, susies)

As you can see this is by no means a definative list as I am lacking in imagination. If you want to bring something not on the list, please do.

I'll bring some rolls and as for my activity I think I'll be Santa's little helper (am not wearing foolish outfit though....unless dh insists) wink

My wink didn't work

Hi everyone just to say great stuff that I have a tidying-up comrade. Are there tea/coffee/gin&tonic making facilites at the venue, Ilana K??

I'll bring a bottle of sugar-free strawberry squash (sadly, ds won't drink juices)- but I don't think I can carry more than a 2litre bottle - maybe someone else could bring some more soft drinks too?

mother inferior - giggled at your wording 'the inferiority complex'

As I don't have a baby or toddler to watch all the time, I can be a spare eyes if anyone needs some back up tiny watching.

Hi, I've just joined mumsnet and would love to come to the party and help out, of course. I think it's now down to a waiting list so please add me to it!

Arabica, there's a little coffee / hot drinks kiosk that also does other bits and pieces. Alas the venue is strictly alcohol free ... You'll have to slip a gin and tonic into a mineral water bottle .

Oh, and welcome EvaD (Eva's my dd's name as you'll see if you do come and meet her). How old is your Ds / Dd and where abouts in London are you?

Um hello,
my name is Tracey (user name is billiejo) and i've just joined the board today. I'm really interested in joining in at the christmas party but i know that it's a bit cheeky and presumptious as i've only just joined so i won't be at all offended if it's not possible. I live in Tottenham with my husband and my little boy who is 9 1/2 months old. I've always worked and am finding it a bit isolated being at home all the time, also, we've only just moved here from Chalk Farm so I don't really know anybody yet (get the violins out!) used to be really confident before i became a mum , but that seems to have been zapped out of me at the mo, so anyway, this is my first step at being pro-active again (actually it's more for my little lad , who must be sick of the sight of me!) Well , that turned into a bit of a life story didn't it? You can tell i don't get out much.
Hope to hear from any of you soon, cheers, Tracey.

Hi Tracey and EvaD. Welcome to Mumsnet and I would love to accomodate you at the party. Unfortunately, we set a limit of 30 families as the room is not that large. We currently have 30 families attending. However, I will start a waiting list with you both on it and remind others to please let me know if they are not coming. So watch this space!

just a thought illanak.. is there any MN mum who does a childrens movement activity class (action kids, tumble tots etc).. or boogie beebies type thing... as They (little darlings) do so love to jump around (well my mad ones do!)

Also-- what food shall WE bring, and shall we help setting up, or tidying up?

Hello Billiejo - welcome to mumsnet. I don't know about numbers for the party but I'm sure someone who does will reply soon. You'll find lots of company on here until you find your feet in Tottenham, it can be such an enormous jump from working to being a mum - I do sympathise as i found it really hard. Take care x