HELP me please! Party planning hats on PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

[peckarollover]

I am having a party on sunday for DS who was 2 yesterday.

Im not sure how many will be coming as its been quite a casual "we are having a little gathering feel free to come". There will probably be more adults than kids and the kids that are there range from 3 months to 9 years!

I have been thinking, oh he is only 2 he doesnt need a proper party but it has dawned at me that there will be various kids there that are much older than 2 and WILL need entertainment!

Im hoping that the weather is good enough to spend some time outside but still need to think of activities that will entertain them all. I was thinking of some big craft activity?

Also FOOD - not sure what to do as the numbers are uncertain and I intend on feeding the adults as well as the kids. Anyone have any fab ideas?

Help would be hugely appreciated!

PLEAAAAAAAASE

First of all I think you need to find out exactly how many are coming otherwise catering will be a nightmare. It's all very well being casual but I think it is best to set a start and finish time and label it simply as a lunch/tea gathering on behalf of ds. Food wise, anything you can prepare in advance is best, perhaps a cold salady type buffet thing and something similar for the children that you can lay out and they help themsleves to. Personally I wouldnt organise any sort of entertainment but just be prepared for children to be everywhere in the house/garden playing. Whatever suits a 2 year old will not suit a 9 year old and I'm very much of the ilk that when children get together they will just get on with it.

paper plates sounds perfect

if you're going to be outside and it's still hot at the weekend i would say yes to water stuff

Have just started making a vodka laced watermelon yum

The highlight of my dds birthday party was a huge bag of confetti. The kids grabbed handfuls of it and ran round the garden for ages. For the adults I did cheese ,biscuits, salami, chorizo, olives that kind of thing, so as more arrived I just kept topping up. For the kids I went traditional, sandwiches, biscuits cakes etc, they never eat much anyway.

pecka, i meant hire a bouncy castle!

best gane at my DS's party at the weekend was - fill some balloons with water
get the children to try and throw them into an empteid paddling pool/sandpit
Huge fun - some of them burst!

On second thoughts - amy be a bit toomuch for 2 yr olds - sorry