Yet another children's party thread - advice required.

[Millarkie]

Would you be happy if you received an invite to a children's party (at child's house) which said 'We live on a single track road and have limited parking so if you could park in the village car park and ring our house we will pick you up and drive you to our house and refund your parking fee.'

The trip from the car park is only a 4 min (at 20mph) drive and we have a 6 seater car with plenty of kid's car seats.

Or is that tooo much like hassle?

We would really like to have dd's 4th birthday party at home, I've arranged a children's entertainer and we have plenty of space but not plenty of parking (can do 7 cars but we are inviting 14 children)....so choice seems to be ferrying guests from the nearest car park, trying to hire the village hall, or limiting the number of guests.

Opinions please

you really do not want to be ferrying children around while you have a party to run. If the parents get together surely all the children can be accommodated in fewer cars.

Think that plan would be logistically nightmarish and adversely impact on the timing of the party (someone is bound to be late). Hire the hall or say it is drop off only.

Will be sending dh up and down to ferry kids whilst I and dsis entertain children I think.

We have only just moved here, dd has only been at nursery for a few weeks (it is all of the nursery children we want to invite) so I don't know any of the parents to try to arrange shared lifts. If they know each other then that would be great, but there really is only room for 7 cars (happy to take ours up to the car park and walk back) - or they will have to park a mile away. There is actually a footpath across a field from the station car park to our house which takes 5 mins to walk but I think that people would find the park and walk option more hassle with 4year olds in tow.

Am frantically searching for the number for the village hall people

Sounds like a logistically nightmare when you have a party to run TBH. You will have 14 children and each with at least one parent in tow to ferry about.

Think it sounds like a good idea (and very generous of you) - and if dh doesn't mind doing the lifts while you organise the party, then it should be ok I'd think.

I take it you want the parents to stay too, so 'drop off only' wouldn't be an option?

Do many people drop and run for 4 year olds (some of them will be 3 year olds). I didn't leave mine at parties until they were at least 5.

How far is the walk in minutes?

Grr..stop bringing me down to earth you lot!

Was thinking that with a 6 seater car we may be able to transfer 2 parent+child combos each run - and if dsis could be left with my kids I could take second car and bring another parent+child on the first run.
And late comers could park on our drive/road, we will have some space (although our cars plus entertainer's car will be there).

Ok, have found Hall booking number - will try there...but I'm not looking forward to breaking the news to dd.

The walk is 5 mins Hula - but it goes through a little wood, across a stream (on a wobbly bridge) and across a field. My kids love the walk but I could understand others not wanting to do it.

S'pose I could say - if there is no parking left at the house, please park at the car park and either walk (with little map showing route because it's not obvious) or ring for a lift.

Yes - I'd go with what you said in your last post. If no space left, park at car park or ring for lift - great idea.

Have it at home if that's where you and dd want it

Can you make that walk party of the party? A treasure hunt perhaps?

Have a start time for party at the car park - offer to pay parking though as unfair for parents to have to do it.

Before party, cut out and laminate 5 large pictures - maybe of something like wildlife creatures, and then one other animal maybe dressed ina party hat or similar. Go and stick on trees/things on the walk, spacing them out. Attach with string so they don't come off.

Meet at car park. Hand out a little map and a list of 5 of the animals to find (leave a blank space for the 6th mysteryanimal), and give a pencil to the children/parent. As the child finds each animal they have to tick them off. When they find the mystery party animal they need to draw it.

Map and hunt takes them to the house, where there will be their first birthday party treat for the completed map - a chewy sweet or a sticker

Then you only need one or two people at the car par - give that person a tick list of guests, and a phone to call you to check for non arrivees.

You and other helpers can be at the house.

Oh and if you like the hunt idea - say about it on the invite so parents know to wear sensible shoes and not little heels!

Could you not make the walk part of the party ? All meet in the car park and then follow a trail to your house ? If you scatter enough chocolate coins or some such even the most reluctant walker should manage it. Then you could offer the ferring service to take back those who didn't want to walk back.

Good idea LizP

What a fab idea both of you! I'll time the walk again with dd in tow...it will make the village tongues wag, but it's a jolly village so I"m sure they will understand.

I've rung village hall and it's booked for the day we wanted - but we could have it late afternoon on the day before - but that depends on whether the entertainer can do that time..

Hmmm...will run idea past dh and see what he thinks.

I am sure the children would love a treasure hunt