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Original poster

Children's party without food?

50 replies

singingkat · 26/10/2004 16:20

I'm trying to organize a birthday party for my daughter who is going to be four. All the kid's parties I've been to up to now have all been with food (chicken nuggets, chips etc.) Is this obligatory, or would the children be happy with a birthday cake with drinks and some sweets if they are kept entertained? The entertainment costs a lot and I would like to keep costs down. Thanks for the help

OP posts:

Skate · 26/10/2004 16:39

SueW - you are quite right! Well pointed out!

Thanks for reminding me about the books - I'm going to do that, it's a great idea.

tortoiseshell · 26/10/2004 16:40

skate, I've yet to experience a party with an entertainer - ours have all been of the 'old-fashioned' kind!

zubb · 26/10/2004 16:41

Skate - ds1 was at a party the other day for 3 year olds that had pass the parcel, pin the tail, musical bumps etc - he loved it. Hardly ate any food as he was so excited.

Skate · 26/10/2004 16:43

Oh right - maybe it's the people we happen to know?! I have to say most of them are not short of cash and tend to buy kids clothes in posh boutiques, go off to Disneyland Paris for the weekend etc.

I DON'T!!

woodpops · 26/10/2004 16:45

I wouldn't break the bank trying to keep up with everyone skate. THere's nothing wrong with an old fashined party with games etc. Kids love it as they are few and far between nowadays.

zubb · 26/10/2004 16:46

could be Skate, like tortoiseshell we've only been to 'traditional' parties. I assumed that the entertainment ones were for when they were older.

Enid · 26/10/2004 16:50

skate - we always have sweet, old-fashioned parties .

Often do jelly and ice cream - have dabbled with trifle but not successful...

at dd2s 2nd birthday last week we played pass the parcel, ring-a-ring-a roses and instead of party bags we had a lucky dip at the end.

Also open presents as people arrive so you can say a proper thank you.

Original poster

singingkat · 26/10/2004 16:56

Thanks for all the messages. Am thinking now of holding it at home, but I'm not sure whether I've got enough room. Would I have to assume that the parents will be staying during the party as well, for kids aged 4?

OP posts:

bundle · 26/10/2004 16:57

at a 5 yr old's party 2 weeks ago about 6 parents stayed (20 kids)

SueW · 26/10/2004 17:14

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

zubb · 26/10/2004 17:18

how many kids were you thinking of inviting?

Original poster

singingkat · 26/10/2004 17:19

up to 20 kids.

OP posts:

zubb · 26/10/2004 17:21

blimey! you are brave.

Original poster

singingkat · 26/10/2004 17:22

It's why I want an entertainer and a venue {smile]

OP posts:

Original poster

singingkat · 26/10/2004 17:23

OP posts:

KateandtheGirls · 26/10/2004 17:35

If the party is held mid-afternoon (2-4 as you suggested), not at a mealtime, then I don't think anyone would expect food to be served. You could just put out some bowls of snacks - crisps, crackers etc. if you'd feel bad about there being no food at all, but I don't think it would be necessary to do an actual meal.

Cake is obligatory though!

hana · 26/10/2004 17:53

for dd's party bags I made up batches of playdough and everyone got to take 4 different colours home with them in little bags tied with ribbons. V cheap.

Skate · 26/10/2004 18:09

No, I'm not going to try and keep up! T'would be impossible! I'm not particularly poor but i just don't see the point of going overboard for very young kids - there will be time enough for spending wadges of cash when they are ASKING for what they want!!!

GymJunkie · 26/10/2004 19:51

Skate

I am with you, we had darling Boy's 3rd party in the garden in the summer and we didn't do party bags, much to the amusement/consternation of some of the older kids. When asked, I just said sorry, this isn't a party bag sort of house. What is amusing is that DBoy has now copped on to the fact I "police" the party bags he gets, and at the last one he went to himself and a little friend(her mum is exactly the same) dived behind the garden shed to have a look at it before I could !"!!! I still managed to get most of the rubbish out of it.

KBear · 26/10/2004 20:03

I love traditional party games at parties and my DD's friends from school loved her last two parties too. Some had never played party games before. It takes more planning (loads of ideas on the net) but they really enjoyed it. I was lucky in that some good friends of mine pitched in with the games and setting out the food etc.

BTW I think the lucky dip at the end is a fantastic idea, I'm going to do that next time by ordering from the Book People and wrapping a book up for everyone. Still the same cost as the junk that usually fills party bags (I usually spend about £1.50 on the them).

Have a great time, whatever you decide.

Skate · 26/10/2004 20:09

KBear - spooky! I'm pinching the lucky dip idea too with the books in!! I nearly posted it before but got called away so very bizarre to see you write almost exactly the same!!!

KBear · 26/10/2004 20:21

Skate!!

I'm planning DD's 6th party already and it's not until Feb!! Only mentally planning, I'm not down to my usual lists of lists!! I do find doing everything for parties yourself is hard work but great fun and I think birthdays are very special and should be hugely celebrated! I don't spend fortunes on food. I agree with an earlier poster that food should be kept quite basic as kids are usually too excited to eat loads - and I make the cake myself with varying degrees of success qhich saves a bit too.

Branster · 26/10/2004 20:56

good idea with the lucky dip and the books!
you could also try buying a few Ladybird books from a charity shop (first make sure they're immaculate!) and at 20p or so each they also make a lovely present for party bags. Woolworth do a set of mini playdough jars (no idea how much it costs but I don't think it's that expensive), you could also make individually deccorated fairy cakes and wrap them up nicely as a present or home-made cookies, instead of sweets for the party bag.

bundle · 26/10/2004 21:00

what about this in argos? 20 mini tubs of dough and cutters for a tenner

nikkim · 29/10/2004 10:44

I also hate party bags filled with crap. For dd I bought a multi pack of play dough which I gave one each. Bought big packs of glitter pens, gave one each and some packs of pencil crayons (29p) each from discount stationers. Added a few sweets and I think the bags came to about £1 each.

Was very lucky that my mum is cake decorator so she made an individual princess cake for each child to take home instead of a slice of birthday cake.

I think £120 for an entertiner is about average, we paid £115 for an entertainer who did a puppet show, diso amd party games for two hours, he worked really hard and I would use him again.

AS for food, we do our own as it is cheaper and you can tailor it to the kids coming. A few sandwiches and sausage rolls needn't cost much. Jelly is also v cheap!

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