Food at children’s parties

[Nicolaw06]

Looking to hire a hall for my daughters party. Going to be approx 25 kids. For food would you advise to laying bits out at the table they will be seated at (means several plates containing a bit of everything all along the table), or having 1 table that they queue up at and fill their plates from that.
They will be at the 3-4 age range.

We did little boxes, seemed to work well. Sandwich, crisps, fruit, little cake,and top hat.

Don’t try and get them to queue it will be mayhem! Either put food on tables for them to help themselves or get those cardboard lunchboxes and prefill them - much less waste.

Don't have them queue up.

I second the box idea...my DD went to a party where they did that. They each had a small sandwich, yoghurt, grapes, biscuit. It seemed to work well.

For my son's 3rd birthday we did individual boxes with a sandwich, tangerine, drink, crisps and a couple of other things plus platters of raspberries/blueberries/celery sticks/mini cucumbers on the table. It seemed to work well.

You can get paper bags cheaply in places like Home Bargains and do what sweetpotato suggested. Might be less waste & you can prep before a bit easier.
You could also do something like pizzas and then some sort of 'afters' like a mini magnum.
I hate prepping party food & hate all the waste I have seen over the years at kids parties. Full plates of sandwiches straight in the bin etc. Kids don't really eat a huge amount - but will pile their plates with stuff then wander off. Most kids would be happy with a plate of party rings and some hula hoops - I think people do sandwiches for the sake of the parents!

Buy the big foil platters in poundland or wherever. Don't bother with sandwiches. Chicken nuggets, sausages, cucumber/carrot/tomatoes, crisps, fruit in stripes down it. Put out a second set with sweet bits on or serve them birthday cake. I'd do 4 platters for that number of kids.

Thanks, I was thinking if I did one table would any of the kids queue up for it! Would probably end up needing a first aid kit!

Platters on the tables! Sandwiches, crisps, sausage rolls and pizza all cut up . Mini rolls, party rings and jammie dodgers on plates for afters.

Many thanks everyone. It’s given me things to think about!