Park party ideas for 4 year old

[beggingforsleep]

Hi. It's my DD and DS's birthdays next month and we can't host anything at home due to building work. And anything open and bookable is booked up. Anyone done a party in the local park? How does it work? Do we need to organise some sort of entertainment/games? They'll be 4 and 2 so we really only need to plan for the four year olds.

I'm nervous about it because we're new to the town and don't know many of the other parents. We've made two lots of friends and another couple of parents we've met in the park. The plan was to invite DDs nursery class but starting to feel the pressure that we should properly plan it. DH thinks I'm over thinking it. I just don't want to meet a load of new people in an underwhelming situation. Also what if all the kids get bored and run off to the playground?

I'm def over thinking it.

We could just not do anything but DD is excited about it and after the last 18 months it feels like it would be a nice thing to do.

Anyway, any bright ideas for easy, fun games for little people?

I would do entertainment and games otherwise it’s just afew hours at the park!

Have you thought about food?

Face painter
Kids party entertainer - these generally do games, dances with them so would take the pressure off trying to think of things

Also, what about church halls, social club room are these all booked!?

Most of my sons reception class have done park parties this year. (5th birthdays)

It’s usually pretty informal kids play, parents chat. Some people have brought a piñata which goes down very well but other random kids do usually end up getting involved (personally I don’t think you can’t stop this if the party is in a public park) theres usually a cake or cupcakes (bring more than you think you need) and sometimes party bags.
They have always worked really well.

Thanks @Moonshine11 that's what I thought too, without something it's just what the kids do every weekend.

I have found a local church hall so was going to call them tomorrow but DH thinks it would be a shame to be inside. Which I agree with unless it rains!

Face painter is a great idea. She keeps asking me to paint her face. I will look up entertainers now too

Ah sorry my suggestions were for parks that had a field next to etc! May not work?

Piñata! Excellent

@Moonshine11 you mean halls with outside space rather than parks don't you? Or do you not think I can do entertainment in a normal park?

Favourite character? There’s companies who dress up as them and they also do games etc

Oh god not paw patrol's Skye!

I meant a normal park.
Pp has said it can work so ignore me 😂 I was just thinking of other kids if it’s a nice day they’ll try get involved

And keep it short. People can stay on but the party is over as they are so young.
You could do a Teddy bears picnic. Whatever you decide one thing is enough so either entertainer or face paint etc l think.

I went to one recently, they had set up some balloons, bunting and food. They just had some music playing, some bubbles and foot balls etc for the kids to play with, it was very simple but lovely, i thought it was a great idea

Has the park got toilets?

If you have 10 kids then at least 3 will need a wee during the first 10 minutes of the party. I don't know exactly why but it just seems like every birthday party I've hosted for DD I've spent the first half hour shuttling kids back and forwards to the loo.

Other than that I would:

• do lunch boxes/bags with a sandwich (jam or cheese), packet of crisps, piece of fruit and vegetarian cupcake/slice of cake rather than a buffet style picnic. Keep the whole menu vegetarian, it's just easier that way and if you have any allergies, doing box meals makes it easy to keep food separate and cater to their needs.
• pick a park where you can have a smallish area that's enclosed or easily watcheable so when they all run in different directions you don't feel panicked.
• take a few balls for them to kick and chase
• packs of bubbles for entertainment

@junebirthdaygirl good idea. I won't go overboard!

Thanks for the reassurance everyone. It's not just the birthday pressure... I want to make some friends!

@HalfShrunkMoreToGo yes to toilets.

Lunchboxes rather than buffet is a great idea.

Big picnic - picnic bags for each child a good idea. Keep it simple. Nice drinks with paper cups for the adults maybe. Maybe suggest fancy dress make it fun. Music if possible. Musical bumps works well. Giant bubbles would be fun. bunting nice and easy. Defo a cake and candles. Teddy bears picnic a good idea, bring a teddy kind of thing. Keep it simple and put the start AND end time on the invite. And do party bags but simple ones, as they are SO useful for ending time so make sure kids leave happy rather than screaming that they dont want to leave!

OO have extra party bags ready in case of extra siblings/other park kids arrive and enjoy the party! Most of all enjoy it and relax, ones the cakes done relax. seems like here we do the cake at the end but thats always a pressure as people have to leave early etc then you are rounding kids up, but in South Africa they do the cake and candles to kick off the party so I do that now, makes it simpler then you can relax!

I’ve very recently attended a park party and it was fantastic, very laid back and enjoyable! We were there for hours in the end, everyone took a picnic, no organised games just a few balls and frisbees. Very simple and a lovely afternoon.

My daughter went to a 5th birthday at a large park near us and it was great

The parents ordered Dominoes's to the park car park and just told us all to bring the kids waterbottles;

The party bags were buckets in with little magnifying glasses and there was a treasure trail the park rangers helped with

Games they had a giant parachute, Jenga, giant snakes and ladders, skittles

The park cordoned off a section for the party for a £100 donation and they did the trail it was a great party x

Do something with just the 4 of you. Party hats, picnic, balloons, some general park-friendly games, maybe produce a pass the parcel, birthday cake, candles - lots of pictures, maybe a video call to grandparents or cousins.

Do something more with school friends when DC turns 5 - the group of kids disperses to different school after nursery anyway.

Basically don't give yourself a hard time and enjoy your tiny people!!

We did a Party in the park for ds 5th birthday and it was his favourite party of all. We got loads of balls, hoops and outdoor equipment so the kids could play with those as well as the park equipment. We had a piñata and hung it from a tree. The kids loved this so much. We used a foldable table for the party food which I made in boxes and gave out to each kid and I had a few picnic blankets. It was a lovely day and was easy to do. I did however live by the park so could just pop home if I needed something.

You could take things like a picnic basket, a beach ball, a camera for photos etc. Order or buy some pizza and other eatables, have some games and fun too. You can fit in a nature walk or a game of tennis if possible as well.
Take photos and also have a lunchbox for each kid. Party hats and streamers are a must. If there is time, you could even have a game of rounders or similar. Bring something in order to keep presents in as a additional precaution and do not forget about cutlery either.