Children's party - any ideas?

[stillsleeptraining]

I'm hosting my first kids party on Saturday - 12 kids between one and four years old to my house 🤦‍♀️ They're all at nursery together and I think this is the first time they've been together en masse outside nursery (usually birthdays are held there). It's only 10-1pm.

Trying to do it all on a budget as I'm on maternity leave and I'm also time strapped as I have a teething, no sleeping baby as well as a toddler.

Am I being naive to think that I won't need to facilitate it much for them to have fun?? I was thinking:

10-11am: they'll arrive and they all bomb about a bit looking at the toys and stuff in the garden (please let it be nice weather!)

11am: some party games like musical statues

12pm: cake and happy birthday

1pm: bye bye, please go (I can't wait to see all their little faces, but I really will be feeling that!)

Any tips? Words of wisdom?

Thank you!

3 hours is brave, especially at that age! We usually have 1 hour play then 1 hour for food, sing happy birthday, cut cake, quick run around to say goodbye then home time.

Little ones will probably be happy just darting around with toys indoor or out. 3y+ might like a party game or 2 but I'd make them quick ones - even just a dance competition.

It might be hard to do party games with such little ones. Bubbles can be an entertaining diversion and not too expensive - bubble solution and some wands should keep them occupied for a while.

I agree. 3 hrs is too long. It wouldn’t be rude to send a quick message now to parents saying that you’ve changed the timings to 11-1.

I would maybe set up a table (or a big sheet on the ground that they can sit round) with easy crafts/colouring. You’ll get some bombing around and some doing that.

3+ would enjoy easy games like grandmother’s footsteps as well as musical statues. I would have a Google and then make a list on a piece of paper so that you have a plan when your mind goes blank.

You could also do a very basic treasure hunt - hide items (chocolate coins etc) around house/garden).

Bubbles, a little 'disco' (just some music and maybe a flashy light or something) so they can dance, and a treasure hunt in garden (my mum did one recently for the really young kids in our family with painted pebbles - it went down really well).

Thanks all!

@DoucheCanoe @AssassinatedBeauty @NLondondiva - their parents will all be there. Does that change the advice on 3 hours? Wish I'd asked mumsnet before!

@PeterCorbeau - such a good idea on the treasure hunt and disco!

I would make it only two hours. And if it's over lunch and the parents are staying they may expect being fed too. And any siblings they bring along!

At that age I wouldn't try and do anything much like a party - games etc bubbles / toys in the garden will be plenty. I imagine most people will see the start and end times as flexible with such little ones.

If I got that invite I’d expect lunch OP- next time 10-12 or 2-5
How many of each age group- kids only really play party games from 3 upwards- engaging the tiny ones will be near impossible.

I agree with everyone saying it’s too long!!It really is by a good hour!

Get some plain white paper bags (Amazon,eBay). First thing the kids arrive, get them to decorate them with their names. Use these to put prizes in, and cake/whatever at going home time.

A big roll of bubble wrap on the floor can liven up a disco or any jumping/dancing games.

2 hours max. You will need to cater for kids and parents. Pizzas and hot dogs?? Cheapish. Or hot dogs, crisps and biscuits. Alcohol?

2 hours max, and I’d just put lots of toys out and let them get on with it. Lunch + cake from 12.15.

Prizes for games? Or they get to pick a sweet out of a bag if funds are low.

3 hours is too long esp without food.
Sandwiches, pizzas, hotdogs, popcorn, crisps, veg stick platter, fruit, couple sweet treats.

Toys outside, music on, bubbles, games - giving their age (sleeping lions, musical statues/chairs, pass the parcel, best dancer)

Your also going to have to cater for parents, drinks, small selection of food

Teddy bears picnic? I agree 3 hours is a long time for that age. I did 2 hours for older kids & it's a good time.

Best of luck with the party!

@CrackerGal

Teddy bears picnic? I agree 3 hours is a long time for that age. I did 2 hours for older kids & it's a good time.

Teddy bears picnic is a good shout!!

I thought your plan sounded great. But yes parents will need some hot or cold drinks and might get hungry can you bung some crisps or crackers out for adults or change the time to 10-12? Hopefully if their child needs a snack they will have brought one.

You definitely need a party tea, sorry, and yes, cut it down to 2 hours
10-10.30 bomb about
10.30-11 games
11-11.30 party tea (sandwiches, cakes and crisps)
11.30 - 12 cake and bomb about a bit more
12 - home

Definitely too long, for that age I would do one hour 45 max. The last 15 minutes are the worst so cutting it a bit short of two hours helps. They need lots of games to keep them occupied. Maybe just have them sit out for one round as otherwise the ones who are out get fed up or cry. They will probably need to be taught games if not been to any parties at a home. You put food on plates for them, don't let them just help themselves. Jo jingles or other type CD or sound track for games or singing with actions. Party bag with cake and small toy or book ( multi pack from the works?) It's the signal for everyone to go more than anything else!

Yes, an hour too long, and you'll need to feed them. I'd do 10-12 with just some crisps/sausage rolls/cake for snacks.

Play music, put out slides,garden games etc- have a table of biscuits to decorate (icing/ sprinkles)-2 hrs- cake and by

Definitely 2 hrs we did 2 and a half for 7yr old DDs birthday this year and the last half hour the kids were running out of steam.

If you can be in the garden:

• bubbles
• balloons for them to chase and throw
• chalks and let them colour in the floor.
• music for them to dance to

Put the food and cake into the middle of the 2 hr slot, it won't take long as they won't want to stay seated to eat longer than is absolutely necessary, but you want time to do the cake with singing and candles then cutting it and either serving or bagging up to take away. If you leave it till the end you feel like you're racing the clock.

I don't like party bags full of tat but kids do so I compromise by giving them a bag and then setting up a sweet hunt so they all find a couple of mini bags of haribo to take home in the bag. Then they take a balloon and a pack of bubbles. This year we got some of those long corrugated tube things that they whirl around to make a wind noise, they were 60p each in home bargains, they played with them in the garden then took them home.

A craft is always a good oneand can be done outdoors if nice weather. Something like decorating a 'tree cookie'. Get some wooden disks from Amazon (something like www.amazon.co.uk/Fezzia-Unfinished-Predrilled-Christmas-Ornaments/dp/B08F7K9J36/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&psc=1&keywords=tree+slices&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyNVUxU0RMWE5STTBIJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwOTIzODAzMzY0Q0g4U0ZVOExCOCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDM5MzM1MTQyN0UzSzZJV1ZCVyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1629356648&sr=8-1-spons that I've bought before)
and a load of colouring pens. Or buy a bag of air dry clay and give them all a small lump to make something.

Agree 3 hours is too long for those ages! In doing a woodland party for a 6 year old in a few weeks time and that's only 2 hours.

Yeah cut it down to 2 hours. Plenty of party food in the middle, eating it will keep them occupied for a while!

I had a small party for similar age kids and I didn't do any games at all, they were happy running around.