Children's Party Do's and Don'ts

[Dalooah]

Thinking about hosting a party for reception DC's upcoming birthday. Never done this before and with covid we've not been to very many. Can anyone help navigate this minefield?
Venue- How far is too far? (Mainly school friends invited)
Entertainment- required, or will a bouncy castle, few casual games do?
Timing- Is 10.30 on a Sat too early? 2 hours?
Invites- we want to invite the whole class but don't know everyone's names- will school give me a list or is there some rule against this? Is printing out something OTT or are standard invites from a shop the way forward?
Prizes for games- yay or nay?
Party bags- i know this is a contentious issue but will probably go for something plastic-free if possible as DC loves them. Any good ideas?

From my experience, here's some suggestions:
Venue - local is best; a hall or somewhere large-ish as parents will probably stay at reception age.
Make sure you know though if any have dropped and run as you'll need to keep an eye on them and you won't know them that well! Have someone on door duty to check you don't lose anyone!
Entertainment - at that age you can just do games (musical statues, simon says etc) and the rest of the time they run around like crazy people. Play music - baby shark etc. Chuck loads of balloons around.
Time - 11-1 or 2-4 seems fairly standard here. Afternoon a slight preference.
Invites - just did it via the class Whats ap. People are bad at rsvp'ing so you may need to chase! Or just print an invite out and write the names on top, can often get a list of first names from the teacher.
Prizes- yes, small bag of haribo or some kind of small gift is ok, but equally fine not to.
Party bags - a definite yes at this age. Sweets, slice of cake, book, bubbles, stickers, things like that work....bring out only at the end to signal "time to go". Give only to invited kids (often siblings turn up which is annoying) so if you're feeling kind have a few spare, but don't need to.
Food - don't make too much, they barely eat a thing. Lay it out on a big table with paper plates etc though so it looks like a "party table", or do individual boxes and have a floor picnic on rugs.
Drinks - squash or water, and it always gets spilt; adults will prob like tea or coffee and some biscuits if you're being kind.
Take a big bin bag for rubbish and also another one for carrying the presents home, with a whole class you'll get lots.

My main don't is don't have one if you can at all avoid it.

The only parties I've done is the jump areana ones. Short and sweet no more than 18 kids. I think 10.30 is fine for a kids party on a Sat

Venue: would be put off if out of town, but obviously area dependent as we live somewhere with 100 party venues so no real reason to go further afield.

I haven't missed them, I must say!

@thistimelastweek

My main don't is don't have one if you can at all avoid it.

This is how I feel about kids parties too🥴

Venue- How far is too far?

For a whole class party at reception age - keep it as local as possible.

Entertainment- required, or will a bouncy castle, few casual games do?

If you can afford it then a bouncy castle is excellent. If not you will need to plan or and organise games - musical statutes, pass the parcel etc.+

Timing- Is 10.30 on a Sat too early? 2 hours?

There might be people with activities/clubs on a Saturday morning. I wouldn't start earlier than 11am. 2 hours is perfect.

Invites

When we did whole class parties I just gave the school the correct number of unaddressed invites to hand out. They wouldn't give us names. I printed out the details and put them in blank envelopes.

Prizes for games- yay or nay?

Definitely yes. But keep them cheap and make sure you have sweets to give everyone.

Party bags

Yes but again keep them cheap. A couple of pencils, bouncy ball and a slice of cake is plenty.

@thistimelastweek

My main don't is don't have one if you can at all avoid it.

Hahahahah love this! I was hoping I could avoid it, but have put it off for 2 years now, and figured once its done., won't have to think about it for at least another 5!

How old is your dc? This may affect the responses.

Venue - local,

How confident are you at hosting? Do you feel able to plan and run games, or need outside entertainment? Ie. Bouncy castle, entertainer etc,

If inviting how class, have a policy about siblings else a party of 30 could end up with 60 kids. Put on invite - no siblings etc,

Prizes - yes, doesn’t have to be anything fancy

Party bags - yes

If parents are staying, have tea and coffee for them

I don't like doing parties. If you must then get it at a venue where they do most of it for you and you pay for it. Local is better. Schools usually give out class name list for Christmas cards so probably will for a party, if not do a batch and ask them to add names to them before they are handed out.

@Chelyanne

I don't like doing parties. If you must then get it at a venue where they do most of it for you and you pay for it. Local is better. Schools usually give out class name list for Christmas cards so probably will for a party, if not do a batch and ask them to add names to them before they are handed out.

Your class teacher will be happy to give you a class list of first names. As a TA, I think I'm qualified to say please don't ask us to write names in your invitations or Christmas cards for you. We have SO many more important things to be doing with our limited school time

I’m assuming your DC is age 5-8 ish

I would say

• Saturday mornings are often when kids do activities (football ballet etc) afternoon or late morning is better

• across a mealtime is good as feeding them takes up time (less time the older they are)

• IMO an entertainer for whole class is a must, unless you are amazing at entertaining kids. Or do something like softplay. If no entertainer I’d say 1.5 hrs not two.

Keep it within 15 min drive of school max

Paperless post is good for invites as helps you keep track of replies. Different schools have different policies on giving out contact details. Is there a class whatsapp group? If you can’t get contact details it will need to be paper invites and ask teacher to hand out.

Party bag suggestions without plastic: craft kit from Hobbycraft; book; seeds and a plant pot; sweet cone.

Can I just thank you for posting this OP. I was beginning to think I was the only mum who didn't know the rules!

Venue, preferably something organised like softplay. 20 min drive MAX.
Entertainment - if it's in a hall make it packed with things to do it they will run around like excited headless chickens between games (bear in mind a bouncy castle will have a limit of children so what will the others do whilst waiting). Parents will probably stay in this event so will require a bit of catering. (This is why I go for an organized kids party).
List - don't know, I've never done whole class, 5-10 friends Max
Party bags - stickers, balloon, chocolate, chupa chup, party blower

Oh yes to bringing bin bags for presents and rubbish!

Also good to bring some cloths for wiping up spills and a dustpan and brush (unless the hall says they provide a broom etc). Spare napkins/kitchen roll too.

Check hall rules about using stereos, some don’t allow if in a residential area

Check parking is available for any entertainer

Balloons are good for keeping kids entertained at the beginning and end bits of the party

Make it clear on the invites if drop off or parents welcome to stay - IME reception can be either and after that is generally drop off

Paper cups with peoples names written on is a clever idea I've seen here - Covid contamination as they take a sip put it down and then whizz off.

Personally all I care about is the whole class is invited, or at least all the boys or all the boys. My kids love a party.

DS (reception) came home from school all upset on Wednesday as two boys had been asked to his friends house for a party, and DS wasn't one of them. He kept asking why he hadn't been asked.

I never had this issue with my DD, and didn't appreciate how senstive four year old children can be.

... All the boys or all the girls even. Not an exclusive event for the select few children.

Start the trend for joint parties. Lovely for the kids to get all together, spreads the cost and organisation headache. Plus means fewer weekends with one or more parties for the parents!

I've enjoyed them to see the kids having fun and talk to the other parents.

Do ask the parents there to help.
Try to avoid drop and run. We found that allowing siblings to stay around helped avoid drop and run parents.
Good entertainers are great. The science guy that set fire to his hand was good at a 6 year old's party. Magic is good too but best in smaller / calmer groups.

Local leisure centre might do a kids bouncy castle birthday thing. Or soft play, farm park etc too.

Venue- I wouldn't want to travel more than about 10 minutes ideally. Bear in mind some people may not drive so closer the better really.

Entertainment- not required. But if its a whole class party, you might want to have some sort of entertainment to keep them busy because trying to do it yourself might be pretty hectic!

Timing- 10.30 would be fine for me, but 11 might be better. An hour of stuff and then lunch, rather than doing lunch right near the end.

Invites- ask the teacher, most schools would give a list of first names/ name and last initial. Printed invites are fine, ones from the shop fine too.

Prizes for games- tricky one. I would probably say no as some kids might get arsey if someone else wins and gets the prize and they don't get one.

Party bags- yes as it signals the end of the party. For low waste party bag - some sweets and a slice of cake would be fine. Maybe a mini book or those "play in choc" boxes with chocolate and a little wooden toy, colouring pencils and a little colouring book or sheet, a craft type activity or a dressing up mask perhaps. Not all of those!

Reception is a good time to invite the whole class and get to know the children and parents. I think afternoon is a good time for 1.5 hours.

If you hire a hall you will need to hire extra time before and after to set up and then to tidy up. You usually need to take rubbish home to dispose of it.

Reception children don't really need entertainment if you can hire a bunch of softly equipment, bouncy castle, bubble machine, have music on the go. The parents will all stay so you don't have to worry about keeping an eye on the children too much. You won't need to bother with party games for 30 children!

Do the food around half-way mark. Feed them picnic type food, cheese puff pastry sticks, sausage rolls, different types of crisps, chopped up peppers etc. Some party rings! If there's a little kitchen bring a kettle, teabags, instant coffee, milk, sugar, maybe some biscuits and let the parents help themselves.

Depends on the school but if they refuse to hand out invites you can give your child all the invites, ask teacher to let them be the first one to leave that day and as everyone else leaves your child can hand out the invites. Make sure you put a note on the invite if you don't want siblings there and give a RSVP date.

Party bags, buy a bulk pack of books and hand each child one on the way out with something sweet like bear yo-yos or a lollipop.

Fab thanks for all the advice!
We've been having a look around for venues and think we might have left it too late. Thought 8ish weeks would be ok!

My advice would be if you have the money to pay for an entertainer (local FB would tell you whose good if you ask). Showtime Shane did a load of parties when mine were small and it was great- took away a lot of the stress.

Does anyone know what the best way to 'package' cake at the end of the party for the kids to take home? Is it not the done thing to have a slice at the party?
What if we did cupcakes- might be easier to take home if they're not to be eaten at the party?

Try your local leisure center for party options. Ours did room hire with a bouncy castle and balls and soft play things which was the preferred whole class party option. The staff then moved kids to a "party room" for the food you provide and a few games of pass the parcel, and then home.
Cake is brought out to be sung too, then chopped up for party bag.

I’d aim for around a meal time, many have activities on Saturday morning. Prizes for games and party bags. Put an rsvp date on invites and state no siblings unless you and the birthday child don’t mind uninvited guests.