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?

@Dalooah

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?

Buy a cheap cake, slice and wrap in a napkin and place in the party bag on the morning of the party.

The actual birthday cake is for show (singing happy birthday and blowing out candles) then you take it home to be eaten by the family!

@HairyToity

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.

I agree with this when they're all tiny (reception, Y1/2). There's so much upset when just a handful of children are excluded especially when invitations are handed out in class. We had it this week with three children coming out for pick up in tears because they'd not been given an invitation (ours are only 5). My child wasn't one of them but my heart did break for them a little bit. Obviously as they get older things get more select but it's really mean to leave a few out. I know it's supposed to be character building and of course they do need to learn that they can't always be invited to everything but it's a harsh lesson to learn at 5 years old.

We went to one last weekend, was really good actually. All parents were asked to stay (well one parent per child). One hour of a bouncy castle/soft play thing in a hall, then one hour of food and cake. Done. No 'entertainment' required as the children just ran themselves ragged, us parents got to have a natter and a coffee, and it wasn't so long that children got tired and grumpy or fell out. It was early afternoon. This was for 5/6 year olds. They loved it.

*Buy a cheap cake, slice and wrap in a napkin and place in the party bag on the morning of the party.

The actual birthday cake is for show (singing happy birthday and blowing out candles) then you take it home to be eaten by the family!*

Ooh, that is tight! I've frequently seen the actual cake cut up for the party bags. When I made a big cake for one party, we put slices in party bags and there was still loads left over.

Ooh, that is tight! I've frequently seen the actual cake cut up for the party bags. When I made a big cake for one party, we put slices in party bags and there was still loads left over.

All the parties I have been to in the last few months has had a separate party bag cake to blowing out candle cake as the parents didn't think others would want their children eating a cake another child has blown (spat) on.

I wouldn’t let mine eat cakes if it had been blown over given the current situation, a second cake sounds sensible.