Party planning help

[Ilikecheeseontoast]

So my 4 year old is telling me they want a birthday party for their next birthday. Lots of their school friends have been having parties recently. The trouble is, I just dont know where to start!! They have both girl and boy friends, are quite active. Birthday is April so weather can be unpredictable. I just don’t know where to start! Can anyone tell me about fun birthday parties they’ve had or been to for little ones? I want to make it memorable and as stress free as possible! All advice welcome!

Most of the yR and y1 parties we went to were soft play or entertainer in a hall. You kind of have to have whole class parties at that age, make it as easy as possible.

I think at that age it’s fairly easy. You could do soft play, some of the smaller places you can hire out exclusively. There are specialist party places if you google them.
Or you could hire a hall out and get a DJ. Basically the kids run around and have fun.

What other parties has s/he been to? (I was going to say 'and enjoyed', but I'm sure they enjoyed them all.

Hall and bouncy castle is always a winner and easy.

We had an outdoors party (covid) in May this year, luckily weather was good, in our garden. Hired a balloon and tattoo lady. Craft corner. Dancing in the garage. Kids loved it! 6 year olds.

Trampoline park here does great parties, an hour bounce then food and party bags included.

I live for party planning so tend to start with a theme and see what acitivities go with it.

You are planning a 4 year old’s birthday party over 4 months in advance??

@Anoisagusaris

You are planning a 4 year old’s birthday party over 4 months in advance??

Yes... I like to plan ahead! Especially as we have nieces and nephews who live dotted around the country. I’m thinking it only polite to give people adequate notice for a family get together in advance. I once organised a Baptism and after party with only two weeks notice. That was quite stressful!

Thanks for all the suggestions by the way!

Sorry, I would plan two parties! One school, one family. If you have lots of cousins all over the country who you want to invite then I would have a smaller at home party so you can talk to the adults and the nieces and nephews without worrying what the school party guests are up to. Nicer for the cousins to get to know each other too. I would do this one as the “real” birthday and the school one as a “celebration”, which as others have said could be a whole class in a hall with an entertainer , or soft play .

Decide what you are going to do about siblings, at your child’s age most parents will want to stay and might not have childcare for younger, or older siblings. What will you do about them? Also make sure you have contact details for all invitees parents so you can chase up rsvps .

Discuss details like food etc.

I think at that age whole class parties are generally a church hall with an entertainer/bouncy castle/glitter tatoos. Food is sandwiches (ham, cheese,jam), pizza, sausage rolls, crisps. Cake followed by party bags. Ask on local facebook page for recommendations for ball and entertainers.

I would also do something separate for family.