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What makes a good kids party

18 replies

Needaholi · 05/04/2023 14:57

DD turning 4 soon. First time I've arranged a party for her. Will be inviting her whole class (pre-school). I know not everyone will come, so might have 15-20kids max.

I've provisionally booked a hall in the morning so party will be 2hrs.

I've been looking at various entertainers. Or is a simple bouncy castle better?

Please tell me what works well and any tips.

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ComeTheFuckOnBridgett · 05/04/2023 14:59

We booked a bouncy castle and did a few party games like pass the parcel. Also had a colouring/craft table. All the kids loved it and seemed like there was enough to do.

Tryingtohelp12 · 05/04/2023 14:59

I honestly just think do what your daughter likes best. If she likes lots of instructions/direction in her play then get an entertainer. If she like to run wild get some sort of soft play. As long as she enjoys it that’s all that matters

NewDogOwner · 05/04/2023 15:03

Them being allowed to run around and not have to join in activities if they don't want.

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Mindymomo · 05/04/2023 15:09

Try and break the 2 hours up, 30 minutes on bouncy castle, then food, then bouncy castle again, maybe have music and some party games as not all children like bouncy castles. Please plan for all children asked arriving and get an adult to supervise the bouncy castle throughout to monitor the numbers at a time on it.

lorisparkle · 05/04/2023 15:10

When my 3 ds were little we went to many parties. Their favourites were the 'run around like wild things and eat sweet things' parties! However as a parent they were not mine!

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 05/04/2023 15:12

We had a bouncing castle and some tables with crafts on/ biscuit decorating. Easiest food was to order pizza and leave the boxes out. Cake 30mins before the end, cut and hand out party bags it’s time to go.

Singleandproud · 05/04/2023 15:15

I never really understood why party entertainers had to blast the music at nightclub volumes, having it a bit quieter is better for the children and any parents trying to have a chat.

Somewhere for the quieter children to go who don't want to dance or run about. DD liked parties with a colouring table or 'decorate your own party bag'. We did one with some paper lunch bags from Amazon and some stickers and pens. We then had a table set up with party favours that they could choose 4 from and a piece of cake which went down well. Baker Ross is great for craft sets.

Balloons are often a winner but can back fire, many a 4 year old has been in tears because of a popped balloon.

A tea and coffee area for the parents, make it self serve otherwise that's all you'll be doing.

CrotchetyQuaver · 05/04/2023 15:21

When mine were that age I found a children's entertainer a godsend, he kept them all amused, we got the food ready and could relax a bit. If you get a good one they're worth every penny

Smogtopia · 05/04/2023 15:22

I'm never doing a bouncy castle again unless there's only 6 or so children at the party. Any more and it's a mayhem of bumped heads or some children feeling too overwhelmed (from my experience all the girls) whilst the boys enjoyed the rough tumble and all girls too scared to get on.

I'd go entertainer every time - a good one will fill the full party allowing 30 minutes for party food and cutting of the cake

Needaholi · 05/04/2023 15:31

Smogtopia · 05/04/2023 15:22

I'm never doing a bouncy castle again unless there's only 6 or so children at the party. Any more and it's a mayhem of bumped heads or some children feeling too overwhelmed (from my experience all the girls) whilst the boys enjoyed the rough tumble and all girls too scared to get on.

I'd go entertainer every time - a good one will fill the full party allowing 30 minutes for party food and cutting of the cake

This is my worry with a bouncy castle.
I've found an entertainer but my DD has a short attention span, I'm worried she won't enjoy it and will shy away.
I'm very torn.

OP posts:
Singleandproud · 05/04/2023 15:45

In future soft play or trampoline Park is the way forward and doesn't cost much more. You don't have to worry about party bags, food or clearing up the mess then either which is amazing and the children all enjoy themselves. Having done one DIY party I vowed never again.

Attention spans of small children are always short (roughly 1 minute per year +2minutes, so hers should be around 6 mins ish) a good entertainer should do short skits but you can be proactive and have an alternative for her and other children to do sat down with the others if it's not for them

Stressfordays · 05/04/2023 15:46

Just had my daughters 5th birthday, 40 kids. We had a disco/entertainer who did various games with prizes. I set myself up doing face painting and glitter tattoos. We had a basic cold buffet from a local cafe (cheese, ham, egg and jam sarnies, pizza, chicken nuggets, sausage rolls, veg crudités and cakes). Party bags were sweetie cones and a cupcake. We just blew up a ton of balloons for the kids to kick about. Kids and parents were all saying it was a great party!

Squamata · 05/04/2023 15:48

You've messed up already as the first rule of children's parties is to avoid having one if you can help it ;)

Don't overthink it. Children are highly stimulated just by being 'at a party', they are happy to chase balloons around and eat party food. Bouncy castles and entertainers cost quite a lot and might just make kids a bit more overstimulated.

Don't try too hard with food - they will eat crisps, biscuits and cake. Put out celery and carrot for show if you must. Making homemade stuff is barely worth the effort, they want the real junky stuff. Do some pizzas and sausage rolls if you have access to an oven.

Cosy corner with books and beanbags or cushions is good. A table with colouring or similar is good too.

Make it clear if parents are expected to stay and if siblings are welcome.

Have a good understanding of how many kids if you're doing party bags, nothing worse than one or two kids not getting one. Have a back up stash of bags of chocolate buttons or something for random siblings who turn up.

Have a table for presents and cards.

Face painting is a good cheap thing and you can get stencils you just dab over if you don't want to do a full complicated face. Or temporary tattoos are also easy and cheap enough.

Fairy cakes are easier to hand out than cutting a big cake - if it's a big one, have a knife and a plan of how to cut it without many small fingers getting in the way!

The party girl or boy can often be overwhelmed - if you have a spare grandparent/aunt/family friend who can be allocated to look after them while you do the organising bits, it can be a help. Otherwise you might have to either abandon running the party or leave your kid crying in a corner, neither of which are ideal.

Needmorelego · 05/04/2023 15:52

Have it at home.
Half as many children (I never had more than 8).
Traditional party games - pass the parcel, pin the tale, musical statues etc.
Food - pizza and popcorn chicken type stuff from Iceland, crisps, sausage rolls, strawberries, cherry tomatoes etc.
Basic cake.
And the thing that made me a legend.....squirty cream to put on the cake.

Mumma2Ro · 05/04/2023 20:28

food, coffee and birthday cake for the adults! 😆

NerrSnerr · 05/04/2023 20:33

When mine were little we did a bouncy castle with the little mini cars, a piñata and a crafting table (those scratch things with the little wooden scratchy sticks always go down well). We also just left the food out and let the kids help themselves (my eldest used to find sit down party meals stressful).

Now I do organised parties (like today for my youngest's 6th birthday was at a soft play). No tidying up, no food prep and works out cheaper for us than doing a hall with a bouncy castle

kezzielea · 05/04/2023 20:38

Entertainer definitely, keeps your mind at rest. If you go for a good one which has good reviews they will keep their attention. We just had a similar party and they entertained for the whole 2 hours, got all the children involved for the whole time with competitions, dancing, balloon models, piñata etc and wasn't too expensive. They had a short break for food but none of them wanted to sit for long! Somewhere for the overwhelmed children to go/small area for parents to chat, loose balloons give them all something to play as soon as they arrive too!

Phoebo · 05/04/2023 20:43

Little kids don't care, they'd be happy to run around in the park and have some cake. It's the parents who make a big thing out of it

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