Party

[Prinnny]

Hi I’m currently arranging my first ever party for my DD4 who is very excited. So far I’ve booked a venue, an entertainer and a bouncy castle but I’m looking for advice on the following…

What food should I do and buffet or pre plated? (It’s a tea time party)

What should I do about party bags? We’ve had traditional type ones before and just a book and cake which was a nice idea too

Should I do any other activities like set up a craft corner etc or am I over thinking?

Any other tips and advice greatly appreciated :)

Buffet style but have the kids sat down and put a plate of sandwiches etc on each table for them to pick at rather than the adult way if walking to collect food. Parents will help with making sure the kids are getting what they need.

Your idea of party bags with cake and book sounds great. Plastic tat is annoying. Could put one other toy type things in there like those mini bubbles.

I went to a party where they had a book and cake and I thought it was a fab idea. My DD loves books and like PP said we all have enough plastic toys x

That’s great thank you! Any suggestions for food? Im thinking sandwiches, sausage rolls, party rings, fruit kebabs.

Keep the food simple, they won't eat that much as eating is the boring bit that they want over and done with so they can go back to playing.

I keep it vegetarian because I live in a diverse area so we have all kinds of food restrictions.

Choice of Jam or cheese sandwiches
Platter of cherry tomatoes chopped in half, mini cucumbers chopped in half longways and carrot batons (I buy them pre cut because who can be bothered)
Platter of berries and melon slices
Party rings, jam and creams, mini-rolls or the like. Check for gelatin.
Box of packets of crisps in a variety of flavours.

My formula was a 2 Hr party.
First hour let them go crazy
30 mins for food, singing happy birthday.
Final 30 mins they go back to crazy while you slice cake, package it into party bags and people start filtering away.

Party bags, 1 year we bought a load of those colour in tote bags from The Works for £1 each, put a balloon, pack of sweets and cake in.

Another year we did a lucky dip, spent a few weeks finding discounted toys like the plastic balls with loads of segments that have things in, or pots of slime. All in a big tub with shredded paper and everyone picked something as they left. They also got a balloon on a stick and a cupcake.

Food sounds great..
Fruit kebabs stuck into an orange looking like a hedgehog are cute as a table centre pieces.
More ideas, should you need any ... Mini hotdogs, celery with peanut butter or cream cheese inside, vegie sticks, crackers and homus. Fairy bread, Honey Joys and Butterfly Cakes. Jelly cup/frog in pond, pikelets with jam and cream, savoury pikelets or muffins, mini pizzas, ham with cheese & pineapple kebabs.
Activity ideas, should you need more.. though kids make their own fun.
Music/dance area with a few feather boas.
The craft area makes crown/hat to wear at the table and to take home.
A parent at a face painting port.
Threading popcorn and Cheerio bracelets.
Pass the Parcel to music with a sweet, balloon, flower, bright leaf inside each layer and a pack of textas or modeling clay in the middle.
Trace around the birthday girl onto large brown paper, tape onto wall and and play Pin the cake (or spider or ears or bow etc) on Annie. Cover children's eyes with a tea towell in turn and see how funny the poster looks when kids stick ears in odd places etc.
Ball throwing or kicking target.
A lamb in a pen which fits one child also - in a quiet corner.
Scavenger Hunt for things in the garden beginning with first letter of their names.
A few lollies in take home bag with cake.
A balloon is still really good fun. Are kids allowed them in a lolly bag now-a-days?

That’s great thank you, I was considering getting a facepainter but think I’m going to go for a craft corner instead, we’ve already got bouncy castle disco and mascot booked!