Birthday party help

[Gwendalino]

DS is 7 at the beginning of October (yes I am stressing already).

First 4 birthdays we had family over for cake.

5th birthday- he had a pizza party. He invited 5 friends and they spent time playing and then helped to make their own pizza. Was loads of fun.

6th birthday- DS invited two boys and two girls over to play and have cake. However it ended up with the girls in DDs room and the boys playing separately. I didn’t even think to organise games to get them interacting. DS had a great time but I don’t think it was such a great party for the others, especially the girls. More like a playdate with cake.

Most of his friends have birthdays in summer, so they meet at the playground for a treasure hunt etc. Some hire out the village hall and have whole class parties- we’re a very introverted family and it’s my idea of hell (and DS was overwhelmed at his friend’s parties).

I just have no idea what to do for him. We live about an hour from any indoor activities (soft play, cinema etc) so that’s not really an option.

He’s quite a shy quiet boy and has struggled making friends, so I really want to be able to give him a good party. I felt so guilty last year, imagining the guests went home telling their parents how boring the party was.

Does anyone have any ideas?

We hired a small hall invited 15 kids (10 came) and did a craft birthday for my daughter's 7th.It was lovely, really civilised and all the kids had a nice afternoon.

Would you not just ask him what he wants to do? My four year old has already had a conversation with me about what he would like to do for his fifth birthday and it's not for another 11 months!

Does he like animals? You could hire someone who has animals to come to the house and then do an animals themed activity (painting/dancing etc) and have cake.

We went to a party where the family hired a company to do games and activities (what's the time Mr wolf, musical chairs etc) with about 10 kids was fab and really chilled

The year we were moving house and do I didn't have time to organise a party we took a few kids (maybe 10) to pottery painting cafe and let them do a item and then provided a birthday tea and cake. Enjoyed by boys and girls and a change from the football and Hall parties. You could probably organise at home with a load of sets from hobby craft.

Pizza party pt 2

Dd2 is having her 7th as a little at home party

Would they enjoy something like this

6 kids total 2 of which are mine we are doing Carnival themed games

Hook a duck in the paddling pool
Chucking beanbags at yet more rubber ducks to knock them off the fence
Face painting by me so it'll be awful but I will try
Cornholling
And maybe a ring toss if I can find one
Iv brought alot of chalk they can decorate the fence and sheds with birthday messages and pictures

I’ve asked him and he just wants some friends over.

But I would like to make it more of a party than a play date

Thanks for the ideas. I am quite tempted by pizza party 2! 😂

DS is really into Pokemon at the moment but I am not sure how to turn that into a party. When I say into Pokemon, I mean he likes playing with his picachu teddy and collecting cards.

No reason why you can’t repeat the pizza party.

Other ideas

make your own ice cream sundae - put out heaps of toppings
piñata
games like pin the tail on the donkey, musical chairs, the chocolate game, heads and tails, sardines, sleeping lions, pass the parcel

hire an entertainer to come
some kind of craft activity - I let them decorate their own lolly bags. Set out lots of stickers and pens. This is a good starter activity that they can do while everyone arrives