Playdough party - too babyish?

[kc92]

My little boy is turning 3 next month & we're currently planning his party. Getting stumped on how to keep the guests entertained! It'll be a mix of our friends and cousins, from 0-11. More older ones than not. They're not really a group used to socialising, as are coming from multiple different circles.

I was thinking a table full of playdough and moulding tools? Is that too childish for the older ones? I still love it in my 30s, but conscious the older cousins might see this as babyish!

Trying to cater to my DSs interests, while making sure there's a happy atmosphere for guests and they're not bored silly.

Any thoughts, or other ideas, welcome please!

This is a fab idea. Could you have a junk modeling table too? Collect some clean recycling and give them some sellotape and let them make models, robots, cars etc too. I bet the older ones would enjoy it as well? Xxx

I can't think of many things worse than a playdough party if I'm being brutally honest.

I'd chuck them in the garden with bubbles, garden games and balls etc.

My 7 year old boy would still enjoy play dough at a party, if that helps. Less so cut outs though. I think he would want to make an animal or a volcano or some such. If you wanted a slightly more grown up twist, you could prepare some mini "exploding" volcano kits (bicarb, vinegar, food colouring) for older ones.

I would say it would keep them occupied for maybe 30 mins tops.

Playdough party is a great idea. We've been to one and it was a real hit. Kids loved it.

If lots of the children are older I would get the air dry foam clay, then they can make models to take home.
You'll just have to supervise that no younger ones try to eat it.

Bad idea, messy and won’t keep them entertained for long unless there is other stuff too? But just play dough doesn’t sound like a party tbh.

Nice idea but my son would only be interested for 10 mins tops

To add: I don’t think it’s that interesting for older kids. My 9 year old hasn’t been into play doh for 2 years.

Fairly short activity but digestive biscuits, icing in different coloured tubes and lots of sprinkles to put on top was a huge hit at a recent party I went to.

Jewellery making with beads is quite a popular activity

My 8-12 set would all really like doing play doh with younger kids and “helping” them learn. You might want some gear - oven, ice cream set or whatever to help keep things interesting.

Depends how long you want the activity to last and whether there will be other activities on offer? I teach Y4 and think most would do it as a novelty for maybe 20 minutes. Some of the quieter girls would sit and play for longer.

If we went to a party with a playdough table my dc would all be there (they’re 13 and 17). Love playdough (especially when it’s not on my carpet).

My then 5 yr old son wanted some of our scout troop to come to his party, he asked them and they were brilliant..I pre warned them it would be a kids party...they came willingly...all round my kitchen table making play dough models and having typical party food. All had a good time..all aged 11-14...
Sometimes older kids like doing something more childish under the guise of 'its for a little one'

DS1 would have loved play dough at any age between 3 and 12. We had so many sets and so many pots in all colours of the rainbow. Sounds really lovely.

Thank you everyone! Lots of brilliant different view points to consider. Think the main takeaway is it'll work - but only for a short time.

We'll get back to the drawing board on entertaining ideas to bulk it out a bit. The party will be in our house, but our garden is a disaster (landscaping planned for this summer), so can't really chuck them outside unfortunately.

Parties around here for smallies tend to be about an hour and a half, and I plan to put out so much food it'll take up a good thirty minutes of it hopefully.

Maybe slime making for the older ones?! Could be messy though!

My 17/18 year old students loved the activity of creating a digestive system out of play doh a couple of weeks ago.....

I’m sorry but 11 years old is senior school and play dough is not an entertaining activity. My daughter is 9 and it would capture her attention for about 5 mins. Like most adults

I mean the fact they’re in scouts at 14 speaks volumes here

The party we went to had little animals on the table and my older DC (7) had fun making a little "habitat" for his animal.

I childmind school age kids aged 6-12 and they all love making things out of foam clay like this, it's one of my most popular activities.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Air-Dry-Clay-Colors-Modelling/dp/B0BN1MD2QW

Maybe a few things as well as play dough eg. making bracelets/ keychains (Hobbycraft good for these kind of things), make or buy cookies for them to decorate with different colour icings and sprinkles and pass the parcel with a sweetie in each lair. DSiL had the thing you bash till it breaks and sweets shower out (forgot name). Took about 20 mins.

At you doing games?

Pass the parcel
Blindfold tasting
Pin the tail
Smash up the sweetie thingie.
Music chairs

This wage all super old school but my kids are grown up, but that's a good hour gone minus the mess of play dough