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Parenting

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Original poster

toddler garden party suggestions?

14 replies

sunshine185 · 12/06/2008 04:19

hi there,
we are throwing a toddler garden party in a couple of weeks time. other than dry weather and lots of toys does anyone have any suggestions of outdoor activities/toys i should be planning for?

we have the wooden playhouse, swing, climbing frame, tikes car, bikes etc...

thinking of a small bouncy castle from elc or somewhere...

appreciate any suggestions! btw, ds is 2!

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Othersideofthechannel · 12/06/2008 05:34

water play if the weather is good enough (warn the parents so they can bring a change of clothes)

EffiePerine · 12/06/2008 06:35

bubbles (lots)

SoupKitchen · 12/06/2008 08:13

bubbles, water, make sure you have lots of towels handy.

How many are you inviting? are all parents staying?

Bouncy castles are great but need lots of supervision and are death traps when wet, so make sure not combined with toddlers straight over from water play.

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Original poster

sunshine185 · 12/06/2008 17:28

thanks! good point on the bouncy castle...

OP posts:

Alambil · 12/06/2008 18:47

hunt the..... something. I did finger of fudge, but a lot of parents don't like sweets so could be a toy - parents can help.

jessia · 12/06/2008 19:39

bumping this because I have the same coming up (3-yr-old's b'day party)
Are 3-yr-olds capable of playing things like pass the parcel and musical bumps/chairs/islands (the only party games I remember)?

tassisssss · 12/06/2008 19:42

bubble machine

parachute - toddlers like lying under it while you shake it!

sand pit?

music to dance to

lots of balls, prams/buggies and dollies

for a 2 year old's party you really don't want much structure (maybe the obligatory pass the parcel) IMO

sounds lovely!

BroccoliSpears · 12/06/2008 19:43

You can hire a big bouncy castle for the day for about £40.

S1ur · 12/06/2008 19:46

You've already got enough for two year olds really.

put out a picnic rug and let them graze and go back to playing.

Bubble machines are awesome. Asda are selling air flow bouncy castles for £60.

We got one similar from somewhere else for £40 a couple of years ago and it has been ace and lent out to all our friends.

Do a treasure hunt. With quite large obvious objects and hide chocolate under them.

dizzydixies · 12/06/2008 19:47

ELC bubble machine is the best one

Elibean · 12/06/2008 21:51

jessia: musical statues/bumps yes, to a degree (but make sure everyone 'wins') and pass the parcel, no, IME. More trouble than its worth!

Pin the tail on the donkey, musical anything (just dancing is good, they're so excited they need to rush about), treasure hunts, all good for 3 yr olds.

Also, with 3 yr old dd's party, we had a table for making things at - masks (sticking on feathers, etc) which they could take home, went down well.

Have fun, both of you!

spudmasher · 12/06/2008 21:54

You could get really messy with a tray full of shaving foam or cornflour and water.

sleepycat · 12/06/2008 21:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MegBusset · 12/06/2008 21:56

I wouldn't hire a big bouncy castle, think of the parents who were found liable for £1m damages after a boy was brain-damaged at their party.

I only have 15mo DS to go by but would be surprised if 2 year olds had the attention span for anything too organised. Should think slides, sandpit, bubbles etc would do the trick.

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