Party for a 3 Year Old... No idea where to start... HELP!

[mankymummy]

I am planning a party for DS's third birthday. There will be 5-10 children and all i have planned at the moment is a clown to do a few bits (a friend is dressing up!).

I havent even sent out the invites yet.

I was thinking of specifying 2pm to 4pm... does that sound right?

Do I need to organise games or can they just free play if i get lots of balloons etc.?

Do I have the food all laid out ready and they help themselves or bring it out at a certain time?

Any other tips very gratefully received as this will be my first ever hosting of a party (and probably my last!!!). thanks.

I find if you are doing food it is better to time it so you are at a meal time -eg 11-1, 3-5 so the kids are hungry, but not too hungry iyswim.

Is it at your house? In garden?

Are children all around same age?

Will parents stay?

Agree on timings if doing food. Some organised games some free time. Space for a bouncy castle? Bring out food at a set time but have some nibbly bits out beforehand - I find if you just leave them to it some trough it all down and others forget to eat anything then turn a funny shade of grey and feel all poorly! Don't go mad on food though as the little blighters won't eat much savoury....

Do pass the parcel but ESSENTIAL to have sweetie or somesuch in every layer to avoid hysterical tinies. Musical statues a right laff too - mainly for observing adults

I often do some kind of craft activity - sounds virtuous but calms them down and kills time - maybe buy lots of paper crowns (Baker Ross or similar) and provide glue sticks and bits to decorate them with? OR rope another adult into face-painting - could do them all as clowns?

2-4 sounds fine. I would aim to eat at 3, but try not to let them spot the food cos they'll all get distracted and start to nag for it.

Wouldn't bother too much about games, if you leave lots of balloons around they'll just kick those about. Or maybe have a couple of simple games like musical statues in reserve in case you need to rein things in.

They'll enjoy a straightforward dancing competition at that age, lots of small prizes.

I think 2-4 would be ok as long as the children coming have all given up their afternoon nap. I did a morning party for my DD 11-1 which worked well as she was not tired and it fitted in with early lunch.

The clown sounds good but other than that I don't think you need to organise that much. I expect the children will be happy to play with the toys and run round the garden...maybe you could give them each a pot of bubbles to blow in the garden.

I expect the parents will stay with children that age so maybe you could do a few food items that the parents will enjoy...I did a plate of salmon sandwiches for the parents and some cheese and pineapple sticks which were enjoyed by all. I laid out the party table with napkins plastic cups etc. before the party and put a few balloons up, then brought the food out of the kitchen half way through the party..

hope your party goes well.

wow thanks for all the ideas...

love the idea of bubbles and i must say am reassured by cadelaide and katebee as was hoping i could just be laid back and let them get on with it !

also love the idea of making their own crowns or hats !

i think i will do a pass the parcel, the clown and maybe have some face paints on hand... now need to find an arty friend who can paint the faces !!!