This is my plan - will it work? Kids' party

[Poppychick]

My DCs will be 4(DD) and 2 (DS) in January, I want to have a joint party for them perhaps in a church hall type thing.

We may hire a clown ... but can't really afford it. What other options could there be to keep them entertained? Of course the usual party games but anything a bit different?

Does anybody know the going rate for halls or entertainers? TIA

Dpeends where you are I think. I am in London and for dd's 4th birthday in Jan I have hired a hall for £59 and an entertainer (clown/magician) for £110 for an hour. I could have got one for £85 but was seduced by live rabbits and doves.

Going rate around here (Surrey) is £20/hour plus an extra £10 for use of kitchen. Ertertainers come in very expensive.

DS is about to turn 4 and we are doing this sort of party. We are having a pirate theme, so doing "pin the eye patch on the pirate", a treasure hunt for gold coins and jewellery (plastic) around the hall, guess the objecyt in the box (4 small cardboard boxes with holes cut out for the child to put their hand in to feel something then guess what it is, musical statues, pass the parcel, food and a pinata.

I've also got one for £110 rabbits etc - think that is th egoing rate pretty much for entertainers. TBH - they seem to prefer the games. I think at 4 and 2 you could just get away with having games at home and a few toys out, tea and cake etc. No idea about halls but round here hiring a soft play type place is also about £100

Tbh I wouldn't have a big party in a hall for that age group. I'd personally go for a much smaller group of children (maybe only 6 in total) at home, or going on a trip to a farm or something. It's such a lot of money and they're really too tiny (the two year olds) to sit and watch an entertainer. Unless you can maybe hire the pre-school hall and let them use the toys in free play, with the parents staying to help supervise.

You could hire a bouncy castle from about £60. At DS's third birthday party that was all the children wanted to do apart from eating the party food.

Thanks for those ideas - had home party last year and for same kids am worried would just be the same iyswim!

Maybe I'd better do 2 separate ones. Perhaps small home party for DS and craft / baking for DD.

Woudl that be better?

ask if you can hire / use toddler group toys from the hall you hire. we have a community hall nearby who charge 9 an hour for teh hall and a 5er for the cupboard full of toys. has made for some very mellow easy parties among the toddler group families.

Call your local leisure centre. I had DS's 3r pary at my local one and it was £32 for room and use of all play equipment! They had bouncy castle parties, trampoline parties, enchanted fairy parties etc all for less than £50...