3 year old birthday party- nothing fancy, right?

[beforesunrise]

dd1 is turning 3 in february and i am starting to think about what to do. i really don't want to do anything too fancy or pricey, and i really don't want to have a "soft play" centre party (the only reasonably priced venue). i am sure once she starts school it'll become harder to resist the pressure of competitive party giving, but for now i am resisting!

we live in a flat- not minuscule, but hardly enormous. am i crazy to think that inviting say 6 friends (who invariably will have baby siblings, parents etc) for one hour of free play, plus snacks and cake is doable? will they wreck the place? do i need to think about an entertainer of some sort (please say no... i hate them they are so creepy)? i was thinking of face painting- she's ahd it once and she loved it... do you think i can maybe find someone to come and do it?

any experience please share!

Too young for an entertainer imo - they would probably just get scared
Think you can do it but probably the last time!
Face painting yes
Do pass the parcel and maybe get the cd player out for some dancing
You don't need someone to run it with only 'only' 6 children

you'll be fine!

We have a similar issue- DD is 3 beginning of Feb...10 days after DS is due.... erm- she is already asking about her birthday party
I am burying my head in the sand at present, so bumping for more advice!

Depends on your situation - my cousin's 2 yo goes to playgroup/nursery etc. and has loads of little friends, they had party at the local community centre with bouncy castle and 20 kids with their parents/siblings, party food, games, the full works.
My 2yo goes to cm, has few little friends, we had family party at home with buffet and cake.
I imagine we'll do the same for 3rd birthday, maybe with addition of couple of friends, some face painting or something.

I'm keeping it low key hoping not to enter into competitive party throwing once she gets to pre school!

On reflection I think I'd do a couple of structured activities - face painting, pass the parcel, then go for 30 mins or so free play with party music on, quick buffet, cake and home.

EachPeachPearMum - 10 days after ds is due?! Bloody Hell. Go out somewhere with couple of friends, sat am kiddie film at cinema? Enlist help if available and do low key 'pamper party' style thing - we went to one of these and they just had any available adults doing nail painting, glittery face paints, hair in ribbons/curlers. The 3yo's loved it!

Sorry for ramble - late and on the wine

my dd is 3 end of jan.
Ive booked a local hall ( cheap only £10) and hired a small bouncy castle ( £45). The hall has a fe toys in it already ( playhouse,kitchen etc..) and im taking a trike and a ferw ride on toys. I can then just leave them to get on with it and dont need to stress about playing set games and getting them to sit still for things. They can do as they please. Will do small amount of very simple party food as i suspect them will be more interesed in playing.
I thiunk this will be far easier than having it ay home!

Some three-year-olds are scared of face painting (DS has a friend who's still terrified even at nearly 4) so I would check with the parents first.

For DS's third birthday we hired the hall at the leisure centre and they put up a bouncy castle and provided a few ride on toys, which was all the entertainment they needed. His friends who had parties at home generally had a couple of party games -- pass the parcel, musical statues, some game involving sharks and standing on newspaper islands, that sort of thing.

my dd wouldnt be able to play something as structured as pass the parcel tbh... ohh i really don't know what to do!!!

My friend had a lovely party for her 2 year old last week and there were about 8 children there. Pass the parcel was played but tbh only the older siblings really participated, and musical statues went down well even with my 2.9 yr old DS.

I think your party idea sounds absolutely fine. Parents will expect it to be a bit chaotic with a number of toddlers and 6 sounds managable even with some siblings thrown in the mix.

Enjoy