3 year olds party - WDYT?

[lifeinagoldfishbowl]

Hi

I am throwing a party to celebrate my dc's 3rd birthday which will also act as a leaving party.

As it's a leaving/birthday party there are a lot of people on the guest list and I was thinking doing it almost like a toddler group session but with cake and balloons. We have the us of a large hall and was thinking of getting friends to lend us large play equipment ie slides/ball pools, seesaws, plus putting out some other small toys and doing a craft table.

Do you think this sounds ok? Can anyone give me some more ideas. All my 2 year old wants at the party is balloons, cake and the zingzillas!!!!

Awww that sounds nice. My DD just had her 3rd birthday and had lots of friends her age and their slightly older siblings there too. So I hired a bouncy castle, did face painting, had lots of crafty bits out and did pass the parcel. All with a little party music in the background. Also did a little buffet of pineapple and cheese on cocktail sticks, sandwiches, sausage rolls etc. Did the cake near the end of the do. It was only from 3pm to 5pm. It went so fast but it was definitely enough

Everyone seemed to enjoy it but I really love your ideas and think even with just what you've suggested, they'd be kept busy

We're doing the party from 3-5 too.

Might see if I can get someone to help do facepainting that could be fun.

I borrowed the face paints thank goodness, could be pricey to buy them. 3pm - 5pm was good and it did go so fast.

yes sounds a good idea

I prefer to do tea early on in the proceedings though - breaks the ice and gioves them a chance to run off the sugar high before getting in the car...

I had kind of thought about not feeding them [runs for the hills]

I thought most toddlers we know have a snack about 2.30 so before the party then a free play session for an hour before we have cake and juice, then another free play session then the kids go home to have tea at their house?

Am I being a cheapskate boring?

I opened the food at 3.30pm and let them pick at it etc.

But I light the candles on the cake near the end though as I said. Not necessarily the right way but just the way it ended up being I also did party bags, but I only included 2 items from Asda in each, as my Asda had a party aisle and 5 items for £1 for party bag fillers and then the piece of cake in the party bag as well.

I think food does makes things easier for the parents so there's no rush for them to try and fix something up before bath and bed. But that was only what I thought and I am no expert

Sounds lovely! Do consider just doing 90 mins though, I think 3-4.30'd be grand.

I'd rope in friends to "man" craft stations if you can...playdough, something sticky (crowns?), ice biscuits etc.

If you could be bothered you could do a pass the parcel (maybe followed by a wee hunt) before food. At dd's 3rd birthday (peppa pig theme) we did a hunt using peppa snap cards - gave each kid a card and they had to find it's matching pair "hidden" (ie very obvious!) round the downstairs of the house. They loved this.

I'd do food. Could just be cake and juice with fruit/crisps/biscuits.

Venue wants £3.50 a head for food and no outside food allowed so will have to call them this week and see what they can do.

Like the idea of a hunt, have started collecting stuff for a pass the parcel- again depends on how many kids come!!!

If your in Herts i know a great face painter errrr hmmmm Cookielove??

Oh Cookie you could've helped me out last Weds I'm in Herts

Looking at your photo's you must be near me to, i work rather near to butterfly world, well relatively. i would of helped to (for a small fee)

Of course For a small fee

Well I know for next time, my boys birthday isn't until Janury though.

well [email protected] if you want to contact me

Well have printed off invitations today - countdown is on

Hurray! I was terribly excited about DD's birthday and made my own cake for it. I think the pic is on my profile.

I am getting my sister to make a 3d train for dc - as he is train mad and I printed the invites like train tickets as am hoping to make it train themed.

Wow that sounds great