Oh god I am a rubbish mother: what on earth can we do for DS's 3rd birthday? Help!

[Sufi]

Really need some help. DS is almost 3 and wants a party. But when it's his birthday our house will be a building site, so we can't have it at home. He only has a few friends (as goes to a CM and I'm a bit crap when it comes to mother & toddler groups), so we only really want to invite 4-6 kids. That kind of rules out the local church hall as it's a huge old barn of a place & will probably be freezing cold by the time of DS's birthday anyway.

The local soft lay centre is a) hideously expensive and b) only caters for a minimum birthday group size of 10.

Help! I don't want to disappoint him but what on earth can I do for a little lad & 4-6 little friends and nowhere to have it??

Taking it it will be his birthday soon?? I'd do a picnic in a park with a decent play area, but this might not work so well in colder weather.

3 year olds are easily distracted though, can't you just take him out (cinema, theatre etc.), make a fuss and give him a party next year?

why not go to the soft play but dont use the party service and just give them party bags with snacks and a bit of cake instead of shelling out on the food there (or take them to Mcdonalds afterwards!!)

Thanks both. It's mod-November so may be a bit chilly (and we live up north - can guarantee it'll rain!!). But maybe soft play followed by a tea somewhere else - like you thinking Seona.

Yes doing your own thing at a soft play good idea.

Or a cinema trip if there's a suitable film for little people - our local cinema has childdren's films for £1 on Sat and Sun mornings.

Is there a bowling alley nearby? My ds only had 2 friends for his 3rd, they just had 1 game with the sides/ball launcher but really enjoyed the atosphere with lights etc, then could do McD's/Pizza/cavery after?