Panicked at thought of DS 5th Birthday Party - do i really need entertainer?

[onlybananas]

Just panicking about my DS 5th party. Originally was going to be a joint one with two of his friends, but I pulled out as was too complicated with dates. Now still have hall booked (good as house small and middle of winter) but still have entertainer lined up. The entertainer is expensive, and for me it seems OTT to have this for a 5 year old - and i only booked it as was meant to be joint, and split three ways. I have a few days left before I can cancel the entertainer without incurring costs. Can I manage to keep 15-20 kids happy for 2 hours with traditional games?

Bouncy castle? I've never hired one, but was told they're pretty cheap and it really does keep them occupied.

Though for my dd's 5th we had a few kids round for cake and pass the parcel in the front room. I am a MEAN mum.

From my experience, really depends on the children! If they are on the whole well behaved and easy to please, and you are the type that can entertain, entertain, entertain then yes cancel the entertainer. However, if you are not or will not get much help on the day (parents start to leave their kids and go at this age) then it is worth having the entertainter for your own sanity! Either way good luck!

I don't think that's mean at all - that's what i usually do. And am now feeling like ridiculous church hall hire party virgin. Yes, bouncy castle does seem good idea - will have to look online if i can get one for inside. And a few volunteers to stop them killing each other! Thanks

No, i don't think i am the natural entertainer , and ds only wants to invite boys - so am imagining 2 hours might seem like a long time . Thanks for advice

I have my DD's 4th birthday party next week and have 21 kids coming to our small flat and have just today given in and booked an entertainer. If you can afford it I would keep the entertainer booked as it will take a lot of stress out of it for you. I have also booked a bouncy castle for the garden but plan to cancel asap as it will probably be raining and it will make it too expensive. Still got to do the party bags...
good luck and hope you have a great time

YES YOU CAN! DH and I managed DD's party last year in a church hall and neither of us are natural performers.

We used the following games (in order of popularity):

Free play with a fifty balloons
Obstacle course (two teams, through the hoop, along the line, through a tunnel, run round a cone and drop the ball in bucket) They LOVED it. Everyone got a prize!
Parachute games (run under if your name starts with A etc)
What's the Time Mr Wolf - could've done this for hours
Musical Bumps/Statues
Disco Dancing Competition
Sleeping Tigers
Pass the Parcel

They're 5. They're at school. They're used to being told what to do

It was lovely.

dd's 5th birthday party was in the sports centre and we hired a bouncy castle, a bouncy slide and a face painter and that occupied them all. We werent allowed food in the hall but took some crisps, sweets and drinks and that along with the cake and party bags were all that we had to spend on catering

Thanks EmmalinaC. That sounds great. I think I am going to cancel the entertainer! Did you set anything up for any children that didn't fancy joining in the games?

You can do it.

At DS's 5th birthday party, the entertainer cancelled at the last minute. So I was left with a hall, a little bit of soft play stuff and 20 kids. They were fairly chaotic by the end of it, but I hadn't had chance to play any games, supply any music for musical statues or any prizes for games.

So it can be done, but just with a little bit of organisation.

plaN any games, that should be.

The key is to just know what you're doing in advance.

One of the best 5th parties my DS went to was without an entertainer in a hall. Mum and Dad had fab, simple games. They had a pirate theme and so it was musical 'chairs' but on cut out cardboard box discs (islands), lots of things based around pirates. Was brilliant and so much more 'free' and fun (to me at least) than a sit and listen to entertainer. Go for it!

Yup, we went onto the Baker Ross website and order 'make your own dinosaur' kits and some jewellery making stuff and set up some tables at the side just in case some of the children didn't want to join in (but most of them did!).

I asked DD recently if she enjoyed her party and what she liked best and she said the obstacle course becasue none of her friends have ever had one.

Remember how young they are. Just being in a room with all their friends is enough to entertain them!

Good luck! (It is terrifying first time!)