Only 3 boys for DS party

[AllTheGoodOnesAreTaken]

Hi! DS, lovely sensitive soul, no friends except from 2 other lovely boys in his class. Fed up with doing the great big party including everyone in his class, it hasn't helped him make friends, so I'd like to organise something super special and exciting for just them 3 boys. Only I have no idea what to do, except it should involve no sports of any kind. Music would be good. Any suggestions?

Sorry I should have said, he's turning 7

Film and pizza? If there's something on at the cinema, maybe take them to see a film and then Pizza Hut or something similar afterwards?
I know of one family who just put a DVD on at home and did take-away pizza. That was a treat and seemed exciting 'cos they never do take-away pizza.
Day out somewhere? Any local animal farms where they can play on tractors?
Don't know about your DS but when my DS was 7 he loved going to museums, taking public transport there etc. I know with 3 of them, they'll just run around a bit but museums often have kids packs to help keep them focused. However it will depend on what kind of boys they are (some are a little wilder than others ).

where are you?

london aquarium

legoland

swimming

zoo

sleep over

my ds will be 7 in june and i want to put a stop to big parties, too stressful and its his little brothers turn at 4...cant cope with anymore than one a year!

bowling
soft play area
cinema + mcdonalds
london science museum

DVD and putting together their own pizzas, you provide the bases and various bowls of toppings they can choose from. They can watch the film whilst munching on their on pizza!

an open farm is a great day out for kids at this time of year. the one near where we live lets the kids feed baby lambs from a bottle, hold chicks, etc. and they have a hay ride and slides and things too. i loved it as a child and altho DD is still too young to appreciate it my stepbrother (8) and nephew (2 and a half) both absolutely love this day out! also, you describe your DS as a sensitive soul. well, animals often have a way of bringing children out of their shells a bit.

i think it's a great idea to decide to do something special with just your DS's closest friends. big kids' parties often result in a lot of hyper kids and are not necessarily the most enjoyable (or the most appreciated!!) way of spending a birthday.

Don't know your location but a visit to an IMAX and drink and a cake after is good or some museums/sealife centres can do a special activity even for a small number if you ask. Trip out on a boat for the afternoon. Train to somewhere not too far away (seems more special than the car) and a visit to its museum/science centre or seafront amusements etc.
You mention Music - could see if there is a suitable concert or musical coming up nearby. Also there are lots of studios that can do taster sessions on instruments or where you can record a "demo" in an afternoon - just google it.

If you have the money why not take them to a music gig? I did this for Ds1 and it worked out about the same price as to throw a big party.

Sleepover definately! Pizza, sing-star or other karaoke or dance thing on games console, then dvd in bed. They'll love it!

Lots of fantastic suggestions here! Thank you so much! And I'm glad I'm not the only one who's sick and tired of throwing big parties because I don't want to exclude anyone. My DS never enjoys them because they become noisy, chaotic and a few children tend to spoil things for the others, precisely what he hates about school! Thanks again.

I am in London by the way. I am liking the idea of karaoke and pizza. Is that something we would hire someone to do?

DS is 7 and for the past couple of years has had small parties - invited 4 friends last year and three friends this year. We went to a soft play, mcdonalds and home for playing and tea last year and to an aquarium and playing and tea this year. Party goes on longer but is so much less stressful. And you get to know the children more than just seeing them as a mass of bodies .

And you don't get loads of presents (which I see as a positive thing :))

You can buy little karaoke machines or better still get discs for whatever console you have eg Singstar for the playstation or Lips for the Wii - they can sing together or do battle etc Guitar Hero and Rock band are also good games, although guitar hero can be quite difficult at first for the very young. Some kids venues run Karaoke parties but you probably need a minimum of 10.

My DS also dislikes big parties - we invited his whole class for his 6th and he cried after and said it "was a bad day" because it was so noisy and choatic - we were knackered as I had organised lots of games etc yet my older girls loved them!

We did a Duck tour in London a few years back - it's an Aussie amphibian truck that you wiz round in taking in the sites and then it plunges into the Thames - the kids liked that! My kids also used to love the transport museum in convent garden as well as the usual Kensington ones

My ds was 7 on tuesday, we are having his party tomorrow. Just my 4 boys and 2 friends. It is a secret agent theme. I have made little id cards and am going to put finger prints on them. Then have planned different 'missions'; looking for clues round the house, disguising themselves, cracking codes( printed out easy little puzzles). All very easily done and have bought them all toy sunglasses and fake mustaches!

Covent Garden transport museum, see some street shows there, lunch out. My DS loved a day out like that at 7. He was cute and often got to help in the shows too.