panicking now desperately need reassurance

[saadia]

I have just counted up all the kids I've invited to ds's 4th birthday party and there will be seventeen kids (one 3mths old) and the same number of adults. I think I might have gone overboard. Cannot un-invite people. Has anyone had this many kids to a party in a normal 3 bed semi? Does anyone have any organisational tips?

when is it?
if weather is ok you can chuck them outside

That's what I was thinking but it's in two weeks.

oh dear... well i don't envy you! lol

I just kept thinking "2 more won't make any difference" and then there were way too many boys so I invited another friend on the basis that she has two girls. Better not tell dh. I think I have to get an entertainer to make them sit for a while.

we have a similar number for ds1's 3rd b'day party in a couple of weeks. We've hired a hall, and I intend to plan constant games, songs etc. I think we should stick together for moral support!

can you arrange activities in separate rooms?
that way you may be able to divide them into smaller groups?

also, do ALL the adults need to be there? you could say that you think you have enough help and if anyone would find it difficult to be there or would rather not then that's ok?

The separate rooms is a good idea starlover, like a treasure hunt or something. Unfortunately I think the adults will be there. That's not so bad as the men can all sit in the front room and talk and the women can help with the food and kids. They are all quite easy going and ready to muck in.

Gosh fisil, I really do need the moral support. I just wasn't thinking. I really hope the weather's nice so they can play in the garden. I think you had the right idea hiring a hall, hope it goes well.

OK panic slightly over, just booked an entertainer for the two hours so feel less stressed.

I strongly recommend renting a bouncy castles. Particularly good when there are lots of adults around as they can take turns to monitor it. You have to have a bit of organisation on it, but not much (eg keep 8 year old boys and three year old girls apart, and decide on a max number at any time). They can fit in pretty much any size garden and everyone always loves them - about half the price of an entertainer and lasts the whole afternoon. Also, the one we rent has a roof, so even if it is drizzling it is fine to use).

Thanks all for the ideas.

anchovy, dh was very keen on the bouncy castle idea but I just think if it's miserable and cold like today it won't be much fun and if all the kids go home sniffing anf snuffling then the parents won't thank me. Definitely a good idea for the summer though.

batters good idea to de-clutter and keep some toys out. I also like the idea of adults so now I've got the entertainer they can keep the kids busy while we have a bit of a gossip. Will also use paper plates and bowls etc and I think will put kids food on the floor.

Make sure you have lots of finger food as they won't want to use knives and forks. Don't serve cake or anything that can make a mess. I wouldn't personally use the floor as the food is bound to be trampled on, have it on a low table against the wall where it won't all be knocked over. Clear a large space for games and playing. Put out some dressing up clothes. You can also give them an activity to do such as lots of coloured bits of paper, string, ribbons, buttons, anything you can find and ask them to make a collage on a huge sheet of paper. Give them all a little tube of safe glue and this should keep them all working together for half an hour if you're lucky!

rhubarb, craft idea is excellent. Might have that ready for when they arrive so they have something to do.

oh yes - I was going to do that with the craft to start. Hadn't thought of a tube of glue each though - I like that idea. What do you think would be better - an A4 line drawing each to decorate or a huge collage that they work on all together?

And another thing, I wondered about doing nursery rhyme karaoke. Do you think there would be 3 year olds willing to stand up and hold a mike and sing a nursery rhyme along with a CD?

Get an entertainer. Honestly the one I got for ds's birthday was so wonderful that I did almost nothing. The kids sat enraptured on the floor and the adults sat around them, drinking wine and laughing like drains. then I fed them all chocolate cake, gave them a play in the garden and sent them home. Easy peasy. Doing it all again next year.

God, I wouldn't have 17 kids armed with GLUE in my house. Are you insane?

Prit stick is fairly safe!

Perhaps individual ones on A4 that they can then take home with them?

And no to the karaoke, most 3 year olds hate being put on the spot and none of the others would listen to their friends singing either. Can't see that working, sorry.

Thanks for the tips Rhubarb. I know that ds1 wouldn't do the karaoke, but I book of party games I was looking through suggested it, so I thought maybe ds1 was unusual!

I have found lots of line drawings of nursery rhymes & fairy tales (the party theme) on the net, so I'm busy printing them out.

Other games ideas I have are musical bumps & "islands", pass the parcel, dance like a ..., all the singing games (farmers in the dell, oranges & lemons, hokey cokey, ring a roses)

Oh, and another one the book mentioned was a small child's version of sleeping tigers. You put a sweet on their forehead after they've lied down. If the sweet drops they can eat that sweet. But if they are the last they get a whole tube of sweets. What do you think?

How did it go saadia? Ours was fab!