how many helpers?

[3duracellbunnies]

We are doing party for dd2. We will have up to 18 reception children (mainly girls), 2 7yr olds and 2.5yr old ds. We are doing our own party games, and both dh and I are happy to run them, I'll do first half and craft then he'll do next half while I get food ready. She wants plates not boxes, but planning to lay table before (we have an hour) and have food all on serving dishes in the morning. Going to precut spare birthday cake to take home. Have hall for an hour after end of party to tidy up.

Dd1 and her friend want to help supervise the craft and will help ds, dd2's godmother has agreed to stay along with her daughter, and one child has SN, I'm guessing her mother will stay, but I haven't asked. So 4 adults to 21 children, but in reality 3 as can't expect mother of SN to supervise other children v much. Usually my sister would come but she has moved, and another family friend can't come. BIL might be able to come but he just winds me up and will never do anything he is asked to do, will only help in way he wants to. I'm not sure if any parents will stay, but they may just natter, so if I need more help might need to buy it in will I need it?

I think 21 is a lot for just 3 adults at that age, not so bad if they were a few years older.

Not sure if this will work for you, but when my DD was in reception, I put on the invitations that parents were welcome to stay and refreshments would be provided (just dips, crisps etc so no real work) - just asked that they let me know for numbers. They all mucked in at tea time and I'm sure some of them would help you with the crafts/games.

I don't really want to invite parents, though if they choose to stay that is fine. Three reasons, firstly, in my experience they mainly sit and chat, and adults never seem to have a volume control. I co-run a toddler activity group, and when we want the children to sit quitely and listen to instructions it is always the parents who are chatting to each other. I've seen it at school, parties, other groups. As the leader it disturbs the children, you are wanting to take them into a make believe world where goblins are stealing mushrooms and all you and they can hear is a discussion of lunch bag contents. Whilst I don't mind asking parents to listen to the instructions too when I am running a group, I think it would be rude in a party situation.

Also parents expected to stay may have to bring siblings, the craft/party bag is largely homemade, I'm not planning to make more fairy dolls than I need to. Inviting parents but not siblings is inconsiderate. If parents choose to stay with siblings then they can have some cake and share the 'party bag'.

Finally I think at this stage lots of them are wanting to go alone, my dd doesn't want us to stay anymore. I think the craft will be ok as fairly straightforward, there will be three adults plus the other mother and dd1 and her friend who are very good at helping (they will do theirs before); so will have ratio of roughly 1:3; it is more the pass the parcel adjudication, photos and loo runs etc that I am concerned about. Will maybe see if the babysitter is free to help out.

Spoke to another friend whose daughter is coming, she is quite shy, and my friend says that she thinks she will probably need to stay with her anyway, so I think we will be ok, 4/5 adults, plus two child helpers for craft. I imagine a few more parents might stay anyway.

oh, ok, you know that set of parents and I don't, in my experience other parents are the best helpers. But if you can't rely on them, then maybe yes, you do need to look at buying in help. If you don't know any responsible older children/teenagers who could lend a hand for a few pounds, perhaps ask at local nurseries if any of their nursery nurses would be interested?