to not know how to cater for a 5 year olds party

[youbethemummylion]

I have never done a kids party and have only been to 1 my OH usually goes and getting info out of him is impossible!

I am having a party for DS1 who is turning 5. Invited whole class only 7 replies. Do i assume the no replies are not coming or coming?

As I don't really know how many kids are coming what do I do about food. I was going to have a long table with the food down the middle and a place set for each kid i.e paper plate/cup/party hat etc. But if I dont know how many are coming I might end up with too many or few places. Is it best to have a buffet table where they can collect their food then a few round tables where they can choose to sit, they sat on the floor at the party I went too.

As for food I was thinking ham sandwiches, cheese sandwiches, crisps, popcorn, fairy cakes and juice. Is this ok or do i need more? Do I need more choices of sandwich? My kids only eat ham or cheese sandwiches so I don't know what other kids this age like?

Should I be providing food for the parents? I was hoping to get away with tea, coffee and biscuits, will they expect more?

Oh god, i'm beginning to think this party was not a good idea I haven't a clue what I'm doing!

Have you hired a hall?
The parents might not stay
The food sounds fine
Ask around at school to see how many are coming
You'll need games too
If in a hall a bouncy castle is a good idea
Balloon and bit of cake instead of a party bag

The food sounds fine. They will not be eating the minute they get there so you can set the places once they have arrived and make a few extra sandwiches if needed. How long is party for? I find 2hrs is plenty at that age. Also you need to decide if parents need to stay or pick them up later. You could ask a couple to stay and help if you needed?

Maybe some chopped up fruit/ tomatoes/cucumber as well?

That all sounds perfect. I've always tried to book places where it's all included because I want so little to do with the details. On one occasion I catered myself and got little party boxes and put in 2 small sandwiches (non-pork and veggie options available), 2 baby sausages, a bag of hula hoops, an apple, a juice and a small chocolate bar. Didn't get any complaints so it seemed to suffice. I did a plate a spare of sandwiches and sausages for the adults but only family stayed.

I would be adding some fruit/veg to that - grapes, carrot sticks, pineapple - things that wont go brown when chopped. And wee willie winkie style sausages always go down well, or sausage rolls.

Some might say kids won't eat fruit at a party with cakes, but in my experience they do.

Are you having them in the house ???

shudder

I have just had my D's 5th birthday party.I hired a room at local community centre and a Fairy to come and entertain 2 little girls.(best idea I've ever had but that's a different story.)

They sat down for food.
ham sandwiches
jam sandwiches
sausage rolls
pizza (got a square one and cut up)
crisps
popcorn
grapes
strawberry's
chocolate fingers
iced ring biscuits
squash to drink
I also bought a cupcake each but forgot to put them out.
The only things I had left over were some ham sandwiches and sausage rolls,everything else disappeared

That should be 12 little girls not 2

I would chase up the ones that haven't replied-collar them in the playground.
At the party I would encourage them to drop and leave. Tea or coffee for the parents is fine-you could do them a biscuit, but nothing more.
I would sit them down to eat. Just be aware that many won't eat much and won't sit for long and some will take ages. Have something to do for the ones who finish early.
What you have is fine. I would add some sausages. You could add some fruit and vegetables-some might eat it. Also some biscuit type thing.

Next time I would limit the numbers to a maximum of 10.

I second party box idea (particularly for this age)

this sort of thing

They always go down a treat!

Dc like the 'surprise' element, less waste and much easier to clear up. (Also easy to serve in or outside on picnic blankets depending on weather). Can also have a few in the fridge in reserve.

Used to include two mini rolls (one ham, one cream cheese) one mini yoghurt (put in last min from fridge) + plastic spoon and fork + napkin, mini pkt of Pringles - few tiny biscuits + bought small plastic tubs with lid and filled with three different types of cut up melon (like those posh breakfast fruit platter things you can get at most supermarkets but done yourself in advance) Could use mango/pineapple - anything that keeps well - no grapes in case of choking oh and no choc in boxes because of mess/melting

Also, if party not timed around lunch or tea then only a light snack is required anyway + cake.

Serve juice boxes or mini-waters separately (tend to be too heavy for boxes) I put big panier on ice and pass around. Also do cake at separate time (say at end) - breaks up 'food part' of party - dc only take about 20-30 mins to eat at that age -

I don't think parents expect food and drink but I usually do something like jugs of ice tea and have savoury snacks on the side (non accessible to dc) and say "please help yourself" if I'm dashing around after children.

Unfortunately, I wouldn't assume that because people haven't replied that some won't turn up (I've had this happen and the reverse ie people who have said they would come, not turning up. Could do a quick ring round and check (sometimes invitations don't make it home - I found two invitations curled up in the bottom of dd's knapsack one year when she was younger - that she had forgotten to pass on )

One last tip - if you are doing party bags or helium balloons to give out at end - good to have a few extra bits on on hand for siblings who come to collect (choc bars/novelty pens etc)

Hope your ds has a wonderful time!

oh yes - second cut up pizza idea

forgot to mention - fine to put rugs on floor and let dc eat there

don't think you will have time to make tea and coffee for parents (dropping off and picking up always the most frantic bit of party) so perhaps would look for alternative

Just make sure everything planned with military precision - working to rough schedule - and have a couple of extra activities up your sleeve in case you run through games v. quickly and you willl be fine!!!!

Also good to have a group activity prepared for when dc are arriving (such as group colouring or craft activity or some such) until everyone present and correct!

Little sausages. Cherry tomatoes unless you're worried about choking. But most important, chase the parents who haven't yet rsvp-ed, the Infants are dreadful for not passing on invites.

sanguinechompa, those were my party boxes! Nice link.

Honestly, I'm a party-phobe and doing the food was well easier than anticipated. I always have a few friends with kids to help out and I repay with copious quantities of beer afterwards (or even just for love) and that really takes the pressure off.

Hi,
I had a party at home for DS age 3. Younger than yours so the parents stayed. 9 children total, 5 aged 3 and 4 baby siblings. 2 hours is plenty! I had paper party hats for them to decorate with stickers when they arrived - helped occupy them as not everyone was on time.

For food, buffet table in the kitchen with a stack of paper plates, then each child could choose the things they liked and we ate sitting on the floor picnic-style in the living room. Do food that your DS likes! We had Babybel cheese, cucumber + carrot sticks with houmous, cherry tomatoes chopped, blueberries + raspberries for fresh stuff. Pom bear crisps, rice cakes, animal biscuits, mini jammy dodgers, mini party rings, chocolate fingers. Brought birthday cake through + had plate of cupcakes one for each child + extra for parents. Saves having to cut cake right away.

Had Schloer/juice for parents as was Aug + no hot drinks with babies crawling everywhere! Also one large plate of crisps/ snacks for the adults.

Then pass the parcel, party bags + was time to go home! Have fun!

Are you really asking f you are being unreasonable?

Or are you actually asking for advice on catering?

I'd say don't make very many sandwiches. The kids aren't interested in sandwiches and there's a lot of waste. Healthy stuff like cucumber slices and carrot sticks is only popular with parents, not the kids, so don't go overboard with those either.

I agree with the others. There's nothing wrong with chasing people who haven't said whether they're coming or not.

Thanks for all the advice I will add pizza and some fruit and veg onto my list. I have an entertainer who will provide games etc for whole 2 hours so I only need to do food and I still manage to worry id hate to have to organise the whole thing!

trills

I know I sound a party pooper but if you can call around the parents of the kids first ask about any allergies and/or emergency medication you should know about if the parents aren't staying.

Make a list of the invited children and ask the parents to write their mobile numbers beside their child before they leave. Good luck!

I would assume that parents would tell you about allergies and medication-that is their responsibility! If they go just make sure that you have a contact number.

I second the fruit idea.
I usually do a fruit platter with an assortment of chopped fruit on it and I have never ever had to chuck any of it away in the past few years of doing 2-3 kids parties a year. I would just put out a buffet style and when it comes to serving get all the kids to sit down and you and other adults bring plates over and pop some bits on the kids plates.
It avoids a scrum and any of the big eaters can go back and help themselves and a few parents who do stay will probably have a nibble too.

I have done the party box thing in the past and that always works well. However as you do not know how many are coming I would suggest another option.

I have also done fish fingers/chicken nuggets and chips in the past. Have you access to an oven? Buy it all frozen and then you can cook enough for the amount that turn up and put the bits you don't cook back in the freezer. Therefore limiting waste. Then I would get the little portions of jelly and hand those out for pud.

i have also done the fish fingers chips and beans before - so easy! followed by treats