10 5 year old boys, 2 hour party, how many party games/food?

[wellthatsdoneit]

I think I might cry.

Will be on my own and am broke so birthday tea needs to be quick to prepare and cheap.

How many party games (musical bumps and such like) do you think I should plan for?

Please give me a slap and come and tell me what to do!

Party Tea - hot dogs/burgers in a bun with french fries, onion rings and/or garlic bread. You could put out on plates separately cheese slices, sliced onion, sliced tomatoes etc and let them add what they want to their burgers. Jelly and Ice Cream for dessert.

Games - musical statues, simon says, pass the parcel, (if you have some skittles you could have a competition)

Thanks countydurhamlass (I'm one of those too!). I need to keep it simple don't I. I was considering going to Iceland and buying a bucketful of their frozen deep fried lard for nought pence but perhaps the burger/hot dog option would be a more edible alternative.

Great idea on the food. Very quick, easy and cheap.

I personally would do the more energetic games for 45mins first. Then food for 30 mins, then slow it down for the last 45mins. Noisy games, like musical bumps and statues. Maybe get hold of a Twister game? Quite games, for after food, pass the parcel and pin the tail on the donkey or something like that. DD had a princess party once and I draw a princess with a wand and I draw a star on another peice of card and that was our 'pin the..' iyswim! Obviously we used blutac and not actual pins!

With party games, its good to have a few more up your sleeve, just in case. All the above are good, plus maybe hokey kokey, dingle dangle scarecrow, sleepy bunnies, maybe a port and starboard type game, depending on how biddable they are. Balloons can be used for a few minutes active play, then given to the child to take home.
Are parents staying? and do they need food?

Have paused Desperate Housewives on the sky+ to come to your aid!
My friend did a great party game where the boys were split into 2 teams and each went to the opposite side of the room and were given a pile of bundled up socks. The object of the game was to get all the socks on one side of the room and the winner was the team with the least socks on their side of the room. Kept the kids entertained for absolutely ages and they loved it.
Then there is obstacle races in the garden, relay races if you have space umm can't think of more.
Food- pizza and oven chips totally easy if you on your own and you know it will all be eaten. Plenty of ketchup is a must. Jelly and icecream is great. My other friend did stripey jelly by using a couple of packets and setting them one at a time- looks fab if you have a clear bowl. She served it in paper cups with the ice cream.
Lastly- could you rope in one of the parents of the invited children. Two of you will mean more eyes and ears for any mischief. Oh and can you block off bedrooms and keep all guests in one area. Hope this helps

Thank you so much for the ideas - good to have an idea of how long to spend on games first before birthday tea etc too. Am loving the sock bundle game! Have a few relay race ideas up my sleeve but looks like we will have to do it in the house as think its going to be too cold/wet to go in the garden.

Two of the mums will be staying and although I don't know them very well (am new to area) I will be making the most of them!

Oh the other thing to say is that the kids spend longer eating than you think they will. Then sing happy birthday etc so they'll be sitting for 40 mins or so. Do big jugs of squash as you'll need lots