3 yo birthday party, please just tell me what to do...

[VerityClinch]

DD is 3 in July. I want to have a small party for her and a few friends. We haven't lived here long, she has a few friends at nursery but I don't know their mums or if they have siblings. DD has a younger brother who will be 18 months. He naps in the morning and wakes at 12.30ish for lunch so I think an afternoon/teatime party would suit him better.

Can you help me with:

Timings - how long and what time?
Number of invitees
Games

Will parents assume they can bring siblings?
Will parents stay?
Weekday or weekend?

We have a good size garden, conservatory, kitchen/diner and playroom all on ground floor (also a loo) so plenty if space.

We could probably have a bouncy castle but will that just end in tears?

We haven't had any birthday party invites as we are "new" to the area so I have nothing to go on!

I have a DD the same age and we did a little party for her 2nd birthday. I would do something like a 3-5pm party with a party tea at 4ish. Parents will stay and will assume they can bring siblings so you may want to do extra food and snacks for adults.

Personally I think 3 or 4 friends is plenty, so I would probably invite somewhere between 5 and 10 but that's entirely up to you. I suspect more will be free at the weekend but then you will get older siblings and possibly two parents per invitee, a weekday one would generally just be one parent and any younger kids.

Last year we just did free play in the garden but at 3 you might want to do pass the parcel or some other games. Bouncy castle would probably be fine if you don't have too many kids.

HTH

If you do a weekday party, make sure it fits with school pick up, in case there are older siblings, so 12.30-2.30, with lunch at begining then some play. I would say at that age if she only knows a few people, keep it small and probably during the week. It is easier than having loads of older siblings turning up. I think I might do that for ds's 3rd birthday even though his sisters will miss it :( we might go together for daytrip to legoland as compensation. Next year we will probably hire hall and have big 4 + 5 yr party when he is at nursery/ reception.

I am having DDs 3 rd birthday party next Saturday, here's what I'm thinking to do.

It will be held from 3-5 and is loosely themed around the gruffalo, so....

3-3.30 free play ... We have loads of toys in the garden

3.30-4.00 party games.. Pin the tail on the gruffalo, dancing game to the hokey cokey and pass the parcel.

4.00-4.30 food, served in food boxes (couple of sandwiches, drink, cake). Plates of sandwiches for the adults.

4.30-5.00 piñata and free play

Fingers crossed all goes well!

When DS was 3 (also a July baby) we had a small party for him, literally his 2 closest mates, plus their younger sibs and his 6m old sister. He wasn't at preschool at that point so didn't have friends from there, more kids of my friends.

I would say no longer than 2 hrs, for food just have snacky things like carrots & hummus, chopped fruit, bits of cheese, oh and lots of CRISPS (which really what they want to eat!). Lots of sandwiches is often too much faff, and they're often left uneaten.

Playing in the garden is good if weather permits, balloons and bubbles are always popular. As is putting on a bit of music so they can have a boogie. Have had mixed results with pass the parcel... (I'll say no more ).

Then round off with a cake and singing happy birthday.

And I'd expect parents to stay for a 3 yr old party.

Number of children age + 1 is always a good rule to follow.

Parties round 11.00am - 1.00pm or 3.00pm -5.00pm are usually best although I think an 1.30 hours for 3 yrs is good.

A teddy bear's picnic is always nice and children get to a bring a cuddly friend, children of this age can not deal with complicated themes. Most three year old would be able to handle a couple of simple party games but they all must win at that age.

Lots to do and over plan, keep it simple.

Mums/dads will stay and bring younger children if partner wroking etc but weekends are easier.

Im planning to have a small party for my DD's 3rd birthday and have invited 3 girlfriends following my mums (Swedish) advice for as many guests as her age.
But Im anticipating at least one baby tagging along but have I told parents not to bring older sibilings as I think they will get bored and ruin the fun for littler ones and my place is not big enough to host to many kids anyhow, now I am not copletely sure this will go as planned... Party will be from 11.00-12.15 ish with time to leave after that, I will serve some simple healthy snack and have a fun partybag as they are only 4 kids I can spend a bit more on this, I am not going to do any advanced games maybe music and toys laid out. I think best to keep things simple, as in past I have overdone it with DS now 6 and got exhausted in the end, plus have little baby of 4mths and BF so have to keep it simple. But girls are different so imagine an only girl party will be calmer?? Good luck for your party anyhow, as long as you do something for the little ones and don't get to stressed out I would see it as a success.

Sorry for your other questions would say:
Yes parents will assume they can bring siblings?
Will parents stay, yes if not you will make them, unless they are your DD best friend and you know the parents well.
Weekday or weekend? Depends if you and your circle of friends are stay at home mums/dads or not, if all are working and nursery related friends Saturday would be best.

We have a good size garden, conservatory, kitchen/diner and playroom all on ground floor (also a loo) so plenty if space.

Yes you have loads of space but make sure you can vigilate the children at all times, or make other parents do it

We could probably have a bouncy castle but will that just end in tears? Would leave this to when they are older, but Im sure it would be appreciated.

We haven't had any birthday party invites as we are "new" to the area so I have nothing to go on! I personally don't think 3yo need invites as they cannot read or write but for first DD might be something fun for you to do and is always appreciated by kids.

Bouncy castle sounds quite fun to me - or teddy bears picnic with outdoor play stuff to do too.

Invite a few friends and their parents and siblings, that sounds most friendly.

Have some stuff to do indoors too, perhaps in conservatory like making party hats, or other colouring based easy projects.

Hope the sun shines for you and you have a lovely day (3 - 4.30pm ?)