Children's parties - what have you found worked and what hasn't

[Mala]

Have been to a few 2/3/4 year old parties now, incl. organising my dd's. What types of things have you found your(and others) children enjoyed?

Party with entertainers - My dd is not so keen on these. I found it is so dependent on the entertainer you get too. One party the entertainer had the birthday girl in tears(inadvertantly ofcourse) a couple of times.

Soft play - Dd loves these, but do find these places can be crowded and you don't really see much of the other children during the playtime.

Parties at home - I do like these, but don't think I would be brave enough to do one. Find the thought quite terrifying actually, as I'm not very good with other people's children.

Prefer it when there is a smaller number of children, but I guess you have to invite a large number to make it worthwhile, if say you are calling an entertainer.

Anyone done a gym party? Think my dd would enjoy that and haven't been to one of those.

I did a couple of whole class parties when the kids were 5/6/7 years.

1st one for DS age 7, I hired the community centre for £30 pounds and a bouncy castle for £40. Space theme so loads of silver balloons. DH in charge of castle, BIL in charge of music, MIL in charge of food. Left me free to over see things and welcome guests and keep over all control. No cleaning up apart from putting table ware in black bag.

2nd one DD age 5. Hired hall in comunity centre £45 pounds included bouncy castle and balls/ hoops. Again family heped out. Centre let me set up tables for food in the vestubule area while kids danced about in main hall, meaning no chance of getting knocked over. Great satisfaction of watching centre staff trying to hoover cake out of carpet as we left.

Another one DD age 6, Pizza Hut make a pizza party, kids get to make their own pizza. Price is about £3.99 each I think. Age 6 was a bit young, make sure you have some table top games ready as they wait a while for pizzas, some younger kids not used to sitting for so long and I was concious of other dinners. The staff we had were great with the kids but I think the parties sucess will depend a lot on how good they are. Best for over 6 I think.

Advice,

Keep the kids happy not their parents.
Keep it simple and stick to familiar traditional games.
Have simple food and spill free drinks.
Have extra prizes for the drama queens that lose.
Get family to help and give them specific duties ar they all tend to hang a bout the food table.
Don't try and do too much or spend too much at the end of a day it is a kids party, not a corporate function.
Have a big drink ready for when they all go home.
Get 2 smaller cakes have one to blow out candles and one precut and wrapped in partybags if thats what you want to do. Saves you trying to cut it and bag it at the party.

P.S. Pizza Hut party was only for 9 kids any more than 10 would be crazy.