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Parties/celebrations

Whether you're planning a birthday or a hen do, you'll find plenty of ideas for your celebration on our Party forum.

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Shirley's party advice part 6 - don't be afraid to interrupt us!

999 replies

Tinkerisdead · 09/06/2013 17:06

Okay, this is shirley's party advice part 6. Shirley ducked out a while ago and you'll notice us chatting about all kinds of stuff whilst we wait for party planners to barge in.

So, don't lurk, jump in and chat. We'll give you any advice on parties from costumes to cakes....

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 05/08/2013 18:19

That's cool, Blathers.

I am so out of touch with cbeebies. If most of the guests are 5 already, though, they might consider Ben and Holly to be babyish Sad.

Tinkerisdead · 05/08/2013 18:20

Stealth you obviously havent been subjected to much Ben & Holly's magic kingdom.

If thats wheres your dd is taking her inspiration from pink petrol? If so then i'd perhaps highlight than then boys could be king thistle or the wise old elf? Elves def need these

And prob robin hood fancy dress hats can pass at elf hats if you swapped feathers for an oak leaf?

OP posts:
Tinkerisdead · 05/08/2013 18:23

Crossed posts with blathers.

Its not babyish damn it its hilarious. And if it is ben and holly you absolutely have to have a jelly flood.

(Wanna see crayon picture now)

OP posts:
Blatherskite · 05/08/2013 18:29

I've put a pic on.

Mine are Disney channel addicts so we don't watch Ben and Holly. Is it really that good?

pinkpetrol · 05/08/2013 18:39

Thank you for that brilliant idea but She has flatly refused to allow it to be a fairy and pirate party but has after a lot of discussion will allow it to be a fairy and super hero party! Any ideas on combining the two? Pirates would have been so much easier

pinkpetrol · 05/08/2013 18:48

The answer to the question "do you want the boys to be elves like ben in ben and holly? " has just been met with a "nowah ben and holly is for babies". So no ben and holly theme party then! Her sister is much less opinionated. Thanks for the ideas

stealthsquiggle · 05/08/2013 18:50

It may well be hilarious, but there is nowt so judgey as a 5-6yo boy, IME. They could put MNers to shame. DD refused to wear hello kitty pants last term because hello kitty had been declared babyish Hmm. I have learned that lesson - no more character pants.

Fairies and superheroes, huh? That should be an interesting fight combination Wink

onedev · 05/08/2013 18:53

Thanks so much DoctorsWife - that's great inspiration. I love the theme idea - just not sure if I'm up to the challenge of the tin cans & favours as I'm just not crafty. I'm rubbish with that stuff really but it does look great.

I did look up 10years & noticed in the US that's symbolised by diamond jewellery so will need to ensure my DH follows that tradition Grin

Blatherskite · 05/08/2013 18:56

OK, so Ben and Holly is out.

Right, how to mash Fairies and Superheroes together.....?

Blatherskite · 05/08/2013 18:59

It's been done here

Tinkerisdead · 05/08/2013 19:20

Onedev have you no-one you can recruit for help?

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 05/08/2013 19:20

Onedev I expect if you hunted on Etsy you could find people who make and sell those sorts of things.

stealthsquiggle · 05/08/2013 19:27

I am having problems getting beyond "who would win - Tinkerbell or Batman?" in my head.

[helpful]

onedev · 05/08/2013 20:50

Not really DoctorsWife (although I do have friends, honest!!).

Never heard of Etsy, Stealth - just had a look, fantastic website!!

pinkpetrol · 05/08/2013 21:03

Ooo thats a very useful link blathers. Now to transfer that party to a WI hall in November! I am going to run the party myself (gulp) and bribe a few friends to help me. I cant do separate games. I was going to do a few trad games pass. The parcel, musical toadstools etc and then have some crafts and games set up. I thought about decorating fairy lanterns ( inspired by the links to the lantern company), decorating biscuits etc. what would appeal to boys of this age? I cant face them all just charging around the hall . But as this is a reception party some of the children will be only just 4. Am i mad for even thinking about this? Cant believe i am worried about this in August!

groovejet · 05/08/2013 21:53

Thanks for the advice regarding a Luau party, we are def going for this theme dd1 has discovered the joys of pininterest so has some things in mind.

Plan is to have a couple of crafts to keep them occupied, making rainbow layered cakes in a jar, and decorating a paper fan which means no need for party bags just going to get some leis.

Games wise a bit of limbo dancing and coconut bowling.

Food haven't thought much of, dd will have a list somewhere, will show her those croissant crabwiches I liked those Smile but we will be setting up some kind of ice cream sundae bar for pudding.

stealthsquiggle · 05/08/2013 22:07

Oh yes please do those crabwiches - there were loads of similarly good food ideas on the pinterest board they came from.

Now your DD has discovered pinterest there is no going back Grin.

stealthsquiggle · 05/08/2013 22:26

Pinkpetrol - you could do shadow lanterns a bit like http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/1200x/80/97/0b/80970b44cada51121a9c3d37ec2db9dd.jpg this (I know this is a very adult version, but if you substitute foam stickers for handout silhouettes then it works for 5yos) - fairy fans could do petals and fairies, and superheroes could do pop art and bat signals?

stealthsquiggle · 05/08/2013 22:27

once more

NonsenseTalker · 05/08/2013 23:57

What games can we play? I have:
Pass the bomb (PtP)
Musical Superheroes (musical statues with a superhero pose finish)
Find the bomb (5 hidden balloons) and an
Assault course - zig zag through some small cones, crawl through a tunnel, into a ball pool to find the kryptonite, lift a giant (inflatable) dumbbell, leap a tall building (cardboard boxes) and vapourize a villain (helium filled balloons attached to string stuck to the floor that they attack with silly string).
We have lunch to eat but the party is 3 and a half hours long so I don't think that's enough. I'm sure I had a list somewhere.....

Please try to do the tin cans onedev. It's just a nail and a hammer, no craft at all Wink but absolutely follow the diamond tradition!

Pinkpetrol, IME boys of any age will just charge around the hall! Perhaps you could think of a game to let them vent their excited energy but as its a game it's in a more controlled manner? You will probably have more luck with the 4yo's enjoying the craft compared to the older ones!

stealthsquiggle · 06/08/2013 13:30

3.5 hours? what were you thinking? that's interesting Grin

stealthsquiggle · 06/08/2013 13:33

Nonsense are they making /decorating their own masks or are you doing them? I think you need some sort of sitting down craft - type thing - you will kill yourself trying to fill the whole time with games.

NonsenseTalker · 06/08/2013 13:52

I know!! Usually, we just have toys/soft play and games and let the DC run wild so the time flies but as DS is 4, I thought a bit more of an effort and some structure might be a good thing. I have 3 spiderman beach balls that they can run around after (instead of balloons) and there is a huge outside area with playground that we can utilise if the weather permits, so maybe I can rope in an adult to play the villain for the heroes to see off Grin

I'm doing (done) the masks. I do have some superman crayons and some printed colouring sheets for them to do when they arrive and wait for everyone but I don't have an actual craft activity.

I was thinking of having a tattoo area where they can stick on those horrendous kids tattoos but I decided against it in the end.

stealthsquiggle · 06/08/2013 14:00

Outside area for general rioting sounds great - that would kill half an hour, easily.