So what do 5 year old boys play at parties.....

[KBear]

having a small bash for DS but as he will be starting school on Friday and his birthday is the 18th he won't have forged particularly strong friendships with anyone but I am going to let him choose two boys to come for tea (along with the usual suspects - dd, his mate up the road and his cousins).

Shall I do the usual musical bumps kind of party games or is that lame? DD's parties have always been easy but is it different for boys? Do I have to dress up as a Power Ranger for it to be a cool party?

Heeelp.

leave them alone .. let them run ragged round the house and garden and strew chaos in their wake

they will be fine

God no, I wouldn't do anything. I'd leave them to it and perhaps just have a couple of things as contingency.

If they get a bit rowdy - put on a good DVD and give them some popcorn.

My experience is that boys don't really go for the structured games - mine have never been hot on that kind of thing anyway. THey like to make their own entertainment! Easy peasy!

I was hoping for the "leave them alone" kind of response but is that "party" enough - isn't that more "round for tea and bugger all else"? Not particularly special - or do boys not care about being the Prince for the day the way girls like being a Princess. DS is so laid back he's horizontal and we are going to Diggerland (he calls it Digger Heaven - bless) on the Sunday before so it's not like he's not getting a great birthday.

I'm flapping aren't I, I've answered my own question!! He's starting school on Friday and I'm all of a fluster! Ignore me.

If he wants to them it do so - Power Rangers, Knights, Pirates -nad get the coordinating bits. Let them have a free run , preferably outside, with perhaps a themed treasure hunt and a few games to music after tea.

them = theme !

the ONE thing I think you may find difficult is that boys run in PACKS

so inviting 2 friends from school may be a tad difficult

also if its his first year at school might be a bit divisive of newly burgeoning friendships

think carefully over whether you are sure you want to invite people from school (hence risking the wrath of people you barely know in the whole 'why wasn't my child invited' debacle) .. or just keep it low key and maybe arrange a string of playdates so he can get to know people properly and you can get to know their parents

just a thought

I got all the CARS movie bits and pieces for the party table - he chose those but he's not really bothered. (Unlike DD who was planning her parties with military precision at 3!!) I thought inviting a couple of boys from school might help with the bonding as DS won't know anyone at his new school (his pre-school buddies went elsewhere - all of them!). Might play it by ear with the school thing and just invite the usual gang for now.

Hm, will ponder what best to do.