Party ideas for a six year old?

[babybouncer]

DS had a big party in a hall with 20+ guests last year - he loved it but it was very hard work! I'm hoping this year he'll just choose 6-8 friends and we'll do something at home. I'm going to feed them all pizza, but I have no idea what else to do with them... I've looked into magicians and science parties, but they're quoting £150-200, where my budget for the whole party is closer to £100.

Would I be crazy to try and do my own science party?

No advice re science parties (personally, I wouldn't!), but they could make their own pizzas as part of the entertainment.

Thanks, Leeds, I wondered about that, but MIL has terrified me by saying that the kids won't want to sit still for very long and need more activities letting off steam. At home DS is fairly quiet and great at sitting still and concentrating, but having seen him manic at parties, I think she may have a point!

Pick a theme and get some craft materials from somewhere like Yellow Moon. Then you don't have to spend so much on party bags! How old is your DS?

Allow some free play (outside if possible). Agree with getting them to do their own pizzas.

Have the materials for various games up your sleeve (always good to have more than you need). Theme bingo worked well at DS2's 5th birthday party last year.

Do you have a pizza express near you? A lot of them do childrens parties and I think it's reasonably priced would probably come in near your budget.

You could definitely make your own science party - simple science stuff with bicarb and vinegar, food colouring etc. Pinterest will have lots of ideas for that! You could dress up as a mad scientist and make it funny.