DS wants a 4th birthday party....

[Nemo2007]

his birthday is in oct but we havent done a party before. He starts school nursery 2 weeks before. So when do I have to send out invites? Am I better to book somewhere or to do it at home?
Complete novice at all this so what do I do?

How many are you planning to invite? If it's a case of 2 or 3 close friends, you could do it at home, but if it's the whole class, I'd definitely go for village hall or similar. For my DS's 3rd birthday, we booked a local village hall where for £5 you could use all the village's toddler group's toys - worked brilliantly, and all I had to organise was the food.

My top tip: don't do party games for four yr olds, for some reason they are ultra competitive and can't take losing, esp. the birthday person. I learned from watching dd1's friends and didn't have them for her 4th party, but did for her 5th.

Best venues IMO for this age are soft play centres, they aren't cheap but they do all the work and the children burn off all their energy and excitement. If you go for a hall or at home don't get an entertainer that they all have to sit and watch as they won't have the attention span. 2 wks notice should be fine, ask for a list of nursery mates on his first day unless you know already who you want to invite.

The list is anything between 9-20 children. I originally thought it would just be him and a couple of friends but now he is asking for more people.

thanks STT I was looking at soft play. My mum wanted to book him the play bus but its £230 for just 16 children

Definitely not at your house then. Agree - somewhere like soft play, or hire a bouncy castle or something like that. And make lots less food than you think you'll need - they don't eat as much as you hope. Couple of weeks notice should be fine. Good luck.

And, dare I mention party bags..?

Soft play is a tenner a head here, party bags provided.

right think will go with soft play especially if my mum is offering to pay

Definitely, then.

now next question is do I go for on his birthday which is a WEdnesday or the sat/sun before or after?

Sounds good to me

What time does nursery finish? If lunchtime then Wed afternoon will be fine. If tea time, I'd go for the weekend as it's a long day otherwise and they'll probably get hyper.

11.30am his class will finish. If I do it in the afternoon soft play will be quieter and can probably invite less as they will still be in school!!

Def. Wed. afternoon then - in time for lunch and big children in school so nicer for littler ones.

Remember at this age a lot of parents drop and run so be prepared to accept responsibility for everyone you invite and make sure you have enough adult helpers!

I woul dsay it depends on whether he has been to a big birthday bash before, if not then I would agree with cat but if he knows the score or is familiar with busy soft play centres then you shoudl be fine - you can ask the soft play people to skip the party element and just have food and running about.

He has been to other big parties and knows what the soft play is like. He has never had a party as to be honest we could never afford it so usually it is just cake with the parents in law.He asked for a party last year but we did the same as usual. We thought because he would be at nursery this year and one of the first birthdays he could have a party and invite them allas he wont know anyone so good chance for us and them to get to meet, then we found out it is staggered entry so he is not starting until 24th sept and some others dont start till week after etc.

I wouldn't drop and run if I didn't know the parent
and not at 4

Hi nemo
some friends of mine hired a really cheap village hall.
they took along car loads of toys (had a set up in there like a temporary nursery)
A table set up to decorate their own biscuits.
made up some lunch packs in advance and a few jugs of squash/water.
They ran around like mad things and it was really cheap. The parents all stayed and had a few nibbles and a chat
Everyone loved it.
P.S I have emailed you re-boots