Advice needed on party for 4 year old

[mumtoone]

I am currently planning a birthday party for my ds who will be 4. I am currently on maternity leave which means the budget is fairly tight this year so I am planning to have the party at home. I was hoping to keep the guest list down to keep the numbers managable with it being at home but I've still got 10 including ds. I've got space to do a party tea for 10 so thats not a problem I just need ideas to entertain them. There is the usual pass the parcel, musical bumps but what else?

Hi, I had a 4th bday party for ds a couple of months ago. At home, cheap and cheerful, less than 10 kids. It was lovely! I'm sure you'll have a lovely time too.

I had planned various games - pass the parcel, musical statues, who's afraid of mr wolf-type-thing, pin the tail on the donkey, sleeping lions - I had it all planned out, knew what was going to happen when, etc (well, quite vaguely, but you know)...lists and lists... and...

it totally didn't happen. I'd kind of forgotten that some of the kids there were still 3 and not as mature as ds and they just weren't interested in musical statues - they just wanted to run about and play! You know how they get when they're all together!

I got to a point where I had to decide whether to get all schoolteachery and organise them or just let them get on with it - and I just let them get on with it.

Everyone had a lovely time, I am sure you will too! (You can always google party games - I think it's a good idea to have back-up plans in case they get bored / out-of-hand and need direction. And you can always play them with the kids at other times when they have friends over etc.)

Have fun,
indiemummy x

When you say your budget is tight - how tight is it? We had a party for my DDs 4th birthday this year and we had it at home (she requested it and I was v glad because personally I prefer it - think it is more personal). Anyway we hired a bouncy castle, only a small one but it was only 30 quid and that with lots of games made a brilliant party! BTW agree with indiemummy about the games - my experience is that if too much is organised it doesn't work so well.

I have found that action songs go down quite well (if you are happy to stand up and do it!). Otherwise you could do something crafty if you have the space e.g. make tiaras for the girls and crowns for the boys!

Good Luck!

I got them colouring in their own party hats at the start. I got them from Yellow Moon.

A bubble machine was a big hit (around £6 in Tesco), and a balloon drop was an even bigger hit. I got a balloon bag and a bag of 100 balloons from Poundland.

We did some dancing too to some action songs.

Are the other parents staying? We did a Superhero party for ds's 4th last year - they all came in costume, we played musical statues, but they all had to stand with one arm up like superman, and we did veggie hotdogs in buns, oven chips and tubs of ice cream. First prize in the pass the parcel was a can of superman soap from asda, and other prizes were superhero candy sticks from morrisons. I got v carried away and painted a pin the baddie in jail version of the tail and donkey thing. Keep it short, and choose a theme for them to dress up/ bring a toy etc. Good luck - it should be fun.