The Pulina is full ....and...What do you think of the menu?

[LowFat]

Have just spent this morning doing party bags and pulina for DD's (soon to be 4)party on Saturday.

There was me worring I did;nt have enough

Party bags already have....
small tub play dough
bouncy ball,
mouse balloon
bubbles
chewits
moam chew
blower
(will have cake too when cut)

Then will also add gifts from the pulina, which is 7"x7"x12" and is full to the brin with small gifts and sweets etc..

Only have 17 children ahem.....

Menu which will be present in a picnic style box is:
2 jam sandwiches (equiv 1 slice bread)
2 cocktails sausages
Few Carrot sticks
Plain hula hoops
2 party rings
Orange or blackcurrent squash
Mini roll passed around when most of other stuff eaten

The party bags sound full enough to me, but I would probably do more food though.

lol Cali

A Pulina is a version of a pinata. ours is basically a bucket shpe nd size and you fill it, then each child pulls a ribbon, one of which will open it from the bottom and all the goodies come spiling out.

Tufty - I went to a party with DD earlier this year and the food was similar by portion. The reason I have gone for these portions is because I dont want them to have too much to eat because we have a bouncy castle and soft play so I dont want to clearing up after one of the little dears has scoffed to much and chucked up! And the party is between lunch and tea time anyway.

a pulina

Won't they fight over the pulina treats?

I would take the Chewits and chew thing out of the party bag imho.

Also my ds wouldn't be happy with a jam sandwich. Is that all the food you are doing or will there be more to nibble on at the table?

Sorry to sound negative but you did ask

Thanks Fimbo - here's some of my reasoning

I have spoken to other mums and one commented that DC's wont eat stuff that's good for them, but will happily overload on junk. I want to avoid that, especially with an action based party.

The food is being served in one of these

I went for Jam sandwishes because not all like ham and not all like cheese, and cant anticiapte making enough of each and all the waste etc. Also DD's pre-school always serve jam sandwiches at the end of term parties and most of the DC's are from her pre-school.

It's only a small pack of chewits in the bags - 5 sweets, and the chew in 1" long soft flat thing. Have only put in stuff I am happy with DD eating. What would you suggest in place of them??

I wouldn't give my nearly 4 year old - chewitts/chews of any kind. If you need to have a sweet my suggestion would be a milky way.

If you know the children and they will eat jam sandwiches then that is fine, I just know my ds would much prefer cheese or ham, as he is not a lover of jam.

My dd has been at a party with those boxy things you have but the children chose sandwiches from a plate.

You need to go with what you feel happy doing.

Hope your dd has a great party.

We try to avoid chocolate in our house, hence a small pack of chews - but we're all different

However great idea for the sanwichs, will make up a selection and offer them. Have to make lots for DH's family for lunch as they will be heloing in the afternoon so it;s no extra work and I have all the stuff in. Thanks for that!

My ds nearly choked on a chew - thats why I wouldn't put them in.

Ahh we had the same problem with jelly sweets -

Have not give to Chews to anyone under 3 have to say! They did get buttons!

Food amount sounds fine to me. I have used party boxes before and always put too much in. Your amount sounds better - and I bet it still gets left, lol!

Re. sandwiches - with my invites I asked for preference out of jam, ham or cheese. Too late for you know, but worked well for us.

Party bags sound plenty full. I have found that you can't win regards sweets/chocolate. What some agree with others don't, and vce versa. If you are bothered about sweets comment - just remove all sweets and have them seperate ina bowl to dish out on way out for those who do want them. Or eat them yourself

Have seen the pulina before, similar to pinata yes? No different to fighting over you might get with one of those. Have you thought about how you will ensure no pushing and snatching occurs and how to manage it?

I think the food looks fine TBH. Do 3 and 4 year olds normally eat much at a party anyway? I have done a few parties using the Party Pieces boxes and they always go down well. I have on occasion asked parents to confirm choice of sandwich filling when replying to the invite (both to avoid waste and making sure the child gets something to eat that they like). I know some parents have thought that odd - but I don't really care! One little boy chose jam, then refused to eat it because he likes only jam - not jam and butter - so even that idea doesn't always work.

I think party bags are fine. I assume you'll be handing them out just as the children leave so if there is anything in it that the parents are unhappy with, then they can police them!

X post with hula

have mentioned to my friends who have older DC's to remind them they are the eldest one there and let everyone have a turn. And as I will be holding it up I will have a little speech about lots for everyone etc. Most stuff is doubled or trebled and it is full to the brim so there is loads of choice.

Also told all mums it was play clothes rather than party clothes, so hope no frilly dress's

One friend went to a party where a DC scooped almost the entire pinata booty in to her skirt and carried it off!

x-posts chopsy

yes party bags beinghanded out at the end, as I will be ading the DC's puline booty to them for safe keeping etc.

For dd's recent 5th party I did the following (and it was all hoovered up, I was amazed!)

Mini brown bread rolls with egg mayo, ham or cheese
Homemade cheese stars
Homemade rice krispie cakes (just melted green & blacks mixed in with RKs)
Iced Gems
Hula Hoops
Baby tomatoes
Cucumber sticks
Celery sticks

Ok, just done a search for what I put in DD's food boxes this year:

1 small soft roll with their choice of filling (ham, cheese or jam)
1 carton/bottle of chosen drink (water, apple or orange)
1 small bag with some salad/veg in - cucumber, peppers, carrot, cherry tomato
1 small bag with some halved grapes in
1 small portion of cheese
1 mini chocolate/gingerbread man
1 mini pack of Pringles crisps

DD's cake was (homemade) cupcakes spelling out Happy Birthday, etc. and they all had one of those afterwards.

And on my thread I also got people telling me to add more, take crisps out, put homemade this and that in, etc.

But in the end that is what we had, along with nibbles and cakes for grown ups.

And yes, there were plenty of food not eaten in the boxes - but most children took their box home to finish later