party for 3 year old

[FREAKshow]

Up until now, we've had family parties for my DS. Since his last birthday, he has started at a nursery. He will turn 3 soon, and this is the first time I'll be throwing a birthday party for him that involves his friends, and I have NO CLUE what to do! Can anyone help with a bit of advice?
? what are good activities for a bunch of 2.5-4 year olds?
? if I have a party at my house, how many children should I invite?
? what should I feed them?

By the basic nature of my questions, I guess you can tell I'm a novice. So any advice at all would be very helpful.

Thank you.

If I were you, I'd make it a family party, and invite 3 0r 4 of his best friends to come along too (but them I am a scrooge and don't approve of children only parties when they are this small ).

Get them to decorate little bags with stickers and then have a treasure hunt so they can fill up their bags with sweeties. Play pass the parcel, or put on some music and let them dance. Have a cake. Send them home, then kick back with a glass of wine and let your family stay on to party some more and help clean up!

Honestly, they don't need much at this age to keep them busy - just having the attention of the adults who love the is what 3 year olds want most! We just had a treasure hunt for DD's 3rd birthday, and then the kids just played and the adults chatted and ate. I made mini pizzas on muffins, rice crispie buns, a big fruit salad and some fairy bread, plus sandwiches and a cheese platter for both adults and children.

Keep it low key and have fun

My dd (3) recently went to a party held at the home of a nursery friend.

There were around 8 children, we were mainly outside (not much use to you this time of year perhaps?!)

The children played pass the parcel and the mum had also provided some basic cardboard crowns to decorate with stickers etc. Party food was lovely but quite simple - babybels, strawberries and grapes, crackers, small biscuits and not much else, but it all went down well and looked very attractive on the table, there was plenty but not much waste.

She did party bags - but just with a well chosen book, box of raisins and piece of cake. Overall it was a lovely party as I think she had been very thoughtful in planning it, and the children all loved it.

I have decided not to do party bags this time for my dd, but a "lucky dip" probably spending around a £1 each on a small book/stationery set or similar, individually wrapped.

Thanks Astrophe. Great ideas for activities. Sounds like you know how to throw a party!

Thanks lollipop. More good ideas.

don't do it longer than 1.5 hours or so - and expect all the parents to stay as well. Agree with the give them something to do ideas. Keep it low key - they'll all have a great time and just want to jump up and down anyway

Thanks Tommy. Keeping it sort will help keep my nerves intact, too!