3y old toddler birthday party - Church Hall - No Bouncy Castle

[AleenaM]

Hi,

3y old never had a big birthday due to covid, want to do one now, don't want the trouble of people in my own home

I can rent a space (private room/cafe type ) in a local modern church for 2hrs. So far so good, but here come my anxieties:

1.My social circle of mums with kids is made of post baby classes friends, some of which I don't see as often now that we're back working. I have the fear that they'll either not come or, they'll come but my kid won't know their kid as well. Or will bday kid not care anyway?

1. Do I invite kids at nursery? Both my kids started there 6months ago, none have been invited to anything. I'm not in touch with any other mums. At most I thought about him asking the kids whose names he mentions at home, or asking his carers about who are his friends. Or should I leave nursery kids out of it all together? If I do send them invites, how do I actually do it since I'm not in contact with other parents?

1. I don't plan to rent a bouncy castle (too expensive in a separate room & too noisy/no space in the same room), can my hall party still work and be fun? What games can 3y old realistically play & enjoy? Will likely have a few 5yrs old too. There are some toys there from a play group and I can bring a few roo, like inflatable van with plastic balls or a few seesaws

1. Ideas for a time line of what should I do, eg lunch snacks at 12, cake at 12.15pm etc. It'll be 11am until 1pm

From other posts on mumsnet I've gathered that it's best/easiest to do cardboard party lunch boxes?

Book, stickers, balloon and sweets for the party bag?

Please help me out with any other suggestion. Never really done this! Thank you

Definitely invite nursery kids, he will want to play with his friends he sees weekly over ones he doesn’t know. Ask his keyworker for a list of kids he plays with if you want a certain number or for a class list if you want to invite everyone. Hand the invitations to nursery staff to give out.

If you can afford it, Definitely hire the bouncy castle they'll want to run off and play independently.

Packed lunches are definitely easiest, I'd do lunch at 12.30 so not long after it's time to go. After lunch sing happy birthday, cut cake and put cake in the party bags to take home.