dd is having a party soon - help

[TheGoatofBitterness]

hi, am inviting 11 kids and assuming half of them won't turn up. can i keep them amused with decorate your own hat/crown/pirate hat type thing and pass the parcel, random dancing to music and then food and cake? also what is the standard length for a 4 year old birthday party? thanks

pleeease!

Keep it short - hour and a half is plenty. Are yo having it at home (don't if you can help it).

weelllll, have only been to a couple yet as ds' lot are just hitting 4.
First, I would warn you through that I invited 28 last year and 24 turned up
I reckon 2-2.5 hours is pretty normal.
Couple of games is probably enough (ie decorate hat plus pass the parcel. You could have 'musical bumps' as a back-up in case you think they need something else to do

You gonna be at home?

Couple of hours is usual IME.Think you will need to have more to do.

Hat decorating - allow 15 mins max - some will be bored after 5.Pass parcel - maybe 8 mins for 10 kids. Dancing -/musical bumps etc 10 mins max. Half an hour for food. That leaves a lot of time to fill.

Will think of some other things and post again.

thanks - we are having it at home [gulp]

Two to two and a half hours may be normal, but if you're hosting it, believe me, an hour and a half is plenty! Hour for activities, half an hour for tea. And yes - assume they'll all come.

Don't assume half won't turn up, IME it can go either way, you may end up with extra siblings, parents may want to stay too.
Or and a half is plenty. Time it around a mealtime - 11.30-1.00 is a good slot, they won't be tired & crabby.

omg! slouchy. can't they just amuse themselves? i am really shite at this!

Musical statues/musical bumps/pin the tail on the something
Keep food basic
Peronally I don't encourage parents to stay.
I think you need 3 adults, one to do games, one to do food/drinks and one to do toilet runs
If you are doing party bags, bubbles, sweets, ballon and a piece of cake.

How's that?

dh wants 2 hours tell him he is mad!

Yes - was just about to add what ChippyMinton's said, unless you're happy to send all parents etc away, you'll have at least one, maybe 2 parents per child, plus possible extra siblings, making it (and I know what I'm talking about here) almost impossible to move in your house.

Girls will sit and do crafts, boys prefer to run around.

v. professional snowman. i am soooonot doing party bags. will i be cast out from society?

Oh, plenty of balloons - they will come in and play with them straight away.

she is only inviting 2 boys one of which is off the dressing up in princess outfits school of boyhood and the other hopefully won't come.

balloons - check

I always say I'm not doing party bags, but give in. Last time (6 yo) I gave everyone an inflatable guitar (as found on here). Kids loved them.

thanks everyone - god i am more nervous than if it was my own party, i suppose i can rely on my own guests to be polite and not wee on the furniture.

PIn the tail is good.
A treasure hunt - you can set this up well beforehand.
S;leeping lions ace for when your head can't take any more noise.
Another good 'quiet'activity is to put on a 5 min video (could be famous bit of a Disney movie), tell them to watch carefully then ask qu's - "What colour was the cat's bow tie?" type.

Musical bumps always good.

Good at few boys. Make it a princess theme? Apply v quick drying glittery nailpolish and body glitter, get them to pose for photos. Borrow a bubble machine and let them dance to cheesy music.

We are doing party in 2 weeks for 20 odd 3-5 year olds (Gulp). In church hall though/bouncy castle so fairly easy. We are not doing party bags, instead guests get a wrapped gift (wooden car/bracelet), a punch balloon and cake when they go.

Make sure you ask if anyone needs a wee at regular intervals.

time will fly.

A nice cold bottle of wine, with your name on it, waiting for you when it is all over

Ooh yes, bubble machine.Splendid.

even dh is excited by the bubble machine!

Sounds good, Slouchy. I quite like party bags, not least because starting to hand them out signals very clearly that the party is ending and it's time to GO HOME NOW.