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

Get some of those long modelling ballons to whack the bubbles with.

But Slouchy, isn't that a party bag without the bag?

[excitedly paints chippy in body glitter and then pukes up on her]

Now you're getting the hang of it, GoatofBitterness.

nice packet of sweeties (love hearts?), small gift - wooden bracelets sound good, or a fluffy pencil - piece of cake, balloon. No plastic tat required.

Books from the Book People are good too.

They musn't puke until they are safely out of your house - it's a fine art!

Don't have drinks in tippy, spilly plastic cups - aaagghhh. I am a meanie and provide kid-size water bottles, no-one has dared complain.

I bought 2 packs of these for DS's 4th birthday party on Sunday. I think they went down well.

thanks jackie just ordered some sticker books!

You could make the food a decorating 'game' - maybe ice cream with various fruits or hundreds and thousands or smarties or whatever?

thanks everyone for your support. bubble machine was great hit. books did not arrive as book people are being abit dim at the minute but i got cheap dr seus books instead which was a big hit. didn't need the craft stuff as there were too many kids (10 and a few siblings) but they all ran around v. happily. totally knackered but relieved it is over. dd had a lovely time which is the main thing. kids enjoyed it or appeared to as a few of them were hiding under teh table at home time cos they didn't want to leave.

thanks again.