Party for 4 year old. Soft play or rugby tots?

[MayeJane4]

First party for son. I am not great at socialising or hosting parties (I am absolutely ok in day to day life, it is just that feels next level). Which would you do? Rugby tots or soft play? Will be likely approx 20 kids. Struggling to get a clear preference from son. Please help!

I'd go soft play. It's expensive though. Around here the most common party for that age is a local leisure centre that has a bouncy castle for one hour. Nice and short.

Softplay. Rygby tots only if you know all the kids are rugby fans.
One of the kuds in my son’s reception class had a football party - a bit of a diseaster as most of the kids weren’t interested in football at all and were playing “it”, or balancing on the sidelines, with a football “coach” (little kickers or similar )trying to get them to play….

Everyone will have a soft play party so I'd go rugby tots. Also might get some of the kids interested in the sport!

I would definitely go for a soft play party. The rugby tots party has the potential to go terribly wrong if the children are not engaged with the activity. Like the PP we've been to a football party where the children went semi feral because they were too little to follow all the instructions and spend 45 minutes playing a game most of them were not interested in.

Soft play

Or none of the kids are interested in rugby, do something else, are obviously bored, and the birthday child starts sobbing …
It’s big risk if you don’t know the group. Soft play in that age group is pretty much always good.

Soft play. We went to a rugby tots party at age 5. My son, and most of the boys were not interested, let alone the girls. Hardly anyone took part until the running around at the end.

If those are the options then soft play unless the 20 kids are all from football or similar. Lots of kids hate team sports and a party with only one option means some kids won’t do it. At soft play you’ll see some will do the scarier stuff and some will just sit around the ball pit chatting etc. More options if it’s kids you don’t know that well

4 is way too young for that kind of mass, organised sport party. 80% of them will have zero interest in rugby tots. It’s basically a P.E lesson but not at school.
Do soft play.

Soft play but only for 10 because 20 is an enormous group for that age.

Thanks everyone. I could hire entertainers in a hall, bouncy castle and games etc run by entertainer. This was an option but I figured it may work better at 5 or 6.

A bouncy castle or two works well for the age group. Entertainer if you want to, just play it by ear when it comes to games. Most will be fine with just bouncing.

I have booked the soft play, thanks so much. Can you help me with a theme? I was thinking Mickey Mouse Club House, jungle or Bluey. He is into hot wheels too but I'm trying to choose something most kids attending would like too.

If this is for decorations/party bags etc you don't need a theme - because the theme is "birthday".
Don't over complicate things.

Bluey is really popular for boys and girls at that age.