I need ideas for 3yo DD's birthday party

[HorseStories]

DD2 has just started nursery plus we are new to this area.

I would like her to have a small birthday party in our home because she has not had a non-family birthday party before and DD1 has had one every year, with friends from our antenatal class.

So, I don't know any of the mothers and the guest list will be a bit 'token' since DD2 has only been at nursery 3 weeks.

I thought about just inviting 5 or 6 other children and making it a more intimate party but then I will have to entertain them more.

Can 3 year olds and nearly 3 year olds play games? What would be a good craft activity for them to do?

Is there a local softplay that you could book? That way the children can run riot and you can get to meet some of the parents and have a chat - plus, no clearing up afterwards!

Might be a bit late on this one but we just had DD's 3rd bday and things which went down a treat were a treasure hunt in a "fairy grotto" (the garden - one of the little guests kept nipping back out to try and find the fairies - bless) and making crowns which we got from www.kidzcraft.co.uk. We also got a pinata from ASDA which they loved bashing the hell out of.