all partied out.. mixed girl/boy party for 6y.o??

[misshardbroom]

Help me out here.

DD is 6 in September. Yes, September. Now is May. I know this.

However, birthdays and parties are big, big, news for her. Since starting school in September, every single child in her class has had a whopping great big party to which every last one of them (30 in class) has been invited. These have taken place at halls with bouncy castles, entertainers, soft play etc etc.

I don't want to do this for three reasons:

1. I'm too tight.
2. I don't want the responsibility for 30 kids plus my own, when most parents leave them, and a lot of the children I don't know that well.
3. I'm too tight.

But I don't think I can get away with my typical formula of 3 games / tea at home / balloon & slice of cake.

Any ideas of things I can do with maybe 6 children that will still be very birthday-ish but not cost over £60 and not result in a trip to A&E?

Oh, and it's a mixed group.

(I did find a fab place nearby where they could go and make little bead bracelets and hairslides in a blur of pink shininess, but I'm not sure the lads will go for it.)

How about a pizza making party at Pizza Express?

or how about a party at a pottery painting place?

I rally like the Pizza Express idea. Anyone got any experience of this?

That would be really like

Ds went to a Pizza Express party and really liked it.
One boy, a 6yo from a fairly lapsed (fortuntely) Muslim home put pepperoni on his pizza. Luckily his Mum ws pretty chilled about it, but didn't tell the grandmother!
Hope no coeliacs invited!

What about tenpin bowling?

How about a quite serious treasure hunt? You would need to spend lots of time planning it but I think you have that time!

There is an American site called family fun, and they have some inspired party ideas on the Knights and Princesses theme, which I was too bone idle to follow. You would need to use pictures for the clues if they can't all read.

Pizza Express is over £10 a head, I think.

How about a party in the park - traditional games and fun races and a picnic? Boys (and most girls) aged 6+ need to run about and shout, etc, etc. Outside is good. As long as it isn't raining!

Investigate local places to hire though - we have a local school which hires out hall, bouncy castle and balls, etc, plus a worker to watch for safety, and a separate room for food for £60.

According to the website, Pizza Express parties are £9.95 per child.

Take them to a cinema - Showcase do a package for £10/head inc popcorn and ice cream.

Take them all out for dinner somewhere like Frankie and Benny's.

Bowling? Paint a pot?

hmmmm it's quite a small group which makes it harder. Sporty or swimming parties are obviously out.

DD's best pal is (allegedly) taking them all to the snowdome which I gather is rather expensive - so would excuse you from the 30-kids do?