First kids party for 4 year old DS

[cflops]

Am organising my first kids party ever for my 4 year old. Am a bit daunted by the whole thing. Also haven't been too hardly any kids parties so not sure what's expected. Am inviting 5 kids (4 boys, 2 girls). We have a large garden so was planning on chucking them out into the garden if the weathers ok. Just a bit stuck about what to do if it rains. Am very shy and the idea of standing up in front of loads of parents and organising party games is terrifying. Also won't have much help, husband usless and sister has no kids so no idea.
Quite fancy the idea of doing a craft activity. Any ideas?

Send the parents home.

Buy a party cd - we have this one. It's got all the usual games on it with a man's voice directing them - so it explains how to play musical statues and then when the music stops, the voice-over tells them all to stand still etc. So you don't have to organise games!

For ds1's 4th I just put some toys out - they spent most of the time playing with toy cars. And the dressing up box amused them for ages too.

Give them hula-hoop crisps - it takes them ages to eat those.

More thoughts.

We briefed ds1 in advance that we were going to put the presents aside to open later. If they open them in front of the guests, the guests get upset cos they haven't got anything, and you lose all the bits from whatever toys they got given, and you have no idea who gave what when it comes to thankyou notes.

I always line the guests up and take a photo, which I print and use as a thankyou card.

Games like Simon Says or Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes are good for this age. Or cheating pass the parcel, where everyone gets a turn to open a layer (with a sweet in!).

You said crafts - for dd's 4th I made cardboard crowns and got stickers for them to decorate them with. I didn't risk having glue / pens etc out though ...

Give your dh specific jobs to do - like being in charge of the food or something.