4 yr old's party in garden in Nov!

[fattybumbum]

Hi,
I need some help/advice please. I'm having a cheap and cheerful party for my 4 year old son in the last week of November. I wasn't planning to this year as I've just had a baby but he's had some health issues and I want to treat him by making a fuss of him. Also we have so many relations that live long distances away that it's easier to invite them all on the day.

Anyway, there'll be about 15 kids from baby - four (mixed genders) and they'll have to play in our small lawned garden as the (small) house will be full of all the adult visitors. Can anyone suggest any activities or cheap things I could buy to entertain them? We've just renovated our garden so it's half patio and half lawn and nothing else in it at all. I was thinking, bubbles, balloons, cheap hula hoops from Tesco and a couple of balls. Maybe a few running races with medals for everyone? Other than that I'm at a loss. Any ideas or suggestions would be gratefully received! (The party will be from 12-3 to maximise daylight hours!)

Hello. How about a treasure hunt? Have you got a back up in case it rains (i'm sure it wont though!)

My friend did a really good kind of treasure hunt/hide and seek game. She cut out lots of small cbeebies characters from a magazine and hid them all over the place. Stuck to walls and windows with blutack, the kids loved looking for them.

I have done a thing where they had to search for something with their name on it like a bottle of bubbles. That worked well.

And maybe something involving torches if it is in the evening might be cool, like a sweetie hunt,

Hope you have a great party

How long do treasure hunts last?

I was thinking of having one in the garden for dd's 6th birthday in a couple of weeks. I thought of making lots of wooden "coins" (slice of branch sprayed gold), hiding them in the garden, and having a "shop" in the house with sweets and little toys. How much of the interminable 4 hours can I write off to this activity though??

4 hours, nighbynight ? What were you thinking?

I havent sent the invitations yet. Dd1 (aged 12) tells me that 2 - 6 is the normal time. Please tell me that 5.30 - 6 would be more suitable???

DD1 is having you on. 2pm-4pm or 3pm-5pm far more 'normal' round here.

Really? fantastic.

good 4 year old games:
Musical statues (20 mins)
Treasure hunt(30 mins)
Food(30 mins)
A pinataa rigged up in garden filled with light sweets and toys is good. can buy one in supermarkets takes up another 30mins and lets dc use up some energy use fall out to fill up party bags.
Cake, song and blowng out candles (10 mins)
Agree 2 hours is max time for a child's party

Donut eating - we did this at DS's Halloween party and was great fun. String ring donuts on to a broom handle or other pole & children have to eat donuts without using their hands.

Parachute games are also great in the garden & you can get cheap parachutes from Tesco or ELC.

I have lots more game ideas but presumably you'd also like stuff they can just get on with. Can you borrow any outdoor play equipment?