ideas for 40 x 2 to 4 year olds at xmas party?

[strongblackcoffee]

Has anyone got any good suggestions for this...

I'm looking for something/someone to entertain 40 preschool children for around an hour, after they've eaten, at their xmas party. We'll have a reasonable space, it'll be in a hall, all indoors. The budget is low, around £50, so we could get a cheaper entertainer in, or I'm wondering whether anyone has any more creative ideas?

Thanks

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Thanks, that's a good suggestion, I think it might be the way to do it. I'm just worried that it would be absolute chaos and everyone would blame me!! Also a lot of work involved, although it's definitely a winner idea for the overall budget.

Any other suggestions? I'd like to go back to the committee with a handful of ideas if possible. I was wondering about a range of sports/ball games, but that's very similar to the above idea...

a bottle of vodka and some painkillers?-- not together!!!!

good luck

I know, it's going to be hell on earth. That's why I'd love a brilliant idea where I can sit back and watch someone else do all the work...

Help???!!!

I assume The Big Red man with the white beard will be making an appearance?

What about a Xmas sing song, with lots of actions. Some of the games will suit 4 year olds, but not 2 year olds, but everyone can do a bit of singing and actions!

Well, apparently the big red man scared kids in the past, so he just makes a mystery delivery at some point, without actually appearing in person!

A sing song is also a good idea. Could maybe do some games then follow on with that. Still sounds like I am in the midst of all the hell though... Maybe it's time to resign...

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I think rotating them round would be a good idea. You could have some Christmas crafts dotted amongst the games - eg decorate a bell/star shape to hang on the tree.

Bit of a cop-out, but do you have access to a TV to show them a short Christmassy DVD?

Get a giant story book and read them a lovely Christmas story.

No way will 2 year olds cope with those games.
And I can't see that you'd get any entertainer for £50 (unless you're reet oop north mebbe ).
So basically you're screwed!

A bit of a disco would work for some of it, but not the full hour. Have you got access to lots of ride on toys and slides and cars and dolls and stuff like that, that you can just put out and let the kids use for free play, rather like a toddler group?

have to say, balloons, lots of them in the room, will provide about 20 mins of combined fun, if not more. They can race around with them.

Agree with others, at that age I'd put out balloons and toys, a bit like a playgroup, with a few songs/ action song games.

Can you see if you can borrow stuff from a group that doesn't run over Christmas, maybe?

Hmmmm... maybe I can hide under a rock until January...

Think I will use the thoughts discussed here to encourage upping the budget for an entertainer!! I don't want all the stress associated with most of the above. But thank you everyone, I do appreciate the help.

Valium?

I would put out a lot of toys and make it like a playgoup session - ask someone to bring a playkitchen & food, a garage, playmat & cars, some ride-ons/rockers, a tent etc.
Then set up a couple of tables - one for colouring/sticking a christmassy shape for hanging on a Xmas tree and one for decorating a gingerbread man with coloured icing and sprinkles to take home.

Finish with a sing song and the hokey-kokey. Best of luck!

I defonately don't think you will get an entertainer for that much (I assist at parties in the North West area) and most will only do 20 children alone, they bring an extra person at extra cost for any more.

Get all hands on deck, sing a few Christmas songs and shorten it to half an hour not an hour or they will lose attention.

Disco, balloons, let them run around and dance. Table to one side where those who want to can do colouring.

I wouldn't bother with games. It'll be a nightmare trying to explain to and organise that many children and most will get bored before you've even started.

Well, have managed to get two quotes for entertainers for around £80, good recommendations as well, so all is not lost. Depends how far the budget can stretch. I think I'm with you MrsJD, I can't face trying to organise games, it was bad enough with 6 kids at my DS's birthday party...!

So I'll suggest my entertainers, or the alternative, which is snice's party - sounds actually very 'do able', with an xmas feel to it and something to take home too. And maybe finishing with presents and an xmas sing song! Hooray, send them all home and go home for a bottle of vodka nice cup of tea

Thank you all, fantastic to talk it all through, great ideas and good advice, as always

Will the parents of the younger ones be there? Or all the parents?

You can make the party games totaly volutary so start up a game of pass the parcel for example, call them over into a circle, the younger ones will ignore you and continue chewing on bits of tinsel and you can get on with the game, if loads start with two cirlces.

What ever you do make it quite clear that one person may lead the games etc, but everyone has to help with teh refereeing and removing tinsel from little ones mouths, major team effort!!!

Oh and agree rules of each game at meeting in advance and explain how each will work as it all gets very confusing when different adults don't get what the kids are meant to do.

I nearly had a riot at my carol practice as two leaders decided to have a debate over the wording of a carol, never mind if it is Kin or King just get them singing!