cheap options for 5 yo b'day party

[flower68]

Is it just me or have kids parties become loads more expensive since I was a kid? Every party my daughter is invited to involves a kids entertainer or a mega nice venue and some must have cost 100s of quid.

I want to give her a great 5th birthday but we
don't have much money and house is too small to invite more than about 10 kids.

We could hire somewhere for £50 and do all our own entertainment - but so few people seem to do that I'm worried we won't pull it off! Any ideas?! We live in south east london.

every party my ds has ever had has involved a handful of invitees (5-7) at home and a traditional party (i.e. just like I had as a child) and has cost me under £20.

Do what you want and can afford.

DD is inviting 7 friends (so 9 children inc sibling) to our house.
We did the same with DS although they were 14 and that was too many for an indoor birthday party.

Has anyone done a craft activity with 5 yr olds?

hi we hired out the local preschool for 20 dollars which was brilliant. Re craft activities, I made some plain cardboard party hats and put them out with letter stickers, glitter, glue etc and the children created their own hats, was great. the other hit activity was make your own ice cream cone with sprinkles, smarties, chocolate hail, mini flakes, strawberry topping, banana and strawberries, the kids loved it.

Oh, we did make your own ice cream sundae when I was 10. It was great fun.

They all love cookery,
Make your own pizzas
make Fruit salad
Decorating pre made biscuits
Have all the above for tea.

Making party hats
DIY face painting - children to do each other!
You can buy cheap photo frames - decorate these with glitter / sequins

Traditional party games

as you say though, not too many children and you will ned helpers with activities

My dd is 5 in January and I am having a small party at home, with a fairy theme. I have bought some cardboard crowns and craft stuff so they can make there own crowns.

I am gonna play pass the parcel, "Fairy" statues and a treasure hunt.

I thought I might give them some fairy lessons, waving dancing etc and maybe have a
Fairy parade at the end of the party.

All the parties we have been to have been mahoosive but I am both unwilling and unable to spend that sort of money on a party.

I am aiming for a good old 1970s birthday party and will watch this thread with interest.

We did crafty party for 5 year old dd in local village hall. There were 16 children and 3 adults, we did decorating party bags, making bead jewellery and decorating party hats then pass the parcel and quick dancing game, tea and then more party games after tea.
The kids seemed to enjoy it and dived straight into the crafty stuff and stayed quite engaged with it for some time. I bought some stuff off Yellow Moon/Baker Ross although it all adds up.
The trick is to keep them occupied at all times otherwise you quickly lose control!

DS1's 5 birthday party we had at home and cost me £25

I baked a cake, and made some cupcakes, biscuits, etc. Made some homemade bread for sandwiches, and made jam, cheese and ham sandwiches, made jelly, tub of cheap vanilla icecream and a few other little bits and pieces.

Balloons, 1 present from the 99p shop for the pass the parcel, bought some of that coloured tissue paper to wrap the present in, had about 7 children, played various silly party games.

Was great;

Had a similar one for DS2's 5th - but spent a bit more.

We never have more than 10. I don't think they really have more than that number of friends. Its great. We do our own games. Have made less food year after year as they barely eat any. The party bags are the only thing that costs.

My friends children say they like "normal" parties.

Frankly the people I know at my sons school who spend £140 on a venue and then have to provide food and party bags and a cake are unhinged.

You could host a treasure hunt party. We always find children love searching for treasure and it keeps them well entertained and for longer than most party games. Try googling lello and monkey if you have never organised one before, they sell kits from £5.99. Good Luck!

We did cardboard box city for ds's 5th - lots of huge cardboard boxes (asked at local removals/delivery company for old ones) = free
Large felt pens & stanley knife to cut shapes (houses, trains, rockets, boats)

All kids came dressed up - we did a few 'classic' games but mostly they ran in & out of boxes.

We had lots of compliments on 'the best party ever'

Just had a party for DS 5th birthday at home with 5 of his friends. Had it from 12-2pm, fed them a simple lunch (basically hotdogs and chips), played a few party games and the rest of the time they ran round the house playing. Take a little while to tidy up the room when they left - but that's all.

My advice is spend only what you can afford - kids that age don't care. And pick a theme - it's much easier to do decorations, party games etc. www.partybox.co.uk are great as a lot of things you can order to exact amount you need, keeps cost down.