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Parties/celebrations

Whether you're planning a birthday or a hen do, you'll find plenty of ideas for your celebration on our Party forum.

Party for a 5yr old, ideas needed please

11 replies

UpYourViva · 08/12/2009 10:35

Ive booked a small church hall and we were supposed to be booking a party entertainer but now we dont have enough money.

There will be around 20 children and the party is 2 hours. What sort of things can i do to entertain 20 kids for this length of time??
Many thanks

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FourArms · 08/12/2009 10:41

Food - half an hour
Cake - 10 minutes (bit more if you let them eat it there too!)

Games:
Pin tail on donkey (or similar)
Corners
Musical statues
Musical bumps
Treasure hunt
Pass parcel (you can do this twice, they love it!).
Free play with lots of balloons
Pick up all rubbish for a lolly (or is this just at my parties?)
Under over race in teams with balloons or balls.

Colouring competition if all else fails?

Bouncy castle if you've got £50 or so spare.

Bramshott · 08/12/2009 10:42

Military planning down to the last 5 minutes . . .

Dancing with balloons
Games
Crafts
Party tea

Have you already sent the invites? I reckon an hour and a half is ample for that age group ! Then you only have an hour to fill with 'activities' and half an hour for tea.

FourArms · 08/12/2009 10:44

oh... sleeping lions too!

displayuntilbestbefore · 08/12/2009 10:44

same as above ideas and you could also add some crafty things that the children can take home with them (instead of party bags)

get shoe boxes for each kid (or smallish boxes from supermarkets - and ask any of the parents you know to send their child with an empty box)

do paper plate masks, paper chains, ice some buns you've made etc

UpYourViva · 08/12/2009 10:51

Yey, some brilliant ideas, thanking you all. Im dreading it tbh, im thinking cutting it down to an hour and a half may be a good idea

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displayuntiltwelfthnight · 08/12/2009 11:52

Yes, why not, an hour and a half is more than enough time for them all to have a great time.
You only need to fill an hour with play stuff then as eating the food can be stretched to half an hour if you bring things out gradually!

choosyfloosy · 08/12/2009 12:02

Hour and a half is loads.

Have lots of games though, and a schedule up on the wall (control freak emoticon), with timings (allow only about 4 mins per game, but you will be lucky with some of them).

What's the time Mr Wolf still good at this age. Do you remember it? Someone is the wolf, faces the wall. All others start at the other end. 'What's the time Mr Wolf' - '12 o clock' or whatever - 12 steps up the hall. Eventually mr Wolf says Dinnertime and chases everyone. If the askers reach the wolf first, they have won.

Non-eco but excellent - everyone has to stand up when the lights are on and sit down when they are off (or vice versa). Hilarity ensues.

Warning - For pin the tail on the donkey with 20 children you will need AT LEAST 3 adults - 1 to marshal the queue, one to administer blindfold and wrangle child/tail, and one to mark where they've put the tail and write initials next to it. Unfortunately at 5 they will notice if you cheat too blatantly.

Put up a play tent (good idea anyway). If things get scratchy, get everyone into the tent, turn most of the lights off and read them a story, while another adult does sound-effects (not a scary one, just general sound effects, animal noises or whatever).

Pinata. Another queue one, and you still need the 3 adults to stop them whacking each other, but it's amazingly popular. The sweets from the pinata also deal with party bags.

If you do go for party bags, Toys R Us do 5 whoopee cushions for a couple of quid - a real winner at ds's 5th.

displayuntiltwelfthnight · 08/12/2009 12:07

why not spend 15 mins of the time getting the kids to make up their own party bags. Need to monitor them but could give them all a food bag and let them pick 5 treats from a selection you have - one slice of cake, one crispie cake and 3 little cheap toys...
it all kills some of the time between the start of the party and when you can go home and have a cuppa/beer/strong shot of something altogether more festive

UpYourViva · 09/12/2009 11:54

Some fantastic ideas! thankyou all, im gonna jot them down and come up with a plan.

Thanks again

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Wendyhendy1 · 09/12/2009 12:07

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UpYourViva · 11/12/2009 21:56

Only just noticed your post WH1

Thanks for the idea

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