Inspire me, DD 4th bday party

[Gravitygirl]

Its my dd 4 th bday in a few weeks, she has never had a party before, so we have hired a hall and invited the whole class, managed to wrangle the theme of fancy dress to encapsulate the boys as well as girls and need inspiration on decorations, how to play pass the parcel, can I get away with alternatives to party bags, what food to serve etc....
I had thought about a little picnic box each but do you think these will work out expensive?

Obviously I want to give her an amazing party on a realistic budget, so top tips and advice would be fab!!!

Thanks

i would go iceland and do sausage rolls sandwiches crisps chicken dippers and cocktail sausages then =i would do some cheese and jam sandwiches as children don t really eat that much at parties and some mini rolls and cupcakes . decorations you can pick up balloons and strimmers and poppers from poundland as well as hats. with pass the parcel wrap several up and you can have 2 going around in opp direction and wrap in newspaper with mini sweet pack in each layer.you could have best outfit compition and dancing status game etc
i love throwing parties make you feel young again .

What's your theme?

I think at 4 you still need relatively little in the way of organised games - they want to do a lot of running around 'playing' - have you got anything that they can play with in the hall (eg local playgroups might hire out their ride on toys etc for a minimal charge). I'd go with things like musical bumps/statues; maybe some art/craft activity (crowns/animal masks are usefully multi-sex, but depends on your theme); decorating cupcakes (to eat for tea/take home) is very popular (buy load of ready made icing, and let them loose with sprinkles/silver balls etc)
Pin the tail = too difficult to organise with that many kids imo.

I'd also tend to go with stickers for everyone rather than prizes for winners if poss - minimises tantrums for the loosers...

I reckon you can JUST get away without party bags at 4, but you probably need something to give away on the door - balloons? Ds's fourth we did decorated dinosaur biscuits or gingerbread men I think. Ds will have party bags as she's a second born & very clear that party bags are part of the deal

hire bouncy castle always fun

A hall takes A LOT of decorating! And it needs putting up and taking down again.

Balloons are essential.
Streamers are quite easy and give a lot of colour.
Lights?

I think I would put up big pictures of happy children everywhere. Use lining wallpaper as it's cheap. Paint on childlike pictures of happy children using any odds and ends of paint. Big, colourful, cheap and easy.

You'll need lot's of duct tape and string and stuff too.

You might get old Macdonald boxes for the food if you ask nicely at your local one.

Instead of a goody bag you could do a lucky dip on the way out.

When DD was 4 we played musical chairs, each child had to have an adult with them (generally ok cos most parents stay for a 4th bday party) It was very funny, the parents got very competitive and were pulling their children round to get the last seats. The children were laughing too and generally it was great fun. Got the parents involved too rather than them all just standing and chatting!

Thanks for all the fab ideas, I am wondering how to decorate the hall enough to make it look special!!
What do I do with streamers?

just starting out with a new business venture and thought it might be worth telling you all about. have a look at my website www.tinytotsplay.co.uk
i specialise in providing soft play equipment to venues like halls.

i have two children 3 and 1 and instead of party bags i sometimes stuff balloons with small sweets and toys and some confetti for effect. a bit different to a normal party bag.
as for streamers you just kind of drape them, good luck!!