making pizzas with 4yr olds?

[verybusyspider]

trying to decide on an activity and food for ds's birthday now he has decided on guest list.
Got 8 children (marjority with parents, I'm kind of expecting them to stay) 6 boys and 2 girls, my ds loves cooking, went to party today with cake decorating and he stayed at table for ages - thinking of getting everyone to add toppings to pre (home) made 6 in pizza bases and then chuck them in the oven for birthday lunch, good or bad idea? every kid likes pizza right??

(can you tell he's my PFB and I've never done a kids party before! I'll be back in a bit to ask for game ideas... )

I'm sure they'll love it - would be fun if you could get some chef's hats for them all.

Or if you don't want the mess at home, Pizza Express do Pizza making parties for £10 per heaad (or something like that).

£10/head is way out of my budget, especially when I know how much I can make dough and buy cheese for - I'd really tried to limit ds to 4 friends but we found it difficult, this is the comprimise.
Anyway 2 positive responses is good I'll keep planning then...

Dont know if I am too late, but I went to a pizza making party at PizzaHut, it was a bit disappointing as I thought the whole point was too get messy - this was a 3 years old party, hey ho. But when I have had other children over for a play and tea making pizzas has gone down a storm. Especially if they are allowed to shape the dough themselves. Go for it and put plastic on the floor round the table, then easy to clean up! I now have a waiting list of 3 and 5 year olds wanting to come to tea!! and everything gets eaten! Have fun

I had a party like this for DD1 when she was probably 7. I invited about 15 girls besides my own DCs, and no parents or other help.

I thought the pizza-making would take a lot longer than it did, and the oven was absolutely covered in melted cheese by the time the first batch was cooked -- some of the girls really liked cheese Line the bottom of your oven with tin foil or monitor the cheese volume!

I agree with Caspered about the dough. Considering the experience afterwards, I thought if I ever did it again, I would
(A) make up a big batch of dough beforehand.
(B) let them make yet another batch of dough themselves at the party, with all the mixing and kneading involved -- lovely for 4 yos.
(C) put their dough aside to be used as party favours that they could bring home in little plastic bags and bake themselves later.
(D) Used the pre-risen dough for immediate rolling out and topping, avoiding awkward pauses while waiting for dough to rise.

Actually the highlight of the party that I had turned out to be a funeral in the garden for a dead baby bird that had fallen from a nest, as they roamed outside and played on the swing while waiting for the pizzas to bake.

oh no I don't know if your posts are positive or not! party is on sat so at the moment we're doing it unless I think of a better idea but I liked idea as it covered activity and food on tight budget...

anyway - got a bread maker so all dough will be pre made, I'll split it into same size balls to make a 6 inch ish pizza each and then they can roll it out and add toppings themselves, I was totally allowing for mess and for them to have a free for all but not expecting them to take ages to make them, more of a throw it all on and then want to play but I could be wrong

manathanxiety I like the making their own dough idea but would that take ages?? just ordered books as take home gifts instead if party bag tat but no reason not to throw in dough too, I think its more that I won't have enough bowls and space on the day....

I've got pass the parcel and pin tail on donkey planned whilst we wait for dh to cook all the pizza's (he's thrilled by the idea )

verybusyspider, do it and enjoy! I've been doing homemade pizzas with 3dc parties many times and it works very well-like you I have dough made ahead and enough little bowls with sweetcorn, olives,paprika slice etc for children to decorate after pizza sauce-always a hit but sometimes some children do take longer to decorate than others so be prepared and enjoy party!

thanks Megancleo as a kids birthday party virgin I have completely over organised myself! I'm splitting children into 2 groups and one lot will make pizza and one lot party crowns (out of paper plates) now in final stages of planning games, have got hold of a parachute in case every thing finishes too quickly and we need to kill some time... fingers crossed for nice weather!