I invited 17 three-year-olds to my dd's party, and they're all coming!

[specialsmasher]

I sort of thought about a dozen would actually come!

So - I have pass-the-parcel (which will be slow with 17 layers!) and a face-painter friend.

And some sandwiches and cakes...

Is there something else for entertainment which would be simple / fun / wouldn't matter who wanted to play / how many / not likely to cause tears?

I could just have a colouring table or something too?

All tips most gratefully received...

Bloody hell! Feel a little unwell thinking about that!

Dead Lions/ Musical Statues?

Is it really that many? It does sound a lot, doesn't it...

Oh cripes...

Yes - maybe an hour-long game of musical, silent statues...

oh help..!

yes colouring/drawing
make party crowns - cut pointy crown shapes and buy bits to stick on, cut up shiny paper.

singing games where no-one is out - so farmers in the den, hokey cokey, there was a princess long ago

musical bumps/statues (but don't bother about being out at that age

general dancing

and if you have space have some toys out to play with - round up a few ride on toys from friends, or big pile of duplo perhaps

can you borrow a parachute and do parachute games? easy, most kids will join in!

Great ideas, thank you Panda!

Liking the crowns idea - and musical bumps without winners...

I work in a pre-school, and have hosted lots of parties for my own kids...!

Good luck!

If you've got room, DS & friends love hiding in 'tents' under the diner table or under sheets over the back of the sofa. Always keeps them really quiet, esp if we give them a few torches to play camping.

And maybe a couple of story books on stand-by too sit quietly for when they all start to sugar crash towards the end. Maybe rope in other parents for this while you sort out party bags (if you're doing them) and see people off?

Yikes! I hope the party is not going to be held inside?

I went to my niece's 3rd birthday recently and luckily the weather was nice so we were mostly in the garden with the trampoline, sand tray and slide. Pots of bubbles also went down very well.

Maybe split the pass the parcel into two groups? There were only 5 kids at my nieces party but some did get a bit bored/distracted waiting for their turn to take a layer off.

They also made their own party bags, which was a greay success.

DO 2 small rings of pass the parcel they will get bored. Balloons - Large sheet of paper and pencils / crayons.Bubbles, music and dancing. Can somebody teach them a simple dance ?
And Valium for you !

mmmmmmmm valium mmmmmmm

Thanks all - it IS inside but in a small local community centre...

Don't panic! My little boy attended a party for 16 5 year olds and it was fine. Organise some party games outside to use up some of their energy. You could organise a treasure hunt and then some musical games inside followed by a craft activity. There are a couple of good websites that offer great advice:

www.lelloandmonkey.co.uk/

www.partypieces.co.uk/?gclid=CJzE9-XRwKECFQ

Good Luck!

Wendy

If it's in a hall - no problem. Beg, borrow or steal ride-ons, mini trampolines etc and let them play! Blow up balloons and leave them around the room and that will keep them amused too.

If you want to do something organisedsdo Hokey kokey, head shoulders etc and maybe sitting in a circle with all the children and mums and doing some action songs.

Have fun!

Avoid games which require turn taking (like pass the parcel I am afraid) as kids get bored.

Treasure hunts in teams are great especially if you have outside space plus 2old4thislark's suggestions.

There are two keys - one, plan well and two, have lots of help.

After that my advice would be have things for the children to do as they arrive, like balloons.

Energetic games first then eat, then quieter stuff like story time.

Action stories and songs are good, like Bear Hunt.

Are they 2 going on 3 or 3 going on 4?! It makes a difference!

If you have an outside space, you could make the sandwiches and cakes into a picnic - put blankets down and go for it! Actually, you could do that inside too! It's best too plan too much and have backups in case things don't pan out how you think they will, so colouring in sheets and plenty of crayons.

If youve got a few parents staying, then decorating fairy cakes can be fun (and messy!)