Etiquette for Birthday Parties in Reception - gulp

[Eggrules]

Hopefully some of you will have experience of children's parties and can help.

My DS has a class of 22. As there were only 2 kids he didn't specifically add list to invite, we asked them all. There are 5 others coming from nursery so 27 in all (yikes). So far 17 have responded with 2 weeks to go.

The party is in a church hall and space is limited. I was expecting a parent to stay with the child. A mum asked today if she could bring her other child. I was a bit but said I would need to see how the numbers go.

My DS is an only. Question is - will people bring siblings without asking?
Anything else I should be aware of?

vmcd28 I am so glad that a pre-prepared lunch worked OK. How old was DS and how many children did you have?

Thinking of Cheese wrap, mini smartie cupcake (his best and favourite cake ), bourbon biscuit, quavers and juice box. I think I will do a few extra plates of ham sandwiches, jam sandwiches and biscuits that I will put on the tables. Got some mini cakes, extra crisps and cold drinks for adults.

it was DS's 6th bday, and there were around 25 kids, if I remember rightly? You sound well prepared, and the lunchboxes sound great. Dont worry too much, cos ultimately the kids will have a great time, whatever they get given to eat. And I've never ever heard a parent bitch about food etc thats on offer (and I've been to a few parties where the kids got hardly anything)
:)

T minus 3 days. I wish the adults were behaving as well as most of the kids...

Thanks vmcd28 About the same age and number of guests. I have never bitched about food that is on offer. I do hate the idea that some kids will get more than their fair share and waste it. Hopefully this will be the best of both worlds.

I have bought 2 extra plain birthday cakes to cut and put into party bags before we go.

I've done food boxes several times. In advance I have asked for a sandwich and drink choice on the RSVP (giving 3 choices for each) and then made them up. Not taken anything extra for siblings though, but then that is pretty obvious from the invite if there is an rsvp asking for options I guess. It's always worked really well.

TheQueenOfDenial - we have experienced the opposite with food boxes excitement at own food box (esp as most of our guests don't have packed lunch option at school), far less waste, far less fussing. I definitely recommend them. And left ofters can always be sent home with the child if they want to finish later.

Hulababy - I'm glad to hear food boxes worked well. I really do thing it will be less wasteful and easier to organise.

eeek - Party is TOMORROW

good luck! dd had a party last week - 33 kids who were invited and 6 siblings and a guest cousin turned up!!!!! i did 36 party boxes and bags but had a separate table with limited crisps, sandwiches, biscuits for the adults which the siblings picked at. 3 invited kids didnt turn up so younger siblings got their party bags - you are totally not expected to cater for siblings. in our box i did:

2 triangle sandwiches - one ham, one cheese
snack bag containing 3 mini sausages
hula hoops
box of raisins
cup cake

jugs of juice/water

then did jelly and ice cream afterwards. the boxes went down well but we had an entertainer and kids loved him so HARDLY touched a thing!!! i def over worried about the food!

Have lots of adults to help as making tea/coffee for adults is time consuming as is getting the food out, cutting and wrapping cake etc

just read the last few pages of the thread and i definitely think its cheaper and easier to do boxes- the kids loved them at mine! I wouldnt worry about what they like/dislike or what adults think - give them the basics - if they dont eat it its no big deal. I never expect my kids to get a proper meal at a party - more a snack. I allocated 20 mins for food (entertainer ran party and only allocated this- was a big rushed though).

Dont expect to have time to enjoy the party yourself!! I thought i would doing party boxes but keeping drinks topped up, cutting cake, passing out drinks, water, etc takes more time than you think.

have fun!

Good luck with the party, don't forget a last minute list of things to bring, like the time we forgot bottle opener @ dd2 baptism. Am sure it will all be fine and ds will have lots of fun! Enjoy, oh don't forget to assign another adult as chief photographer so you get a record, as you probably won't remember in the rush. Looking forward to hearing all about it.

I bought 2 plain birthday cakes and have already cut them up and put them in party bags - it took fecking ages Sunnyday123. Have another cake for candle blowing.

I have done a very simple bag and have extras to bring around and give out if they are still hungry.

3duracellbunnies - Great reminder. Just checked and batteries are flat so we have a chance to get some tomorrow.

MATCHES!!

I speak as someone who's mum was trying to light kitchen roll off an oven hob as none of the adults at DS's party smoked. In the end my friend ran round to a nearby house for matches.

There were 32 kids at DS's 5yo party. I think it went well, was too busy to mingle but all the parents are still talking to me.

I put out tins of celebrations / Heroes for parents to pick at.

Get wine in for tomorrow evening.

Fir fecks sake MATCHES cheers Meglet

Wine is in the fridge - dentist for abscess treatment on Monday boo!

Good luck! Have been following your thread! Oh yes, we left the stuff that was in our fridge in our fridge and had to go back for it, so don't do that!!!!!

Good luck for Tomorrow, hope all goes well.
Bin bags for clearing up and for transporting presents

Check fridge and binbags - check.

Off to bed; thanks for the good luck messages. I need it.

Phew - we had a fab time and DS loved it.

Thanks for all of your comments and viewpoints .

. 20/29 came, 9 no shows, extra siblings were invited to sit at the food table;
. 2 children were dropped off = no problem;

. Not only did all other parents stay; most people came as a couple - (at lot of babies and toddlers).
. A couple of siblings were sent over to ask for a party bag, plenty to go around. Not sure they were suitable for tiddlers though.

Dare I say it may have been easier NOT to have parents? I was worried about taking loads of kids to the toilet and leaving others in the hall just with DH. If parents aren't helpful they may as well drop off.

Best advice was from Queen of Denial grace and goodwill even in the face of spectacular rudeness. Most people came and had a fab time, were watchful of their children and really enjoyed the show. In one or two cases no good deed goes unpunished. All the kids were fab and loads of fun xoxo

Great, well done, glad you all had a good time!

Hurrah! Well done

Its worth it when the child in question enjoys it so much!!

Well done and glad it went well after all your planning. I must say I am tempted to concur re parents, especially as you had so many, they tend to assume someone else is helping so they can chat, and when their kid needs them are too busy yacking to notice. It sounds as if they all enjoyed it, you will be Queen of Parties on Monday! Time to start planning next year's one!

96% of people had the best time. The remaining 4% of people prove that you can't please everyone.

We only had 15 mins left at the end and so put music on for a dance.

Thanks Elibean and 3duracellbunnies

Birthday boy had the best time and that is all that matters.

I think next year 's will be smaller. In the meantime I will practise with having friends over for tea.

sounds like a great success

It was great thanks.

I'm so glad I started this thread as it gave much needed forewarning that expectations and behaviours are so very different. It made it easier not to react to rudeness. I now know that I am a very low maintenance kind of gal.

If I ever did a party with invitations I would ask for RSVP yes or no by text so I have contact details. One drop off didn't rsvp or leave details -very well behaved kiddo though.

Well done! Glad you had a good time.