OMG - every dc I've invited to dd birthday party has said yes...

[proudmum74]

Hi!

In an attempt to give dd as normal a childhood as possible, I decide in what was clearly a moment of blind optimism/pure stupidity to invite all the dc from her play groups to her 1st birthday party at our house.

Whilst I'm obviously thrilled that dd appears to be popular enough with the 'nt' that they all want to come, what on earth am I going to do with that many toddlers in the house at one time?? Help!!!

panic? Oh it'll be lovely, at least at that age all the parents stay and help out.

That's good! Enjoy your day, I hope the sun shines for you. :)

Grab a cheap bubble machine from tesco with plenty of bubble mixture and chuck them all in the garden with it along with a load of ice cream and jelly! Have a fab day!

Good idea Chundle! It definitely beats my idea of trying to persuade them to play 'dead donkies' for 2 hours!!

That's great, I'm sure your dd will have a fantastic time.

How many are coming?

Best parties we've had for toddlers have been ones with a couple of craft activities.

One year (ds1 was three and ds2 was 1 - birthday's a week apart) we did an easter theme, I bought wind up jumping eggs from Baker Ross in packs of six, along with some googly eyes and stickers and they all decorated their own. We also did colour-in-a-windmill-on-a-stick which was really popular. I found that the children tended to do this in shifts with their Mum or dad, so set the tables up to do about six at a time of each activity Some played with balloons and bubbles in the other room, while others did the craft activities.

Another year we did Thomas the Tank Engine (I had two boys until dd arrived two years ago) and I made train and carraige shaped biscuits, supplied little tubes of icing (from Tesco or Sainbury's) as various sweets and sprinkles and they all decorated their own.

I've never done traditional party games and the parties always seem to go down well.

A lovely idea from my postnatal thread is, instead of succumbing to the pressure of party bag contents, just put in a piece of the birthday cake and set up a lucky dip that the children can choose one wrapped up gift from on their way out the door. Little children love this and it avoids the pressure to put in lots sweets and toys etc.

i just got bubble machine for £8 from tesco its fab you could always get a cheap paddling pool and fill it with little balls as well and make sort of a ballpool for them. hope weather is good for you - else you will have sticky bubble mix all over your lounge :)

One of the best partys we have ever had was at a church hall as im not as brave as you and house is tiny :)
we had a paddling pool full of balls and one full of shreaded paper, a bubble machiene and lots of ride on toys.
maybe icing biscuits, sponge painting, sticking and glueing and pass the parcle and some music kids will make their own fun have fun and enjoy

Thank you everyone so much for all the really great suggestions! I'm off to Tesco's to get a bubble machine, paddling pool & balls! :)

MOOSEMAMA
Thats a great idea the easter theme I will try and get some wind up jumping eggs.
Thanks for starting the thread PROUDMUM I was stuck for ideas my dd s party is in 3 weeks and I am also so pleased most of the children are coming.
Hope your party goes well

Happydayyay

I got mine from here they do lots of other Easter themed stuff as well here.

The design-your-own windmills were ridiculously popular with the little ones as well here.

My boys still have the eggs they decorated and they'll be 9 and 7 this April.

Thanks again just looked on that site the windmills are a great idea.
Dd is going to be five so the things you have said will be just right.
That has helped Moosemama.