Have Birthday party for my daughters 3rd birthday!! Help

lnjk

I am doing a 3rd birthday party in the house for my little sweetheart (sometimes) and would like some suggestions on party bags and games and even food. I usually do Brewsters or places like that and this is the first one I have done in the house, so please help as many suggestions as possible please!
Thanks

hjb123

When I was young (not really that long since) partybags were pretty basic compared to some nowadays! I personally would just go along to the local 'home bargains store' or 'poundland' and stock up on loads of little knick knacks there - it will be surprising what you will be able to pick up there.

I guess 3 year olds will be into everything so make sure there are plenty of adults about to help! I think at that age it would be best to keep to the old basic games - pass the parcel - gosh it is so long since i played that!

Pop along to the local library and you will probably be able to look through books on childrens parties!

H

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Jazzy_B

Claire's Accesories are great for party bags when they have offers on. Two weeks ago I got £1 bracelets for 25p each.
Packets of flower seeds went down well this time last year. They were 3 for 99p in Morrisons. This was for 4 year olds.
Asda also do small cheap packs of pencils and their notebooks are around 9p.
In Poundland you can get a pack of 20 glow sticks. I only put 1 per party bag and kids were thrilled with them.
I spend about £1 per child on the bags and they're filled to overflowing. I don't bother with printed party bags. I'd rather use value sandwich bags and stick in an extra packet of Haribo.
The first party I did, I got ideas for games from the web. Pin the tail on the donkey or similar (I do a target and give each blindfolded child a sticker), pass the parcel and musical bumps always go down well.They also love wrapping kneeling adults in toilet roll in small teams ,the most covered wins. Have plenty of balloons lying around so that when things lull or get too excitable,they can either bash them to each other, balance them or bounce them in time to music. I'm sure you can think of others.
My usual party menu is small sandwiches,(ham, cheese,nothing too fancy) using one piece of bread per child, cocktail sausages, crisps, small iced cakes,crispie cakes and a few bowls of sweets.
The first party I did I wasted loads by buying all sorts of different sweet stuff. The kids took everything, but would just take a bite here and a lick there.
If I can think of anything else, I'll let you know.
Good luck.

across

i've done happy meals at home!! so easy and no mess! i just sent hubby out to drive in to pick it all up and kids are very happy and at £1.99 each and no hassle of party food i recommend it! you can phone the order through and then go through drive in and pick up as normal! :j worth every penny!

calmgirl

start big and they want it to get bigger as they get older. afriend of ours had a Limo for their 7 yes 7 Year old last year. When i was younger i was happy that i was invited.
As for the party bags, make sure they will make the kids hyper active puke up in the car on the way home and that something can stick to their best top that will never come of

lnjk

Thanks to everyone who has given me ideas. The mcdonalds idea is fab..think I will go with that one..Thanks very much across!!. I also think I will take up Calmgirls idea for the partybags...I love my kids so much but how great are kids when you want to have a laugh..intentially or not!!!! heheh.

Please keep giving me ides as it is still a week away so the more ideas the better.


Thanks
:):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

postingalwaysposting

can you get hold of brown paper bags, the ones that you get in takeaways shops etc with the sturdy handles to use as party bags, you can then decorate the bags with a colouring in picture (easy to print out from clipart/online) and add some crayons to the party bag and that way the bag isnt wasted

fairylights_2

We had a pirate party for my son's 3rd birthday. I downloaded a treasure map in black and white from the internet and printed it out a few times. We then had colouring for everyone to do. At three, they don't really get party games so well yet to do pin the tail etc. Pass the parcel we manage, but everything else is just a bit difficult. this way they all had something to take home. I love the idea of decorate your own party bags though - no confusion whose is whose!

As far as food goes, even McDs for a bundle of three year olds is going to cost a lot. We made sandwiches with ham, cheese and pickle, and then used cookie cutters to make boat, train and car shapes, so they all had fab sarnies without having to eat the crusts - which they never want to eat. A big pack of cheese savouries, a big pack of wotsits or something similar and they're happy. Pick up a sleeve of plastic beakers, if you've not already got some. A funsize pack of chocolate bars/buttons, and then cake afterwards. Less than £5 for the whole thing.

The other thing we did is after they blew out the candles, served the cake then. You know if you don't it'll just sit in the birthday bag getting mushed and forgotten - plus I never understood when I was a child why they showed you this yummy looking cake and then took it away again!

As far as partybags go, I picked up a set of books on special (helps when you sell them) and gave each child a box of raisins, a book and a pack of iced gems. They don't need a lot of stuff (in fact, I HATE coming home with party bags full of rubbish!)

Have a good one!

lnjk

This is really great. I am getting lots of fab ideas. I will have to decide tomorrow excatly hwat I am doing as I work the rest of the week I will so go into town and see what bargains I can get!!

Thanks everyone
:):):):):):):):):)

across

fairylights: mcdonalds £1.99 a piece is not expensive compared to when you go to a ball pit for twice the price (which is what ive done when she was four!)! it depends if you want the fuss of having to make it all, some people love making buffets and cleaning up the mess so that is a great idea if youre into that i prefer to have it easy even if it costs a bit more everybody can choose to do it their own way i was just suggesting what i have done and it was great i could just concentrate on having fun with the kids! they have a toy in the happy meal and then all they need is a piece of cake and send them home with a balloon each so i'm not left with houseful of balloons going dusty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! good luck! hope it is of use to somebody (i'm sure it will be!)

fairylights_2

I'm sorry - I wasn't having a go - just offering a cheap catering idea!