Childrens b/day parties OS or not?

Mrsbojangles_2

Awww thanks soo much guys, you have really come up trumps with some fab ideas, I really appreciate it. I'm going to ring around some village halls tomorrow to find out how much it would cost to hire, have definately decided that I am too nervous to let 15-20 7 yr old run riot in my house, I wouldn't be able to relax and will feel stressed out which won't be fair on my daughter or me.

Thanks again, will let you know what I come up withx

Sarahsaver

If you have a lot of kids around they tend to entertain themselves;)
Made a huge chocolate mud cake for ds's birthday today, he is SO excited.
Done most of the food and goodies so far under £15:)

ladygrey_2

chocolate mudcake sounds delicious, have you a recipe for it please?

Sarahsaver

I will dig it out later;)
It went down a treat!

Mellika

When my older brothers were little, in the 70's, my parents were quite poor. So for birthday parties food they started doing hot chocolate with churros (a type of doughnut). The first time they were very nervous thinking the kids wouldn't like that instead of usual party food. Well the kids absolutely loved it and couldn't wait to 'have another one'.

We did it again when I turned 11, in the 90's. We all had hot chocolate and churros, and watched a Disney film. It was great.

Edited to add: to make churros you have to push the dough through a tin 'shaper'. So all the kids would get in line and push to make one, then run to the back of the line to do it again. I wonder if that was the part they loved most. I guess a lot of parents don't involve their children in cooking...

All my birthday parties have been "traditional" because that's what was normal in Argentina. Parents rarely have to rent a hall, food is never an issue in Argentina (basically make sure there's lots available and you'll be fine!) and as for entertainment, we played games and every once in a while get a family friend/uncle to dress up as a clown...

Had my nephew's 3rd birthday party yesterday. For the 3rd time we all went to a soft play centre. And yet again it was one of the most boring birthday parties I've been to, in my life. My other nephew has turned one, we just had a small party at his grandma's house. And that was nice and fun for all involved.

Expensive definitely does NOT mean more fun

scaredy_cat_2

Hi, i have done all parties at home so far (DDs are 5 and 3) I have hired a bouncy castle but only cos my daughter was always too scared to go on it with other people, we had it all day and invited people around before the party too.

But i have also done making pizza, decorating biscuits, and just good old party games - musical statues and pass the parcel. I found they love the dressing up box and someone else's toys. I even dared to buck the trend at the party where i hired a castle and didn't give out party bags - i thought i had spent enough on entertaining them and gave out a piece of cake to take home!!!

I also put food out on the table and then the children sat on blankets in the living room - we then moved desert in to their for them.

We had a great time and it was not expensive. When warmer days they have played in the garden as well. I also do have a go at making birthday cakes - my children always seem to know what they are however bad!!

I have had comments from parents on how nice to have a home party and my children always lose their friends at playbarns. I have to say i love planning them.

HTH

Bunny200

I and my kids prefer the traditional party games kinda parties, soft play areas mean that everyone scatters and you are just paying for a bunch of kids to play on their own! I came across this podcast yesterday which plays musical statues, musical chairs, pass the parcel & sleeping lions for 10 kids with breaks in the music. Its really good the girls and I had a pretend party passing an imaginary present yesterday (I won lol!) This year for YD we did an an entertainer who does traditional games and it was excellent, we hired a hall and organised the food. It was still expensive but we enjoyed it more than soft play type parties. Thankfully don't have to worry about them time December now, although usually start thinking and planning in Oct!!!!!!!!!!!

narabanekeater

just for intrest does anyone know how much a clown or similar would be for an hour?