garden party for 7 year old. Ideas please

3v3

peachyprice wrote: »

And don't forget a back-up plan for if it's piddling down

Or borrow a very large tent

(I bought one of those white marquees from B&Q back in March for my garden party back up plan - it was reduced in price and its a good size too!)

Mrs.W_2

If you plan to give out a loot bag at the end of the party, Poundland is great for multipacks of bubbles, shiny pencils, stickers. And a slice of birthday cake each fills the bag nicely!

Music always adds to the atmosphere of a party, and allows you to play musical statues. Again, one of those 'staying' parents could be put in charge of the volume button and judging who's the first to move.

As prizes for the games, I have a bowl of penny sweeties the kids can dip in if they win. If there were any problems with one or more of the kids eating sweets, I made up some fancy-looking certificates in Word
(e.g: ~..............~ Won Musical Statues at XXXX's Birthday Party)
with the name line blank. Then just filled in the name of the winner as the other kids cheered the winner.

Mrs.W_2

3v3 wrote: »

Or borrow a very large tent

(I bought one of those white marquees from B&Q back in March for my garden party back up plan - it was reduced in price and its a good size too!)

Our local Freecycle group has a number of those marquees doing the rounds of various parties during the summer months. Being given or lent.

It's always worth posting a request on FC for the money it'll save.

shy-but-need-help

I have not had a single party for my kids when I've been able to stop and enjoy, (done 35 birthday parties between the 5 of them now! - shocking to add that up actually!) I do rope my SILs in to help out, I'm fortunate in that DH's sisters will just pick up and start helping when they arrive which does help take some of the pressure off though so don't be afraid to ask people for help (been to plenty of parties where I've been happy to help rather than just sit there) I'd also let people know you're happy for kids to be left if they don't want to stick around, age 7 is plenty old enough for that (by age 7 it was generally only the parents of DS1's friends from his special needs groups that stayed or parents who had bought a younger sibling along as well as the same-age-as-party-child guest)

Water guns would be fun but warn parents in advance, gives them a chance to dress accordingly or warn you if they have a child who'd prefer not to join in with that bit.

Bubbles are all good for outdoor parties too. We did dd3's party in the garden in may and found they entertained themselves by frog catching! (garden was absolutely hopping with them and apparently none of the other guests had much interaction with frogs before where as my lot are used to them invaded yearly!) which I guess proves they will entertain themselves at that age with a garden and music.

you can replace party bags with garden toys they can use at the party and take home afterwards- you can get skipping ropes 2 for £1 in poundland (or nicer ones for £1 each in tesco) bubble swords for £2 each in tesco (bit like light sabres and have coloured bubble liquid in) water guns... they'd all have something to keep then and less likely to be lost/thrown as alot of small party bag stuff is.