OS birthday party

smitty2702

Hi and Happy Birthday to your LO!
I will be in the same situation with DS who will be 3 next month.

a few tips for you!!
NO longer than 2hrs Max
If parents do leave take phone numbers and DO call with any problems, you arent a creche!! preferably at age 3 get parents to stay!

Games, not too many as they get bored easily.
Pass the parcel and musical statues also hide and seek! worked well when my DD was this age.

Crafts are good! we made paper hats before a party and let kids decorate them (outside on a big sheet) using glue, glitter, feathers etc.. they can then wear them for the food.

Food, dont try anything adventurous as they are notoriusly picky!
sausages, sausage rolls, pizza, strawberries, breadsticks, mini sandwiches, chicken nuggets, jelly and crisps usually go well, Maybe make some ice lollies if the weathers due to be hot.

party bags - again dont put too much in, cake obviously, a couple of sweeties or raisin packs, novelties that have gone down well my end have been bubble packs, bouncy balls, skipping ropes, mini notepads and pencils.

have fun!

Claire

mum2kathryn

Thanks to everyone for the great ideas and suggestions!
I really am banking on the weather being fine as there is a big difference between having half-a-dozen + 3 year olds in your garden to in your living room!
I'm expecting the parents to stay, I know most of them fairly well anyway, but do you think I should stipulate that on the invitation?

And there won't be any balloons as I have a phobia of them!
Not sure how I'll cope with other kids' parties!!!

rosieben

My kids had home birthday parties as was the norm in the olden days! We always enjoyed it, kept food fairly simple, roped in a couple of adults for help with games and always lucky with the weather so we could have games in the garden. The only take home things were a balloon each and a slice of cake, also party hat if it survived the party!

This is a great thread and I've nothing to add except I wish that my kids were still young so I could do it all over again. :j

Targanielle

mum2kathryn wrote: »

I'm expecting the parents to stay, I know most of them fairly well anyway, but do you think I should stipulate that on the invitation?

Yes I do!! From experience, there'll always be one or two that will try to 'drop and run' if you don't specify on the invite that parents are to stay!

Good luck and have fun and (especially since they're 3 year olds) you can't go wrong if you keep the KISS principle in mind for both food and games

earthmother

It's my eldest's party on Saturday - he'll be 6, and it's going to be OS


The party's for 2 hours over lunchtime (better than teatime as they're more awake and less likely to get grumpy).

I'm planning on an hour of active games (thank you CrazyChick for your games - I was short by about 20 minutes), then food for half an hour, with a final half an hour of calmer games bring them back 'down', lol.

I've also got a load of craft stuff together for the quieter ones, or for anyone who needs to catch their breath.


Food is simple - cheese or ham sandwiches, sausage rolls/mini picnic eggs/crisps, cubes of cheese, Party Rings/jammie dodgers/jaffa cakes and a bowl of jelly & ice cream. There will be carrot sticks, lettuce, grapes and chunks of banana for the healthier options, but whether that will get touched is yet to be seen (not by my lot I'd like to bet, lol).


Party bags have been filled by eBay (toy cars/bouncy balls) and the Book People mainly, with a chunk of cake courtesy of Asda (they do the cheapest traybakes), a small choccy bar and box of dried fruit.

In fact I'm spending the next two days making the bags as the books are too big for normal ones - Instore/Poundstretcher has some lovely plain coloured wrapping paper at £1 a roll, so I'll make some paper bags from that.


If you want reuseable plates/bowls/cups, then Ikea is the best bet - the Kalas range is 99p for 6 pieces, and they're dishwasher safe - cheaper in the long run, and better for the environment.





I love the idea of the teddy bears picnic - might pinch that for one of his younger brothers

earthmother

Nearly forgot - if anyone's going for a sport's day type thing, Tesco Direct have a Sports Day Set in the toy section at £4.78 (don't forget Quidco) - sack race, egg and spoon, three legged and bean bags for 4, plus chequered flag.

And Asda sell winners medals (think Jim'll Fix It) in the party section - less than a pound for 8

mum2kathryn

earthmother wrote: »

It's my eldest's party on Saturday - he'll be 6, and it's going to be OS

Thanks for your post - hope your lo enjoys his party!

The party's for 2 hours over lunchtime (better than teatime as they're more awake and less likely to get grumpy).

Hmm, I was wondering about that - having it in the afternoon would give me more time to get ready, (I'm not very organised!) but wonder if dd will have had an excitement melt down by then!

If you want reuseable plates/bowls/cups, then Ikea is the best bet - the Kalas range is 99p for 6 pieces, and they're dishwasher safe - cheaper in the long run, and better for the environment.

I'd already got my eye on those - I work very near the new Manchester IKEA so will pop in after work one day. Wonder if they'll have anything to go in party bags? I did have this great idea having seen cheap plastic watering cans on the Nursery and Toys website that I'd get some of them, put sweets in them and hand them out one each, but the postage is quite a lot and doubles the price!

I love the idea of the teddy bears picnic - might pinch that for one of his younger brothers

I like that idea too, but dd's favourite is a monkey, so maybe we can have a jungle picnic!!

earthmother

I know Nottingham Ikea had the SOT soft toys reduced the other week from 49p each to 10p each. They're in one of the big wooden bins with the portholes at Nottingham - I'd assume it will be the same in the other branches.


My three (the birthday boy, and his 3.5 and 1 year old brothers) all had a set (four different ones) each, so I'm sure they'd go down well with your age group

morganb

Morning time is definitely best for a party; I have done afternoons and had to cope with hyperactive toddlers but the morning party I had this year was excellent; and everything was tidy and everyone had gone home again by 1245 ... leaving me the afternoon to enjoy a glass or two of white zinfandel.
Now that's what I call a successful party.