Childrens Birthday Party - questions & ideas (merged)

mummysaver

My son has just turned 12, and for his birthday "party" he is going paintballing with a couple of friends, using Tesco vouchers to pay for this, and the paintball place keeps Sundays for children so him and his friends will be put in a team with others and hopefully have lots of fun.

As his birthday is just after Christmas pressies are always difficult, but this year I got him a Gamecube (see Argos board £49.99 with a game), he has a PS2 but the GC plays different games such as Mario and other more child friendly (but still very popular) titles. They also have a game thingy that plugs into the telly by Nintendo that's about £6.49 - I've just reserved one (have just checked, it's called Arcade Legends Street Fighter), was originally £20.00 I think, so a great extra!

Otherwise would go for the MP3 or phone option, gadgets are always popular with my son - one of his best pressies was a Maglite and penknife set! Or how about an inflatable sofa and mini fridge for his room - at least whilst he's being a grotty teenager you won't have to see so much of him!

I thought that paintballing would be the extent of my ds's party, as they feed them there, but no, he wants videos and food and a sleepover. So I shall be trying the curry idea above, sounds nice and simple!

Not too sure about a cake - you could try making a Simpson's one, the heads look fairly simple, or just go for a large chocolate gateaux. Or if he's been upsetting you lately you could try a teddy cake brought out in front of his friends - only joking!

Good luck, and don't believe that he only has a couple of friends, boys this age just seem to mooch about together rather than behave like friends, at least he's not a girl, my dds' are always falling out with assorted friends, which does make parties very awkward to organise, you never know who will still be talking to whom!

wendyl1967

freebie_junkie wrote:

was the buffet at buffet king in bolton? am i the only person who reads teh sign as 'bullet king' coz a knife and fork is supposed to be two 'f's?!

no it was the one in Preston.

I love Bolton by the way. I go every year with a friend for a full day and evenings Christmas shopping. We shop till we drop

silverfoxdude

Aww thanks everyone. Great ideas there, they'll keep me going for the next few birthdays!!

We took him paintballing last summer, and the little monkey only got more balls from the steward while we werent looking, so an extra twenty odd quid on the bil, haha. The pictures idea is not ruled out because it would be great to go for a meal after, so thanks for that too. The sleepover, 'all you can eat' food, and games/videa's is probably what I'll opt for this year. He does have plenty of friends, but not the sort I'd let in the house, bit naughty they are!! (they'd prob try to nick mi tv under mi nose!!)

I might try to make a playstation cake, with controls and a game at the side. Might not though, bit ambitious, so I'll prob take the photo into asda.

I'll try the boots suggestion as he has all mp3, consoles, mini fridge.

Thanks again, you've really helped. xx

Alleycat

Just thought I would say a HUGE THANK YOU to purplepurple for the suggestion of Baker Ross. There are soo many fab ideas for stuff not just for party bags but little presents for birthdays and christmas!

That one has definately been added to my favourites!

ysoskint

I have hired a hall for my son's 4th birthday. My problem is, I don't have lots of cash to throw at this party. I want him to have fun and he is very excited about having his first party. Please help.

The hall was very reasonable as it's during the week.
Any idea's for cheap decorations, cheap (but not gross) food, cheap party bag ideas and any idea's for games.

Any tips on how to have a party without breaking the bank, would be really appricated. Thank you.

Elliebabe

Don't go over board with the food - 4 year olds don't tend to eat much and you don't want over excited sick children.

I had a party for my daughter and my Friend and I made up bottles of Robinson juice (instead of buying expensive fruit shoots), we went ot Asda and managed to pick up reasonable own brands of sausage rolls, crisps, we made sandwiches and little pots of Jelly.

Party bags we bought big packs of pencils and pencil toppers and put them in bags - good time of year to get plenty of cheap goodies.

Buy plain cups and plates and then buy a party table cloth (you don't notice the plain cup and plates then)

Trick is not to go overboard the kids are just happy if they have a great time they don't notice the other things!

Hope this helps

Charlie1986

ysoskint wrote:

I have hired a hall for my son's 4th birthday. My problem is, I don't have lots of cash to throw at this party. I want him to have fun and he is very excited about having his first party. Please help.

The hall was very reasonable as it's during the week.
Any idea's for cheap decorations, cheap (but not gross) food, cheap party bag ideas and any idea's for games.

Any tips on how to have a party without breaking the bank, would be really appricated. Thank you.

Try asda or sainsburys for party food and perhaps make sandwiches, sausage rolls etc ? I no a while ago they did so many sausage roll packets/chicken nuggets etc for aroud £5 ( Not sure if they still do this). Also try ebay for decorations ? i have also used this company here and found them very good and delivery was fast aswel. For party bags perhaps you could put a small toy or perhaps crayons and a colouring book and some sweets in. A ballon at the end always seems to go down well too. And i always loved passed the parcel and musical chairs when i was younger. Hope this helps i don't know to much about kids partys, its a long way off for when i have to arrange one :rotfl:

cannyscot_2

On my son's next birthday he will be 4 and I have started getting stuff for the party -which will be in a hall with games.

1. Asda-cheap spiderman game 99p -like pin the tail on the donkey but spider stickers on spiderman.

2. also very cheap balloons, plates, cups and plain blue plastic table cloths and napkins.
3. plastic table cloths are good as usually you have to clean up the hall afterwards.
4.have bought half price boys style pencil /pad set in a little carry bag -reduced in local newsagenst (RS McColls) to 49p so can just give that without expense and bother of party bag and extra sweets -with my older child's party -bought sweets /pencils etc and it all adds.

5. also bought for 49p toy for pass parcel -they all love it at that age-lots of wrap-can just use newspaper-they don't know the difference and put a small sweet in each wrapper so they can be included. and wrap the actual in nice paper so you know when you are at the final parcel.

6. Make some colour shapes/cartoons from comics/wrapping paper-stick them with blue tack on walls of hall and then game to find them / or first to find spiderman etc

7. for deoration for the hall we usually just clour theme ballons to table cloth ie blue /white or red etc and put up a few birthday banners can be cheaper at the market stall card shops or the cheap card shops -clintons i think! (about 50p for 2)

8. Food definately do limited choice and cheap and cheerful -even as they get older they still like plain sandwiches like ham (always some child that will only eat jam or cheese so need veggie option) and sausage rolls some biscuits-party rings and cheap jam rings/bourbons,caburys fingers (Bogof somewhere) and bowls of crisps -and an cheap but e number free ice lolly if there is a freezer goes down well.

9. Drinks -just fill big bottle diluting juice up ready -one orange /one blackcurrant.


Good Luck-I have organised my older children's parties -about seven or eight now and it pays to be very organised and have the games prepared -or it gets a bit stressy !!-well a lot -if you have any break small boys just run round mad -so avoid all colours and additives

Alleycat

There is a sticky above with loads of party ideas merged from other threads that may be useful. There is also a link somewhere in there to ideas for food from the moneysaving old style board.

cannyscot_2

ysoskint

I thought of you today! In Birthdays shop they have balloon table cloths reduced to 49p and packs of matching bowls for 25p plus some decorations cheap. i got a nice little haul for £3 and I might send my hubby in his lunch hour to investigate another brthday shop-oh plus if you are sticking to party bags they had six little yoyos etc/funny glasses for 20p a pack.