Childrens Birthday Party - questions & ideas (merged)

Mr_Rhubarb

There's a whole page full of useful tips you can print off at
http://www.professorparadox.co.uk/party_tips.htm

lawrie28

we got our eldest daughter (4yr old) the Fisher Price Digital Arts and Crafts Studio for christmas. Was £30 at argos, although they reduced it to £20 in the sale. Don't know if they still stokc it, I couldn't find it and amazon had it for £40 which is possibly a bit steep. Anyway, you plug it inot the PC, and it lets the kids draw and colour etc. Quite handily it also locks the keyboard and mouse, so they can't destroy any other data. It comes with a lot of arts and craft ideas,, inlcuding party invites, hats, crowns etc. It also comes with a set of themes, like fairytales, sports etc, so you can use these designs to make your invites, hats, placemats, place names etc personalised, but professional. You can do thank you letters, thnak you cards, write stories and all manner of other things. It's ideal for doing things for a party, as your kids can help, and it's al indiviual and very professional. You can also buy software upgrades that give you Disney princess, DOra and Diego (probably more than that, not checked recently, and really cheap from the states) to offer more scope. I know it's alot if you just use it for the party, but call it an early birthday present and beleive me, they will be occupied for hours and hours on it. Had it out on christmas day and the neighbours kids didn't move away from it for ages with everything it had on their. THeir eldest bought one with his christmas money he liked it that much. Maybe ebay would be a good place. It really is a long term toy, and helps the kids with using computers (my 2 year old loves it). Of course it does mean that I can't use the laptop when I want to.........

Also after Halloween sales got multi packs of Play dough (16 small tubs) for less than £1 at tesco. bargain party bag stuff.

Ooh and one party we went to had a chocolate fountain. Very messy, but it kept the kids quiet for ages, an at least they ate the fruit that the had dipped. You must know someone who has one buried in a cupboard to borrow......

liz_uk

If you have a Brewsters or another kids play centre near you.. they most likely have someone there who does face painting.

There was a girl in our local brewsters who did the most amazing face painting ever!! So i approached her to do my daughters party.

She charged me £25 for the full two hours, and was a real hit !!

I know its cheeky, but its cheap !!

dizzyliz

Hi

I have completely forgot to organise a party for my daughter turning 9. life so busy, working full time and having a toddler also. her birthday is 4th march

anyways - does anyone know of any disco type parties or any other ideas appreciated?

Thanks

RuthB73

Hi

DS2 will be 10 on 4th March - he will be away on a school trip for the week so I'm not doing anything on the day. He went to a birthday do at LaserQuest a couple of weeks ago and has another to go to on 9th March. He has the bug and is begging me to let him have one as well. Thing is we are REALLY strapped for cash this month and I just can't afford it, he understands but I feel soooo guilty about it cos we've never really done him a birthday party(he's not been one to make friends easily until this year at school and suddenly he's popular!!). I've suggested a sleepover or birthday party at home but he really isn't interested (he was sooo disappointed he has been crying himself to sleep). Does anyone have any ideas of what I can do to make it up to him which is farily cheap and loads of fun for a bunch of 10 yo boys?

I was thinking of 8th March - I know really sort notice for a lot of places.

billionairelizzie

The best parties i did for my boys were themed, and a great one for the boys is 'soilders' you could get them 'ration packs' for food and you dont have to spend loads, you can do sausages and if you have a garden a 'captain' could be in charge of a fire or BBQ and help them cook their sausages etc.. get some face paint and get them all camaflarged up then run an assualt course, not sure if you have a garden but we had a night hunt (had a dvd and pop corn hidden, with sweets on route that they could bank, then trade with others at the end and they had the DVD to watch and calm down ) if you get each boy to bring a torch they love it, not sure how brave you are but we put a tent up and this was 'base command' gave them and safe but little bolt hole and a rest for us in the house!!!:T and have a look at this for birthday cake ideas i make them myself with just numbers using foam/poly insultation and cut the number them just do the sweets as the picture!!! whatever you do have fun:rotfl: :rotfl:

sorry can only do this link but if you go onto slide show you will see the numbers http://www.olislollies.co.uk/

happy birthday to your little man:beer:

blether_2

Hi There
This is my 1st time posting. Never read all the replies, but some fantastic ideas.
Here's another: Great game to play that the kids love (any age really) Balloon Stuff-have 2 or 3 teams, depending on how many children. Give each team a pair of adult jogging trousers and long sleeved jumper, the bigger the better. Tons of balloons, not fully blown up, so they won't burst to easily. 1st child to be "it" puts on the above, has 2 helpers. Stop watch, 60 seconds I feel is enough. They have to see how many balloons they can stuff up the jumper down the trousers in that time. Count how many ballons for each team, till all kids have a go at being "it" and helper. It's hilarious!!
I take a photo of each child, which I either print of before end of party or give out next school day. Kids love it!!
Fruit Kebabs- Kebab sticks, with grapes, peach slices, marshmallow in the middle, strawberries on each end, drizzle with chocolate. Delish!!
I always label there party bags, so their prizes, and extra sweeties can go in as they get them. No tears, that "I can't find my prize".

jopsey

Looking for some pirate and princess theme food ideas for 3 year old's party .

Must be easy as a total novice and dont have much time on the morning ,so prefer to prep night before

tinalee32

I am having a birthday party for my 3 (well almost!) year old twin boys!
The children coming are varied in ages, from 1 year old, up to 3, or maybe one 4 year old.
Ive never done a party for such young children, what do you do with them?
My boys are lucky enough to be getting a playhouse for their birthday, and have bikes, slide, and a cooker, so do I just let them play, or organise games?

Im stuck for ideas,
Thank you.

shirefairy

One year old's probably won't be interested in games but might like a dance to some silly party music. I say give them some sugar and watch them burn themselves out

I had a mix of ages at my son's 1st birthday, what worked really well was covering the bottom half of one of the walls in lining paper and letting them all draw on it. I did a few outlines in black marker of 'happy birthday' a haunted house on a hill and some pumpkins (Halloween baby!) and all the kids loved scribbling over it and adding their own drawings. After everyone went I photographed it with my son next to it and sent it to everyone as a thank you note.

You could do a footie, jungle, sea scene whatever they are into. If your very precious about your walls or don't have the space fix it up outside on a fence or on the floor.

Check the pens/crayon's don't go through the paper before you let them loose!