6 year old party help!

morganb

my only suggestion would be could you possibly have the party in the morning, then you don't have hyper / over-tired children and can wind down in the afternoon. A lot can be prepped up the night before.

morganb

Also just thought, fruit salad is a game with little prep that goes down well. You can either use pieces of coloured card or just tip a bag of coloured playballs and call out things like 'strawberry'; either people standing on red card have to swap to another strawberry, or you get the kids to run to you with a red ball. You could allocate colours to children before they play if you are using balls. Call out 'lemon', and do the same with yellow card / balls. Call out 'fruit salad' and they all swap cards. Best done in the garden with balls, can be manageable in teh house with cards on the floor, I play this with my classes and they LOVE it. You can have as many types of fruit per colour as you like as well.

morganb

And my final thought before I go out for the evening (a rarity!!) is what about 'pirates and princesses' you could have loads of fun making pirate hats / tiaras, popping cannon balls (blow up loads of black balloons, fill some with water and get the kids to stamp on them, obviously a good one for the garden!!), walking the plank (I used the shelf off a bookcase), treasure hunt with gold coins, sleeping pirates, pin the hook on the pirate or treasure chest on the map, etc., etc., etc., can you tell I've done this one a few times now??? You've got enough time to make a parrot pinata out of paper mache, too ...

Glad

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]!!!!!![/EMAIL].

Luna69

Thanks Morganb for all of those suggestions. Will give the earlier party a thought, it may be better, maybe over lunch time instead of tea time? hmm

I'm hoping I can get out this weekend, without kids! so I can get all the bits and pieces and feel like I'm at least part way organised. Won't get much chance through the week, so hoping my partner will play ball and watch the kids... even though he'll be working too!

My DD is excited already, even though this isn't officially confirmed as a definite party yet.. guess I can't really back out now!

Luna69

Just an update and some more questions.... got invites out yesterday, short notice since party is on saturday! Moved it to lunch time instead of later afternoon for 2 hours. Thankfully so far all but 2 children have confirmed they can come, so not bad. Only inviting 9 because of space.

I had worked out to have the indoor picnic first, then either decorating the tiara's/crowns, if I get that far and then some games. Now I'm wondering if the food should have been first or last?
I was thinking of those play area parties and they play first,eat last, go home.
However because I have to put a blanket/tablecloth on the floor, and food, I think it will be easier to do first, then clear it up for games?

I'm also after some cheap decoration ideas on a magical theme? We can do posters/banners, so hopefully we'll get some of those done. I'll get balloons, but is there anything else I could do cheaply? Could do with covering our awful sofa's to be honest and our blinds are falling to bits too! lol

Just need to try and get out for bits for prizes and goody bags. Found a few things left from Christmas so that was good.

monica74

http://www.partygodmother.com/
http://www.partycreations.co.uk/

you can chck for ideas here, there are good stuff

Luna69

Thank you Monica74, some good stuff on those. Was still undecided about the food first or last thing, however I think because of lack of space in our room, I'd really need to do food first, then clear up for games. I think it would be more difficult to have the kids shuffle about while hyper to try adn get the bits on the floor for them to eat??
If I have it all set out ready for when they come in, may be easier? I've really no idea but I guess it will be trial and error, if it doesn't quite work, then if I happen to ever do it again, I'll know to try it the opposite way around.

morganb

Hi Luna69, try to plate up as much food as possible, it is easier to just pass round a few bowls of crisps than to pass round everything else; makes you feel more organised and in control as well! If someone then moans that they don't like somehting, just tell them to leave it on their plate ... some kids can be really fussy!! Hope it all goes well!!

Luna69

Well thanks for everyone's help, I did it and it wasn't too bad. Was glad when 2 hours was up, but it wasn't as bad as I'd imagined. THe time actually went rather fast and I didn't fit in all the things I had planned.. kids have a different agenda!

I had the floor picnic first, which they all loved. I plated up all of the savoury food, they had that and drinks, then I plated a little bit of sweet, they had that.
We cleared up and they had a game of pass the parcel, bit manic... one decided they wanted the toilet..they all had to go! My 11 year old son was keeping an eye on them, but they got a bit too much so I had to go and help out. Got them all back downstairs and had a game of pin the horn on the unicorn... then 3 corners (no room for 4, they seemed to like that one, then pass the balloon, was a bit mad and they ended up just throwing the balloon most of the time, but we managed to get to the end. After that they were all hot and thirsty, so I made them sit down, got drinks and brought in DD's cake.
We had die cut some tiara's and crowns or rather my partner had, so I asked if they wanted to decorate some, they all went mental. They sat down, I gave them one each and had printed out their names to go on them Princess/Prince and their name. I had discovered a fair few stickers in my craft folder I've had for years and had lots left, so I gave them a selection, hearts, stars and shapes, in shiny colours or gem look, they loved them. This was the first time they were relatively quiet and concentrating. They all did it and my partner added the bands round their heads so they could take them home. It was nearly home time so I brought out the mini milk lollies so they could sit and eat those before their parents came.
I was sorting out the goody bags when they all arrived.

My niece was still here and my SIL turned up just after the parents, so they stayed a little bit, then I collapsed in a heap! DD opened her presents and I collected names for thank you cards, then had to tidy up!

All in all though I would possibly do it again, but wouldn't have any more kids, 10 was enough including Dd. My eldest DS helped out and my youngest DS tried to join in, but he's only 21 months.

Think if I do it next year I'll take up face painting and do that too. :rotfl: