I’ve just been given a long list of top tips from my friend Pip who is the hostess with the mostess (thanks Pip!) and I thought I’d jot them all down before I forget them to use for our twins’4th birthday next weekend when we’ll have eight 2-4 year olds to entertain. I’ve managed to get away with not hosting a kids party so far but it’s time to do one.
- Have lots of balloons blown up &music playing when the kids arrive so they can all get partying as soon as they arrive.
- See if local toy library has any disco lights to hire as they’ll love that and use music which isn’t too babyish –4 year old kids really love pop music
- Play games such as musical bumps,pass the parcel and musical cushions
- Have hot food as the kids enjoy hot party food (she suggests homemade chicken nuggets &smiley potato faces)
- Balance out the fast food by having crudities (carrots,celery,cucumber and tomatoes) on hand with seedless grapes dips and bread sticks
- Have the table lookng really nice with some grown up plates and a pretty tablecloth as they’ll all appreciate being treated like Big Boys and Girls
- Hang a pinta outside –apparently these can be bought from Woolworths and filled with packs of sweets and other treats (I’ll remember Libby’s top tip of making sure the sweets are portioned into bags so there is not candy war)
- Have the birthday cake half an hour or so after birthday tea as they’ll be bored of sitting down and full of food.
- No need to do take home party bags (says Pip) but I’ve already stocked up from the Birmingham pound shop on big packs of dinosaur toothbrushes,sparkly pencils and the like and am quite keen to distribute large chunks of both the birthday cakes to our guests houses!
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I’m loving Pip and all her suggestions but I have to say party bags gets all the kids out of the door promptly and with a smile on their faces
Needn’t be expensive but I think it sets you apart and leaves the party on a lovely generous note!
I’d also add that fruit goes much better than veggies…we have slices of watermelon and rockmelon and grapes…my kid would laugh at celery sadly!
I also have a tub trug just for rubbish and make it clear that the kids can put all their leftover rubbish in there. Parents also tend to follow suit which means so much less tidying up at the end. Even if you have to sort composting bits/recycling etc it still saves huge amount of time!
My last tip is that if you are opening presents in front of guests (they don’t here which I think is weird and a shame) then write down on the back of an envelope who gave what. You think you’ll remember but when you go to send thank yous you’ll have forgotten every one!
Happy partying!
lib
x
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Hi,
I have my 4 year old-to-be’s party coming up soon and I have invited 22 of his friends from school !! He wanted to invite all 30 from his class but I had to draw the line somewhere,albeit,still a little high I know !
We are having the party at home with a clown/entertainer who should keep them entertained for most of the time (we used him for his older brother’s party at the start of this month,and it worked well),and although we do have enough room to accomodate,I would appreciate some tips for ‘keeping everything in control and timing of events!’. The party is 12 –2,however,the entertainer doesn’t get here till 12:15,and leaves at 1:45,so I guess it’s just the before and after he arrives and leaves bits that I need to think about getting sorted.
There are 8 boys and 14 girls invited,so shouldn’t be all that bad,providing they don’t start pulling eachother’s hair !!
Thanks.
A-L
[...] was reading Becoming Domestic’s post on how to host a 4 year old’s birthday party and it reminded me that I have to remember [...]
[...] was reading Becoming Domestic’s post on how to host a 4 year old’s birthday party and it reminded me that I have to remember [...]