Making 3 year old's party go with a swing

[edanna]

I've never hosted a party for my little boy, apart from a few family members. He was ill when he was one and then when he was two we had a joint party with our NCT group. He'll be three soon and the idea of entertaining 10-15 3 year olds for a couple of hours is a little daunting. If you have any ideas, tips and thoughts on what has/hasn't worked for you I'd be so grateful. Haven't decided on venue yet (though don't think I could bear to have it at home) or whether or not to get an entertainer.

[pebbles]

My son has just turned 3 and we had his bday party at home however you can obviously hire a hall for what we had.

Basically we hired a bouncy castle (for the toddlers) and the softplay stuff (for the no.2 babies) and honestly hand on heart it really was very stress free. There were 11 3 yr olds and about 6 baby/crawlers and they totally knackered themselves out between 10.30-11.30 and then i served lunch - don't do too much - sandwiches, baby sausages, pizza, fruit salad and cake and then they were all gone by 12.30 all with very happy children.

I hired the bouncy castle and softplay stuff from Kim at Tippee Toes - www.tippeetoes.co.uk or 07903618432.

Her partner dropped everything off at 9am (bang on the time i wanted). He was very quick and tidy and they picked it up at 4.30 (I had a sneaky bounce when I put mine down for their nap!!!!). It was extremely reasonably priced and honestly was amazing.

I feel at 3 (and then potentially with younger children) it's best to run around. Saying that he did go to a friends bday the other day and there was a face painter and that was a huge hit.

I can't recommend Kim enough.

Enjoy, it doesn't have to be hellish

[LoopyMum]

It depends on what kind of party you would like to have regarding the venue and an entertainer (art and craft, a clown, face painter, cookie decorating party) - I would pick a function room in a restaurant or a leisure centre play room.

The great thing about 3 year old children is that they are old enough to appreciate a party but not old enough to make demands so a simple theme (space ships, monsters, spongebob, jungle), some simple foods and little party bags should go down a treat.

You may well enjoy it - the highlight for me has to be their little faces as they blow out their candles.

[bawdy-nan]

keep it small (I'd reckon on no more than 5 or 6 friends) and keep it simple and keep it short (hour and a half)- buy a set of face paints, play musical bumps, pin the tail on the donkey, get them to dance like different animals, wrap each other up in loo roll like mummies, pass the parcel, keep some balloons in the air - tea with very small things on plates, birthday cake party bags - hometime then MASSIVE glass of wine

[IrishDancer]

My daughter will be 3 next week so instead of having her party at home we booked her party with Gambado in Beckenham. I have 13 toddlers coming along with new borns, they are reasonable enough and basically the kids will be knackered by the end of the day with all the soft play merry go round etc. Here is the website have a look. www.gambado.com

[IrishDancer]

IrishDancer Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> My daughter will be 3 next week so instead of

> having her party at home we booked her party with

> Gambado in Beckenham. I have 13 toddlers coming

> along with new borns, they are reasonable enough

> and basically the kids will be knackered by the

> end of the day with all the soft play merry go

> round etc. Here is the website have a look.

> www.gambado.com

forgot to add they also provide a facepainter if your after one.

[Mellors]

Soft play in Peckham is good - they are in with everyone else, but then you go upstairs to a separate room for tea. Ours enjoyed it as it was somewhere they already knew, so it didn't freak them out.

This year for the 4th birthdays we're going to JAGS - they provide a bouncy castle, loads of play equipment etc, and then a room upstairs for tea. Up to 20 kids is ?125, or 30 is ?135 (we share it between 3 mums to save costs!).

Anything to save you having to clear up yourself in my opinion :)

[Fuschia]

I would be worried at Gmabado some of the 3 year olds would get lost and squashed! I like peckham Pulse softplay for 3-5 yos. Cheaper (approx ?4.50 per child iirc) and you do your own food. 45mins play, 45 mins food, you don't need to arrange anything else.

[edanna]

Thanks for your advice. I'm storing it all up for future years too. We had the party yesterday at the East Dulwich Community Centre with Simon from Amigo's Magic doing an hour, followed by a simple tea, pass the parcel and mad running around. I'm shattered but it was brilliant and I think all the kids enjoyed it. We had some helium balloons, which the children loved playing with, though you need lots to avoid sharing disputes!

[EDmummy]

Glad it went well, edanna. We also love Simon! Haven't had him for a few years so good to hear he is still brilliant.

[nancyse15]

My top tip is to make it a MORNING party starting around 1030am. As we all know, they are at their best at that time. The party culminates with lunch (which you can provide in individual little boxes, or something easy) and then they all go home leaving you the rest of the day to recover.

[nancyse15]

Doh! Sorry, clearly I didn't read the earlier messages properly as this 'tip' of mine was already mentioned by Pebbles and also your party has already happened. Sounded good too.