[MCMama]

I was thinking of doing a DVD / Pizza / Pyjama night for DD's 8th birthday and I just need a few suggestions.

All I wanted to do was have the kids arrive, maybe do a few miusical statues games, eat pizza, birthday cake and sit down and watch a DVD together. i was thinking the time should be something like 5.00- 8.00 / 8.30pm. I was looking at a Friday night and going to get the girls to come dressed in their pj's BUT it wasn't going to be a sleepover.

Does everyone think this would work? Does it sound too boring? I'm worried if I put in too many activities we will run out of time for the actual DVD.
Have I allocated enough time? I don't want them up too late as most iof the girls play netball first thing mext morning.
How many girls would you think is a good number to invite? My problem is that there are about 7 girls in DD's class and I will find it hard to leave some out. I'm concerned that having 8 girls is too many though (counting DD).
Big question - WHICH MOVIE SHOULD I CHOOSE????

[trina-p]

I threw my DD a "mock sleep over" for her 8th. I took 5 girls home with me after school one Friday they played in the backyard for a while - made their own fun and then they watched Ramona & Beezus.
We had pizza, popcorn, camembert & crackers, chicken nuggets, crisps and lollies.

Parents picked them up at 6:30pm

[tothebeach]

We've never done it for a birthday but have had quite a few movie nights for 5+ boys since my son was 4. We usually have them come at 5 and have a play for an hour or so. Then dinner, then a movie, popcorn and desert.

Parents pick them up at 8pm or so. No pajamas - they stay in their clothes as they are usually running around. Older girls may be different, though.

[Beancat]

Hi OP

I have never heard of a mock sleep over, but I think it is a fantastic idea! 3- 3.5 hours may not be enough time though. I would potentially ditch the games and turn the pizza into a game, ie everyone makes their own pizza from a selection of toppings you have already prepared. You could make it a cooking/dvd party and the gift bags for the kids could be cooking themed (ie little aprons - they could wear the aprons while cooking, mabe some cookie cutters etc). I dpnt think 8 is too many. Maybe get DH to help


Have no idea on the DVD sorry

good luck

[Julie3Girls]

If you want to include some games, I'd be tempted to start it a bit earlier, around 4pm?

If you stick with the 5pm start, I'd just let them play music, dance around etc, early dinner at 5:30pm, with the idea of starting the movie around 6:30pm at the latest.
Means the food and cake isn't too rushed, with plenty of time for the movie before parents turn up.

With numbers .. I'd invite them all. It's possible you will get knock backs anyway - 5pm on a weeknight could be hard for some parents to manage if they both work. But 8 isn't too many for that sort of party.
If they were actually staying the night, I might feel differently, but not for just a couple of hours of movie and pizza.

[SMforshort]

movie ideas

- young einstein
- mamma mia
- babe
- bedknobs and broomsticks
- mary poppins
- seven brides for seven brothers
- the neverending story

[silverwattle]

I did on a few months ago. Picked the girls up from school. Afternoon tea, Played a few games, had a dancing off. Had a movie and pizzas. Parents picked them up at 8. I found we were quite rushed to fit it all in. The girls had a ball.

[chunkysoup]

Last year when DD1 turned 8 we had a pizza and movie party. There were about 8 kids invited plus my three. I made pizza and they watched Diary of a Wimpy kid. The kids actually sat and watched the movie.
This year same DD had 4 friends for a sleep over Harry Potter party. I had some trivia questions and who am I quotes. I also made wands for them to paint. They didn't end up watching the first movie as they are all keen fans who had seen it before. They ended up watching Jumanji instead.

[Julie3Girls]

Oh, movie suggestions ...
I'd have a selection and let the girls vote. At 8, they can have a pretty wide range of movie tastes.

Aquamarine
The princess diaries
Scooby Doo movies
Barbie movie - the new Mermaid Tale is just out.
Nim's Island
Enchanted
Tangled
Hotel for Dogs
The Smurfs (the new movie)
Cats and Dogs, or any of the puppy type movies (snow buddies etc)
Matilda
Ice age
Happily Never After

Oh, and my 8yr old and her friends are huge harry potter fans - the first few movies are PG, but you might want to check with parents.

This post has been edited by Julie3Girls: 10/04/2012, 04:33 PM

[MCMama]

Thanks everyone for you input.

So do you think the pyjamas idea is a good one or should I drop that?

Thanks for the awesome DVD ideas too.