[aluminium]

DD#1 is having an afternoon tea party for her 4th birthday next week.

The party is at 2pm (till 3:30pm) in the afternoon. There will be 8 little girls. And their Mums/one-parent attending.

I haven't had time to really plan it, so I need to get a start. Suggestions and ideas are welcome on the following, please...

FOOD
I thought I'd do an adult table and a kids table - because the kids - weather permitting - will be in the yard and the adults will be sitting on the deck watching (I hope) but the same food on each...

So, how does:

• fruit platter
• cheese and biscuit platter
• birthday cake
• tea/coffee (adults);water/milk/cordial (kids)

sound?

Our friends are pretty anti-sugar, as are we, though I flex the rules for parties.

GAMES
Pass the Parcel
Chase Daddy (who has lollies stuck on him)
Craft Activity (making fairy wands - fairy party)


PARTY FAVOURS
Giant lolly pop
Heart or butterfly garland or flag bunting (this is DD's idea as she loves the garlands and bunting I've made her... I'm not sure other guests will appreciate it though...)

Any ideas/ feedback will be appreciated. I'll pop back in later and check. Thanks in advance.

[Mamabug]

As a parent I would really, really dislike the giant lollypop. They take forever to eat, my kids throw tantrums if I say the leftovers have to be thrown out. They get sticky stuff from here to there and back again.....

The rest sounds great! would probably throw in some vegies and dip as well for young and old.

Although, 1.5 hours for eight little girls to do craft, eat, play pass the parcel and chase daddy sounds fairly tightly planned - where's the time for free play and interaction? I would be prepared to drop something on the day depending on the flow.

[Steggles]

As a parent I would really, really dislike the giant lollypop. They take forever to eat, my kids throw tantrums if I say the leftovers have to be thrown out. They get sticky stuff from here to there and back again.....

The rest sounds great! would probably throw in some vegies and dip as well for young and old.

Although, 1.5 hours for eight little girls to do craft, eat, play pass the parcel and chase daddy sounds fairly tightly planned - where's the time for free play and interaction? I would be prepared to drop something on the day depending on the flow.

Ditto. Not that mine have ever had a lollipop chasing daddy might be a little intimidating if any girls are shy?

[aluminium]

Fair points, thanks

As a parent I would really, really dislike the giant lollypop. They take forever to eat, my kids throw tantrums if I say the leftovers have to be thrown out. They get sticky stuff from here to there and back again.....

Yeah - but how awesome, as a kid, to have a giant lolly pop.

Although, 1.5 hours for eight little girls to do craft, eat, play pass the parcel and chase daddy sounds fairly tightly planned - where's the time for free play and interaction? I would be prepared to drop something on the day depending on the flow.

Too tight... Yeah, maybe. I am prepared to be flexible. I just don't want them to get bored. I figured 10 - 15 mins Pass the Parcel; craft, 10 - 15mins; chase Daddy 5 - 10mins; sing happy birthday and eat; free play (if guests bring gifts, DD can open them when they hand them to her).

chasing daddy might be a little intimidating if any girls are shy?

Another good point, though of the girls only the 2 from pre-school don't know DH - the rest are cousins/close family friends... I might drop this game and go for a treasure hunt or more free play though...

Thanks.

[Chelli]

I have found that it is a good idea to have a game planned for just in case free play turns into boredom or running riot hide and seek and musical statues works well. Another suggestion is if it's a really girly party, perhaps you or an older helper could do glitter nail polish for the guests as an activity. My DD and her friends loved that at her party, and bubbles are a nice treat for the goodie bags.

Have fun

[aluminium]

Hi,
Just thought I'd post some feedback on our DD#1s party. It was a success! Despite it bucketing down and having to be held in the house instead of the yard.

I almost stuck to my original plan. Here's what I did:

FOOD (a table for each adults and kids)
biscuit plate (Scallywags, iced vovos, wafer biscuits)
fruit platter (grapes, watermelon, orange, strawberries)
cheese platter (cheese, biscuits, carrot sticks, celery sticks, cabanossi, hummus)

GAMES
Pass the Parcel
Chase Daddy (who has lollies stuck on him) Daddy had just come out of emergency surgery and was still recovering
Craft Activity (making fairy wands - fairy party)
Musical statues (thank-you PP)


PARTY FAVOURS
Giant lolly pop
bunting (I ran out of time so I made up little party bags)
pencil and little notepad
small cont. bubbles
hair clips
tiny teddies
Freddo

Thanks for the contributing discussion

[cakey]

Sounds awesome! How about recruiting some mascots?

[currymama]

I saw a witch at my niece's birthday party recently. She was fantastic! She arrived with a second entertainer dressed as Harry Potter. All the kids actually believed it was Harry Potter! They did all sorts of games and related everything to Hogwarts, and Ron's smelly socks etc. I think it was quite reasonable too. $300 for both entertainers. And she said it was only $200 if she had just had one. The company is called Stardust Kids. I'm going to use them for my kids!