You think you’d be prepared wouldn’t you. After all you know when it is and that it’s going to happen every year so why the panic…every time?!
So my middle one is turning 6. I can’t believe it, where has time gone. My little squidgy boy is now a year 1 with a bit of a swagger and I’m not allowed to kiss him goodbye anymore at the school gates. Sob sob. I do sometimes grab him in a surprise attack though, so I’m getting my quota! #mumwin
Anyway, the party. I must admit I rather swing between doing something amazing or pairing it right back to basics.
Doing a big party for his entire class and thinking it won’t be long before I’ll be considered too tragic to even attend so why not go all out. Or having a few friends at home, a special tea with hats and party poppers and a game of pass the parcel.
I’ve been swayed though, mainly by my desire not to have my house wrecked by a bunch of furniture leaping 6 year olds who blatantly wont be sitting still for more than 5 minutes. So we’re going for the full on, invite the whole class party. In my experience they soon diminish in numbers once the kids are a little older so it feels a bit like a last opportunity to do an activity for large group.
Now they can cost a lot so myself and my cunning fellow school-gate mum friend are joining forces for our boys and throwing a Nerf Gun Party. It’s the coolest thing ever for a bunch of boisterous kids with structured games lead by ‘Rangers’ around a blow up course in the village hall. Parents aren’t allowed to join in (sorry secret Nerfing parents!) so it’s a question of enjoying a cuppa whilst they get on with it. A little tea and blow the candles out on the cake and off they trot. The Nerf Gun Party planners take away all the equipment so all we need to to is take a bin bag to clear away the tea. I say that’s all we need to do, I imagine I’ll collapse in a heap afterwards utterly exhausted!
Here are some of the Sevenoaks Mums top tips for party planning for the kids:
- Have it in a venue other than your own home. Here’s link to local Halls for Hire.
- Ask for sandwich filling choices in advance and cater accordingly rather than providing lots of choice and therefore lots of wasted food.
- Do jugs of squash rather than cartoons of juice to keep drinks costs low
- Pop a job lot of popcorn at home rather than buying individual crisp packets. Healthier and better value.
- Decorate the room with the balloons which are to be taken home as parting gifts.
- Bulk buy books online for the party bags – this is good value and always appreciated by parents who really hate the plastic tat.
- Provide tea and coffee the parents who stay. (But I’d encourage them to drop off and enjoy a couple of hours of peace/shopping/ time with the rest of the family)
- A simple cake looks fabulous with the right topping/finishes. Add a pile of sweets, a bespoke topper, some cool candles or some bright ribbon to make it stand out.
The website is awash with talented entertainers, cake makers and venues – click HERE for more info. Have fun!!
Francesca X
Author: Helen Loder
Co-Director of Sevenoaks Mums