Almost everybody knows this game but for those who don’t the idea is that each child starts off sitting on a chair.  The chairs are in a line. When the music plays the children walk round them and one or two chairs are removed.  The music then stops and the children have to try and get a chair.  Anybody who does not get a chair is out.  Here are afew ideas to help make the game easier and more fun.

Have the chairs set up before the party starts if there is room.  They can be placed on one side of the room leaving plenty of space for Pass the parcel or other games first.

Try getting the children to do actions or different movements while going round the chairs.

Get the children to change the direction they are going by shouting out “Change”. 

When the chairs are getting fewer enlist the help of 2 willing adult helpers to stand at either end of the room.  The children can then walk round them with the chairs in the middle.  If there is enough room the children that are out can also fill in the blank space in the middle.  They can also cheer for who they want to win.  This will help to keep them occupied.

Lastly try to help younger contestants by stopping the music at the right moment.  Enjoy

For those who are not quite sure of the game.  The children take it in turns to stick the tail on the donkey in the right place whilst blindfolded.  The winner is the person who gets the tail nearest to the correct spot on the donkey.

When playing this it is better to use a scarf rather than the blindfold provided so that the children really can’t see.  Turn the child around three or four times when they are blindfolded to confuse them and then point them toward the board.  Help can be given according to the age of the child.  Older children need less help.

To add fun try pointing some children in the wrong direction for a few seconds.

If there is a lot of children it may be a good idea to sit the children down and have one up at a time.

We supply this game in various themes such Pirates, Diggers, Clowns, Fire Engines and Kiss the Frog to suit all tastes

For a more friendly approach to your party, it is possible to entertain a group of children yourself or with some helpers.

This can be really good but you will need to plan ahead.  Wrap a pass the parcel.  Try not to use newspaper or put too many layers on it.  A pin the tail on the donkey is also a great idea.  May be even musical chairs.

Have more games planned than you need so that you know you won’t run out of things to do.  Try not to let children stray away from the entertainment.  Encourage everybody to join in.

I will make future postings with tips on how to play the above games to make them more personal.  As ever please let me know your thoughts.

Serving hot food at a children’s party is another option, particularly if you are planning a lunchtime party or in winter time. Here is a few tips to help avoid disaster.

If using a cooker in the village hall make sure you know how to work it.  Try switching the oven on before the day.  Does the oven get hot?  How clean is the oven? Does the hall also have knives and forks or will you need plastic ones.

Cooking for 20 plus children is not the same as cooking for 3 people.  If you are cooking oven chips, large trays of them will take a lot longer to cook.

It may be a good idea to consider that if planning to eat 45 minutes into the party you will need to be in the kitchen virtually from the start.  This means missing most of that special time.

Try and keep it simple. Offering a choice of hot dogs, burgers, fish fingers and pizza will only complicate matters.  As usual don’t overload the plates.  It’s nicer to see empty ones at the end.

Lastly have someone on hand to go round with the tomato ketchup.  That way everybody gets the same measured amount.

Please let me know your experiences.

When hiring an entertainer you are probably going to be glad to find somebody to keep the children occupied at your party. But what is the correct fee?  Well the truth is what is it worth to you?  Do you hire the entertainer for an hour or the whole party?

Remember that an entertainer will be in most demand between 1.00pm and 5.00pm on a Saturday and Sunday.  So if you want a popular entertainer at these times you really do need to plan months ahead.

Fees also vary depending on the area, London will obviously be more expensive than Yorkshire.  Fees should probably start at £80.00 per hour or £120.00 for 2 hours.  One last thing when telephoning an entertainer try not to make the first question How much do you charge?  Instead start by asking about the shows content and availability.  This will give the entertainer a much better impression of you.

 

Hiring an entertainer is a great way to occupy children for a good proportion of your party.  There’s a lot to talk about on this subject and I don’t want to make this article too long.  So it is best to start with a few basic points.  Think about the age of the children.  Younger children would probably prefer a clown.  For older children a magician or disco may be better.

If you know of an entertainer via a recommendation then you are at an advantage.  When starting from scratch.  Try Yellow Pages or Yell.Com and don’t be afraid to ring quite a few to get a feel for there approach to your party.

Over a series of articles I will try to cover many issues with entertainers and would really welcome your views and experiences on this subject.  Tell us about any entertainers you and your children have really enjoyed by posting a comment on the blog.

Late guests can really delay the fun at a party.  To make sure everyone can find your house or party venue try putting balloons at convenient points to guide the guests in.  Be sure not to put them out too early before the party as they can be stolen, popped or go down.  To really make it clear try adding a few arrows to show the way.

A plastic door banner can also make a good display on the door of the party venue.  These are available with a party streamer design, Disney Princess design, pirates design and Winnie The Pooh design.

Using food boxes for feeding children is a great idea.  Each child can be given the same amount. For example:- a drink, packet of crisps, sandwiches wrapped in cling film and a cake.  Eating time is reduced.  This allows more play time.  Children who have not finished eating can take the box home with them or come back to it later in the party. 

The food contents of the box can be emptied out after tea and the boxes can be filled with goodies for the take home gift at the end of the party.  If you do this you may wish to line the box with a napkin.

For that personal touch why not purchase plain white boxes and get the birthday child to decorate them with a theme of your choice.  Why not let me know your views and comments.

It can be difficult to get children to eat sandwiches at the party tea.  Usual flavours are jam, ham, cheese and egg although not all in one sandwich.  Try cutting sandwiches into shapes matching your party theme.  For example for a Bob The Builder Party cut the sandwiches into shapes of tools.

Trays of sandwiches can also be named with themed names for example “Wendy,s Delights” or “Dizzy’s Traffic Jam Sandwiches”.  It is best not to make too many.  Better to see empty trays at the end.

To really make an impact on a bare party room fill lots of latex balloons with helium and tie extra long balloon ribbons to them.  These can be left suspended in the ceiling or put in bunches of 3 or 4 at various points around the room.  They can be tied to chairs round the tea table or weighted down behind the birthday cake.  At the end of the party the balloons make an excellant party gift for every child attending.