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Party Plans

Hosting a children's birthday party isn't as hard as you think!

How to plan a children's birthday party at home

Hosting the perfect party is far more memorable and rewarding than hiring a play barn or an entertainer. However, party planning is crucial, it can take twice as much time to plan a good party as it will take to run the party itself.

If you were planning a 1.5 hour party, you would need to spend around 3 hours planning it. This includes buying party essentials like tableware, prizes and planning the games.

However, Lello and Monkey have done a little birthday party planning preparation for you, so that you can give your child a unique party at home, and create some really special memories without all the hard work.

What time should I start the party?

Why not host the party in the morning, when kids are fresh and less likely to tire and fall out with each other. 10.30 am is a great time to start a party if you are able to host it at the weekend. You will have an hour to entertain the children, before they settle down for some craft activity followed by lunch.

How many games should we play?

Your birthday party planning should include lots of games, you will be amazed how quickly each game is over and they are looking to you for the next one. Make sure you have at least 2 or 3 games spare, just in case you finish a few quicker than planned.

What games should we play?

It is always a good idea to plan a mix of energetic and quiet party games. Kids will arrive excited and need to run off some energy, so some sort of outside activity is ideal, especially for boys.

Try to adapt the party games so that they fit in with your party theme. For a pirate themed party, for example, you could organise some 'walk the plank' style assault courses which can be done in teams or why not organise a treasure hunt? Kids are great explorers and naturally want to take part, whatever the weather, especially when they know there’s treasure to be found!

When doing your birthday party planning don’t forget the ‘prizes’, you will need one prize for the winner of each party game and some commiseration prizes (a few sweeties to ‘sweeten’ the blow of being knocked out of the game are now pretty much expected). When someone is knocked out when playing musical statues, musical bumps or 'Simon Says', get them to sit with you and be your helper to spot the next person to be out so they are less likely to be upset.

What party food should I serve?

Keep it simple, but don’t forget the classics. Kids tend to get a bit disappointed if the party food doesn’t include things like jelly and ice cream. Make as much as you can the night before so that it is all in the fridge and ready to bring out after the party games.  Don’t try to do too much, children won’t remember if they had hot food at your child’s party, but they will remember the party games they played.

The Animal Party Plan

10.30 Biscuit Decorating - Set out some some plain animal biscuits and provide icing pens and silver balls to decorate them with. 

Set up this activity whilst your guests arrive which will allow time for any late comers. If anyone arrives too late to do this activity explain kindly, but firmly, that the activity is finished, but they can have a go at the end before they go home.

10.45 Safari Animal Treasure Hunt - Children are always most excited about the treasure hunt, which is why we built an entire business around it! We've had loads of parties and have never known a child not want to take part.

If it's well organised, and the markers well hidden you the game will last for 20 minutes. Children can have a further 10 minutes to play and run around if the weather is nice. 

11.15 Pass the Parcel - Everyone knows how to play pass the parcel! Just make sure to wrap up a layer for every child and use animal wrapping paper and have an animal themed gift for the winner.

11.25 Safari Stepping Stones - Based on the classic party game musical chairs we designed some animal stepping stones. Children dance around a ring of stepping stones and must find a vacant one when the music stops.

11.35 Sleeping Lions - Just like sleeping logs, but children have to pretend to be asleep and the first one to move is out until one is remaining. You may have to produce a tickling stick for any highly competitive guests.

11.45 Craft Activity - for the perfect themed activity try our monkey and giraffe craft kits. It will give you enough time to set out the birthday party food you prepared earlier!

12.00 Lunch Time

12.20 Birthday Cake - Singing Happy Birthday, blow out candles...hip hip hooray!

12.25 Story Time - We like ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ by Giles Andrae.

 

The Dinosaur Birthday Plan

10.30 Biscuit Decorating - pre-bake some ginger bread dinosaur biscuits and provide icing pens and silver balls to decorate them with. 

Having an activity like this at the beginning will allow for anyone who is a little late. If anyone arrives too late to do this activity explain kindly, but firmly, that the activity is finished, but they can have a go at the end before they go home.

10.45 Dinosaur Treasure Hunt - Send the children on a dinosaur adventure treasure hunt. No one fails to join in with this exciting game and by hiding the markers well and organising the troops this could take around 20 minutes to do. You might want to give them another 10 minutes play time if the weather is nice. 

11.15 Pass the Prehistoric Parcel - Everyone knows how to play pass the parcel. Wrap up a layer for every child and use dinosaur wrapping paper. You may even want to add a few forfeits.

11.25 Dinosaur Stepping Stones - Just like musical chairs in this party game the kids will dance around a ring of stepping stones. When the music stops they must find a vacant stepping stone, a stone is taken away each time until you get one winner.

11.35 Four Corners & relay races - Our stepping stones game is actually 3 games in 1, so you can also do a relay race and the four corners game, using the same kit.

11.45 Craft Activity - Our dinosaur craft kits are perfect to quieten everyone down before lunch. It will also give you some time to make up some jugs of juice and set out the sandwiches and onto serving plates.

12.00 Lunch Time

12.20 Birthday Cake - Singing Happy Birthday, blow out candles...done!

12.25 Story Time - We like ‘Mad about Dinosaurs’ by Giles Andrae.

 

The Princess Party Plan

10.30 Biscuit Decorating - Set out some biscuit hearts or butterflies and provide icing pens and silver balls to decorate them with.

10.45 Princess Jewel Hunt - Allow around 20 minutes to complete and then give children 10 minutes free play time if the weather is nice. 

11.15 Pass the Royal Purse - Easier than pass the parcel as you don't need to wrap layers and layers of treats. Just fill a pretty purse with enough treats as there are guests. Each guest takes a treat if they are holding the royal purse when the music stops.

11.25 Princess Stepping Stones - Children dance around a ring of stepping stones (instead of chairs). When the music stops they have to find a vacant stepping stone to stand on. 

11.35 Four Corners & relay races - Our stepping stones game is actually 3 games in 1, so you can also do a relay race and the four corners game, using the same kit.

11.45 Craft Activity - Why not try our princess and butterfly craft kits, it will give a little time to serve out your pre-prepared lunch.

12.00 Lunch Time

12.20 Birthday Cake - Singing Happy Birthday, blow out candles...easy!

12.25 Story Time - We like ‘The Real Princess’ by Brenda Williams.

 

The Pirate Party Plan

10.30 Biscuit Decorating - Pre-bake some ginger bread pirate biscuits and provide icing pens and silver balls to decorate them with. 

This activity will give you 10 minutes grace to greet your guests and will allow time for any late comers. If anyone arrives too late to do this activity explain kindly, but firmly, that the activity is finished now, but they can have a go at the end before they go home.

10.45 Pirate Treasure Hunt - Treasure hunts are a great ice breaker. I have never known a child refuse to take part. 

11.15 Pass the Treasure Chest - This is similar to pass the parcel without the need to wrap layers and layers of treats. Just fill our treasure chest with enough treats as there are guests. Each guest takes a treat if they are holding the chest when the music stops.

11.25 Pirate Stepping Stones - Like musical chairs, but children have to dance around a ring of stepping stones and find a vacant stepping stone when the music stops. 

11.35 The Pirate Captain Says - This pirate party game is exactly the same as ‘Simon Says’ but instead the Captain says an action like ‘Captain says put your hands on your head’. If the Captain doesn’t say it and the children still do it they are knocked out of the game until there is a winner.

11.45 Craft Activity - Why not try our pirate boy and girl craft kits. This should give you some time to get lunch onto serving plates.

12.00 Lunch Time

12.20 Birthday Cake - Singing Happy Birthday, blow out candles...easy!

12.25 Story Time - We like ‘Port Side Pirates’, by Oscar Seaworthy.