Birthday party for 5 year old

Dear EF members..

I need some help here as my daughter's 5th Birthday is approaching and I am clueless about which kind of party to organize for her..

It is the first time we are planning to invite some friends, she has been invited to few parties off late, mostly at friend's homes during summer. We just dropped her and picked her up, so little clue about what happened there..

Could you please give us tips for inviting other children and which kind of entertainment is common in Zurich? Perhaps any venues other than home?? Any return gifts??

Also, we dont know much German and most friends are German speakers. Any ideas how can we handle that??

Thanks!

I've only ever had parties at home for my daughter (now eight-years old).

But it's always worked out fine, with a few games, some food, a cake.

Sometimes I've organised a craft activity for them all to do, which always goes down well.

As for the language issue, it's fine now, but the first couple of years we were here I asked a friend of mine (Austrian!) to come and help.

As for the parties my daughter has gone to, they seem to be pretty much the same. Sometimes there is not much food apart from a cake, sometimes a craft activity etc.

The kids from her class (local school) don't seem to go in for presents for the guests, but I think that's really up to you.

In fact I think you shouldn't worry too much about what the kids are used to. A party is a party, and they'll have fun regardless of whether it's different or not.

I prefer keeping things low key, but my daughter has been to parties at Trampolinos (an indoor play centre), in the forest, and at sports centres.

Hope that help!

Do you know about Planeta Magica in Wadenswil ?

We were there for a birthday party when our daughter was around that age. Great for energetic five year olds.

http://www.planetamagic.ch

Pass the parcel is always a good one, making sure there is a gift in very wrapper, and as an extra surprise at the end fill the last bag full of ping pong balls and watch their delight as they bounce around the room !

Musical Statues

Check out

http://www.confettibox.ch/?language=en

Pinattas are great fun too

http://www.partyspirit.ch/kids-child...Fc1V3godBXwAZw

I always leave a crafty table with colouring pens and paper for those who get bored

There are lots of party themed websites that you can get great ideas from, just google

I buy loads of helium balloons and the kids love to play with them too

We just had our daughter's fifth birthday and invited her entire Kindergarten class. We sent her in with invitations, and followed up by an email to the parents inviting them for an apero and letting them know that siblings are welcome.

As for entertainment, we had a pinata, which the kids loved. We left off the blindfold, since, well, kids at that age are pretty lousy with aim anyway. You can buy them online at www.partypixies.ch . The candy and toys that were in the pinata were also the party bag fillers, so that was easy!

Other than that, we had lots of balloons, snacks, drinks, beer and mulled wine for the adults, and a cake. The party was 2.5 hours, and time flew by. We've also been to birthday parties with clowns, but I think 5 is a bit too young for that (some of the younger kids at the clown party were terrified).

Inviting the parents is a good way to meet everyone and ensure that there's enough supervision (and German speakers) to handle the kids.

As for venues, we usually use the Quartiertreff -there's one in every quarter-you can rent them for relatively little money. There's a list here:

http://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/sd/de/in...adtkreise.html

I have done a few parties now for my girls here so I will tell you what I know:

1. You can do parties at indoor play centres, zoos, etc. but be prepared to pay quite a bit for the convenience. And expect that parents (and possibly siblings) will need to join them as it takes quite a few eyes and hands to supervise small children in these places (versus in your home)

2. Age 5 is really the first age at which parents do not really need to accompany kids here - although some may wish and expect to. You can write a bit of a note at the bottom of the invitation stating it is their choice.

3. General rule of thumb is that you invite the number of age your child is (give or take one more). Of course, this is up to personal preference. In our local kindergarten, typically all girls or all boys are invited depending on gender of your child (there are only 11 kids in their whole school though). This year I decided to have about 13 or so kids. It was chaos (but fun).

4. Parties are generally 2 to 3 hours long. This is plenty long enough, believe me!

5. The swiss tend not to go crazy with the food or decorations - a cake, a few snacks out for them to help themselves. Staying clear from providing a meal (lunch) is a good idea because it is chaotic and eats up alot of time. Cakes bought at stores and bakeries are super expensive. A simple home made one fancied up with icing and candies is always a hit.

6. one or two games (see online), a craft (printing out colouring pages and offering markers is always a hit). Keep it simple or the kids will get overwhelmed.

7. a party grab bag is not necessary though they appear to be becoming the norm here. Once again, a few sweets, a few small odds and ends (stickers, erasers, pencils, etc.) is fine.

8. If you can wrangle a german speaking friend or other parent to join the party, that will be extremely helpful. I can speak passable high german but got a swiss friend to join us at the last party and was so glad I did...

9. Themes party favours and decorations, etc. are available from various sources - Toys r us seems to have a great selection now. There is also a company called PartyQueen here in basel where you can shop online and they will ship.

10. Relax. It is never as difficult or stressful as one thinks. The kids just like being together and playing really.

Also, just to add, I wouldn't start any "official" activities (games, craft, eating) until about 20 minutes after they arrive. I've found they are all so hyped up to see each other, all they want to do is run about and go nuts at the beginning.

Let them get that out of their system and blow some steam off then it's easier to get them into a game or whatever.

I did some parties that were successful, not sure 100% why the kids were so thrilled, maybe it was in a lax home and we had a lot fun, or just kids being happy together, parascolaire and school talked about that too, so something was probably done well.

For two hour party, I would get the kids in, and let them play a bit. I gave them clear instructions as per where to not enter, and what they need to do if they are thirsty or need to pee, not to trash, etc. keeping the place somewhat usable after the party. I had music playing, and drinks ready for them as they entered, told parents if they want to stay for a min and have a drink they could, or if they needed more time off, picking up their kids a little bit later, it was a no big deal.

Then kids got together and we did paper face masks, that was great, they painted and threaded their masks (I think I got them paper masks to decorate at Ikea and had a book of animal masks, 10fr, from Payot). I also lay the table with a giant roll of paper for all to paint one picture together, it is also nice.

Then, since it is in winter, we baked christmas theme ginger bread cookies that later on kids took with them, together with the masks and party favor bags.

Then there was the cake, apero food (cut up veg sticks, bread sticks and fruits, chips and some years I had warm soup with tete de moins for the grown ups). And gifts opening. I marked fast who gave my kid what, since when you send a thank you note, it is good to remember.

Then kids danced to DVD, I have Elmo dance DVD and Monkey Do dance, it was hilarious to watch them, they were mad when I stopped it, after 30min, for them to cool down. They burned energy and played calmly after that till parents picked them up.

Party favor bags (bubbles to blow, kinder egg, candy, lolipops) and cookies and masks they made themselves.

I think it always gets pretty creative, it is necessary to be really present and prep all before hand. I think you can just put one afternoon for planning, making invites and getting some creative ideas, shopping for food and making a cake, and then 2hrs before the party to prep. I wouldn't go overboard, clean up is usually after the party, not before.

Our house is full of kids, so no noise issues, but if you have sensitive neighbors, out of home might be better.

Preparation beforehand aside, that's a helluva schedule to pack into 2 hours

Playing on arrival, drinks for kids and parents, crafting masks, painting a picture, baking gingerbread and assembling their party favours, an apero, including soup, opening gifts, Elmo DVD dancing then a 30 minute cool down at the end. How much time do you spend on each activity in that two hour slot?

I'd have been flat out and in the corner weeping with a bottle of wine after a programme like that.

Who said she wasn't?

It made me reach for the wine bottle and I only read about it.

True, but 5 year olds have a pretty short attention span. When I have visited the Kindergarten, I've noticed that they change activity every 20-30 minutes, so:

1. free time

2. craft

3. baking

4. food

5. gifts (that takes very little time for a 5 year old!)

6. dancing

7. (for the stragglers, I assume) cool down

seems busy but reasonable. If they're running around the house unfocussed, that could well be worse.

I guess it's do-able but you'd deffo need someone else to help out. We've not done any parties chez nous up to now, preferring to rent the local community room, for fear of a plastic light sabre going through the telly or finding a breadstick in a USB port or two.

Yes, it's definitely a high-achieving party.

I did notice that the amount of crying went up at our daughter's party toward the end (last 20 minutes) when they were running around and there were no more activities planned (we had free time-game 1-game 2-food-gifts-free time), so I actually thought we could have done a bit more. We also did it away from home, because there's no way I was letting 12 five year olds anywhere near our tiny flat!

These are great tips! I think this activity schedule is quite nice.. Just a little struggle to explain the 'instructions' to the kids.. But well, the idea of another German speaking parent-helper, would probably work..

I had people helping me before and honestly it is easier to do alone, with kids who were happy to get clear instructions with not so much free time to roam around and think of doing something evil They like doing things together as one group. The final dancing is the best, I have kids asking me if they can come visit again for some more dancing, hahahah.

I am used to having fun with kids and organizing them. The kids I had here a few times were 2-7yr old (I invite neighbors as well). At some point we were all singing English, French and some weirdly pronounced Czech songs. I did a bunch of bday parties, ice cream party, game playing party and we cook together with kids, about twice a month. I never had any catastrophy happening, just the little ones need to be looked after more, but boy, they make the best dancers!

It was great to do the craft (painting was another party, one arts and craft moment is enough honestly), since kids were motivated to do all that together, at one table. I had 9 kids the most, they all squeezed side by side, and copied and helped eachother. They are used to transfer to and from activities from school and creche, but this time, knowing cake will come, and doing all in a place with balloons all over and decorations, they were motivated and happy. They couldn't really wait for more instructions, it is always fun. I wouldn't have thought they would be so excited at our home since there are too many McDo parties around, Zoo parties, Museum parties etc., but always had a great feedback from parents.

The baking time is a nice change, too.

One does not need much organization during the actual party, as long as you get stuff prepared.

Dough I make an evening before and it only needs to be rolled out - 3 pins kids shared, (once when we cooked at home with a bunch of kids we made scones, kids ate with cream and jam, that was nice, too, it was fast, once we made little individual pizzas, once I cut out hot dogs and we rolled puffy pastry around and sprinkled cheese and herbs on top, that was a hit, too).

Masks just needed to be painted on and threaded, cake and finger food got eaten within 15 minutes. While we were singing and they played also a bit in between.

So, maybe it is my work that helps (I feel a bit odd sometimes for having as much fun as the kids), but the only thing that one should watch out when you organize at home would be not so many kids if you aren't sure, and, plan your cell maybe beep at you to give you an idea of time slots. Having a small place actually helps, everyone is right in front of your eyes. Parents are happy, don't feel like leaving when they pick up kids..

Other ideas for crafts would be - air hardening clay sculpting (making little cups, bowls or animals or whatever they feel like, they get inspired by eachother), large wooden beads neck-less (watch out of little kids snorting beads), making your own postcards, paper doll/animals/pirate cut outs, etc. There is bunch of stuff online. I often do crafts with a lot older "kids". They like.

Hi!

I would also say keep it low key.

You can let your daughter choose a theme and then do 1 arts and crafts around that

I.E.: princessess=>make your own crown, indians => make your own headpiece etc

You can also do a pinata or a treasure hunt whichever works best for you/time of the year/where you live.

We do it like this:

2.5 hrs typically 15-1730

15-16 arrival and arts and crafts

16-1630 cake and open presents

1630-1730 activity and games

Games at this age are easy like music statues, musical chair etc.

We are 2 adults-sometimes 3 and it was fine (exhausting but fine).

I know a friend who has enlisted the help of a local teenager for the language part and to get some help.

At the end of the party I typically invite the parents in for a glass of something, but all very briefly so that by 18 it is all over

Food wise we just do cake and then some kids snacks like fish crackers, salt sticks, fruit sticks etc. Drinks are juice and sirup. Few decos mainly around the theme (I.e I buy coordinated tablecloth, napkins, glasses etc)

Am sure it will go well!

K

Following to the party preparations.. I have another question regarding the invitees..

I think I will do it at home and therefore I cannot have 20 kids invited.. I was thinking about 5 - 8 max. These will come from the Kindergarten and Krippe my daughter goes to.

- How much in advance should I give the invitation cards?

- Is it OK to select a few best friends and give the invitations to those and not to the rest in the class?? Or should the invitations be given 'privately'??

- Does the rule 'If you invite me - I invite you' apply here???

Thanks

(Only based on my own experience )

I don't think it matters. Some parents send invites out weeks in advance but it's usually because they need to know numbers. On the other hand, the last party my son received gave us less than a week's notice.

Maybe we had been on the reserve list?

Again, no real rule as far as I've seen. Kids that my son invited to his party never invited him back to their parties and vice versa. The invites are normally given out at school. I think sometimes the parents just ask the kids who they want to come, and they accept that list.

I've tried to educate my son that perhaps it's nice to invite people who invited him to their birthday but I think I'm the only parent that does this.

Not as far as I've seen.