Ideas for birthday party

[Mum to cool dude]

I am getting apprehensive about organising a birthday party for DS, who will be turning 3 in November. Our house is too small to accommodate lots of people so we are looking for an outside venue.There are plenty of places that do events but nothing feels small and intimate enough.

Also, what sort of activities/games/food would be appropriate ?

I don't feel relaxed about the whole thing because lots of the kids we would be inviting would be DS's playmates from nursery. I see the kids every day and I speak briefly with the parents, sometimes we bump into them at the beach/pool/park but I don't know them that well so there is an element of performance anxiety as well and wanting things to be right

TIA

[Jaime]

admittedly, i know nothing about the weather where you are... is it likely to be cold & miserable in november?  if not, perhaps a park?  you could do an entire picnic theme.  hold it mid-morning or later after naptime, and you won't have to do a full-on meal, just snacks.

since you won't be at home, cupcakes will be way easier than a single large cake.  there are all sorts of nifty designs you could do.

and since you are having performance anxiety  i'd suggest inviting a good friend or relative (whether she has a child or not) to come & help with all the party stuff & keeping you sane.

[Chantel03]

If it's not cold a bbq in the park would be easy.  That's what we did for T.  I made all the salads the night before had the dh bbq, and the kids played.  We had a pinata, and I made little car cakes, and let the kids decorate them.

If its cold what about a place that does the work for you.  T's 2nd b-day was a chuckie cheese, and they do all the work.  Makes it easier if you are having a lot of people. 

[woopster]

Could you look into hiring a soft play area.  Look at leisure centres - they sometimes have kid's facilitys

[RyansMum]

Soft play areas are always good.

How about any groups you attend, like Monkey Music or a Messy Play group?  You could hire a smallish hall and get them to prepare a party for you.  I did crafts for Ryans birthday and it was very sucessful, just got the Messy Play group to do a bunch of themed crafts (we had a farm party) and then let the kids just get messy!  We didn't do any games but pass the parcel is always a good one, as is a pinata (you can get the drawstring ones). Musical statues good be fun too.