My Party File - blog

Archive for the ‘venues’ Category

A farm party can be a real hit for little kids.  The children can mix the feedstock, feed the animals (from chickens, sheep, goats and donkeys), cuddle the babies (bunnies, guniea pigs and chicks), ride the ponies and climb aboard a tractor.  You can visit a farm - as there are a lot that offer party packages - or you can bring the animals in to your yard.  Either way, the kids will have plenty of fun being little farmers!

Parties away from home can spare your house a lot of mess, and can suit all budgets. But there are some things you need to be mindful of….

Pros

• More space
• Novelty of a new activity or venue
• You don’t have to clean the house before-hand
• Easy clean-up
• Some venues offer party packages that include catering, decorations, prizes and goodie bags, You can free yourself of the time and possible hassle involved with these.

Cons

• Parties away from home are not well suited for children 3 years and under. They can be difficult to manage in open and unfamiliar places. Home parties work best for small children. They will thnk it is wonderful having some of their friends over for a couple of hours in familiar and comfortable surroundings.
• Popular venues can get booked up quickly - so if your child has their heart set on a particular venue or entertainer, make sure you get in quick!
• If it is an outdoor venue, there is no guarantee that the weather will cooperate.
• Crowded places can make it difficult to keep the kids together and keep them under control. For young children, look for venues that have safety fences and good visibility while the children are playing.
• Noisy places can make it difficult to play games and keep the children’s attention. These venues can be great if you just want the kids to run and play, but if you plan to have structured games and activities you may want to find a quiet corner.
• Some locations lose their novelty after several birthdays have already been held there.
• Swimming pools and beach parties can be really dangerous and require a lot of adult supervision.
• Some venues, such as indoor play centres, don’t allow you to hire the venue just for your party. You may have to share play equipment with other groups of children.
• Some venues allocate timeframes that can be tight, and you may be rushed out of the party area/venue before you are ready.
• You may be quite restricted in regards to catering and the foods you can offer.
• You may need to lug food, cake, goodie bags, cutlery, garbage bags, CD player etc to the venue, and all the gifts back home.

Tips

• If you have not been to the venue yourself plan a visit to see it.
• Make sure there are suitable facilities (e.g. toilets are a must!). You may need a fridge, sink, shade, seats, etc.
• Once you have decided on a location, get in contact with them and see if they can offer party packages or group discounts.
• Ensure you know exactly what the party/venue includes (eg food, games, how long the party will last, can you decorate the venue) and know what you have to provide (eg cake, music).
• Ask the guests to wear a red or yellow t-shirt so that you can easily spot them.
• Provide large name tags for each guest with your mobile number in case anyone gets lost.
• Find adult volunteers to help keep everyone together and under control, and to ensure they can be accompanied when going to toilets.
• Have the kids buddy up so that nobody gets lost.
• You may need to go over a few ground rules on the way to the venue or before you begin.
• Some venues do not provide candles for the cake - so remember to pack candles and matches!

There are so many options available if you are considering holding a kid birthday party away from home – from adventure playgrounds and bowling alleys to horse riding or a visit to the zoo. Here are some possible activities and locations to help get you inspired!