Kids' Party at Home: Party Plan, Games, and Treat Bags
,
by Verpakkingdeals.nl
6 min reading time
Planning a kids' birthday party at home without chaos: how many guests to invite, a two-hour schedule, games that work indoors, and party bags that won't end up in a drawer.
Eight children, two hours, and after fifteen minutes the present is unwrapped and the cake is gone. Then the real work begins: filling another hour and a half without turning the house upside down. A children's party at home doesn't depend on a big budget, but on a clear plan and a few things prepared beforehand. Below is how to tackle it: from the number of guests to what goes into the party bag.
Start with the number and age
The oldest rule of thumb is still the most useful: invite roughly as many children as your child is old. Six years old, six guests. Above eight years, this becomes impractical, so then you choose a fixed group: the school club, sports friends, or the neighborhood.
Also, be realistic about the duration. For children up to about six years old, two hours are enough. Above that, you can extend it to two and a half or three hours. Longer is rarely better: the last thirty minutes of an overly long party are usually the least fun.
Two practical points that are often forgotten. Ask about allergies in the invitation, as this determines what treats you buy. And agree on a clear pick-up time, including the exact time. "Around half past four" often becomes five o'clock.
A two-hour schedule
Children appreciate predictability, and so will you. This schedule works for a group of six to ten children between four and nine years old:
Time
What
What to prepare
0–15 min
Arrival, coats, presents
Basket for presents, place for coats
15–35 min
Cake and drinks
Candles, cups, paper towels
35–60 min
Active game
Space cleared, prizes ready
60–80 min
Quiet game or craft
Table cleared, stickers
80–105 min
Snack and free play
Popcorn, chips, small bowls
105–120 min
Party bags and pick-up
Named bags by the door
Plan one more activity than you think you'll need. A game you don't play costs nothing; a twenty-minute gap with bored children will cost you the rest of the afternoon.
Decorations: where the money can go
Children notice two things: balloons and whether their name is somewhere. The rest is for the photos. With LED balloons (5 pieces) for € 2.95, you immediately have a difference from regular balloons, especially if it gets dark early outside. If you want one big focal point in the room, you can do that with a balloon arch for € 30.00 — note: this does not include balloons, so order them separately. A set of foil balloons (6 pieces) costs € 10.00 and stays nice longer than latex.
Rain on the day itself is not a disaster if you have two types of games ready: something for them to move around with and something for them to sit down with.
For moving, throwing always works. The beanbag toss game costs € 19.95 and can be played in the hallway or garden. The catch and throw game with Velcro paddles (€ 9.95) is softer and therefore more suitable for indoors. A bubble gun for € 19.95 can easily keep young children occupied for ten minutes — but outdoors or on a smooth floor, and remember batteries.
For sitting, you don't need to be complicated. UNO Flex (€ 6.99) is played with two to eight players, which is exactly the size of a children's party. The table basketball game costs € 9.95 and works well as a tournament: two against two, winner stays. If you want a larger group to do different things, the 99-in-1 game set with dice and checkerboard (€ 14.95) is enough for multiple parties.
Treats and snacks: how much to order?
Count on one slice of cake, two cups of drinks, and two small snacks per child. More will end up in the trash rather than in the children.
A mini gumball machine for € 12.95 is strictly speaking not a treat but an activity: children get to turn one, and it regulates itself. Chewing gum is more for the older group.
Party bags without mess
The party bag determines the final impression of your party, and it's where money quickly disappears on things that are already broken by Monday. Rather choose three lasting things than eight that you won't see again.
Place the filled and named party bags by the door. Put the candles and a lighter near the cake. Clear the room where games will be played enough to allow throwing. Prepare paper towels in two spots. And decide beforehand which game you'll skip if things run late — that way you don't have to make that decision with eight children around you.
Order everything at once
Balloons, candles, and table decorations can be found in Birthdays and Party Supplies. Games are in Games and Toys, treats in Sweets. Boxes and bags to send everything home in can be found in Gift Packaging & Gift Boxes. If you're unsure about the quantities for your group, feel free to email info@verpakkingdeals.nl — we're happy to help you calculate.
Choosing a USB hub for working from home: 2.0 or 3.0, how many ports, and with switches
· 3 min reading time
Choosing a USB hub for working from home: 2.0 or 3.0, how many ports and with switchesYour desk needs three USB devices, but your laptop only has two ports. Or...
Power outages in autumn: emergency supplies you'll actually use
· 2 min reading time
Autumn Power Outages: Emergency Supplies You'll Actually Use October to December. Heating isn't in full swing yet, but the nights are getting long and cold. If a power outage strikes...
Choosing a power bank: capacity, charging speed, and weight compared
· 2 min reading time
Choosing a Power Bank: Capacity, Charging Speed, and Weight Compared Your phone dies when you're out and about. The classic emergency solution is a power bank. But what capacity do...
