I organised my daughter Charlotte’s first proper birthday party when she was in reception class at school. I know I panicked about how many kids to invite, how we’d keep them occupied, whether we should we have a theme, get an entertainer or do it ourselves, risk our home being trashed or hire and trash a hall instead! We’d already attended our first kids’ party for one of Charlotte’s friends, and it was amazingly slick - and something to live up to. So if only we’d had our new party solutions section on our website, I’d have been saved substantial amounts of time and grief!
The idea is that we provide you with a one-stop shop for all your non-food party needs online, so that you don’t have to drag your very own Charlotte around your local John Lewis to buy all the decorations, games and party bags you need. We’re now stocking the obvious paper stationery but we have included in the range some items that include fabric bunting that can be used around playhouses after the party, fabric party bags that can be reused by the guests after for play, and lovely paper lanterns. You’ll also find an extensive range of balloons including football-themed, little princess, pirates and elephants. We also have the fabulous punch balloons, which provide loads of fun until they burst!
If this isn’t your first time organising a party, you’ll know what works for your child, but if it’s your maiden voyage, then from experience I’d recommend a party lasting about a couple of hours whether at home or in a hall. Have the first half hour as meet and greet with free play and activities available, then follow up with organised games, then refreshments, then another game and then free play at the end so that children can be extracted by parents more easily than in the midst of a game of pass the parcel!
I also found that activities were a great way to calm down the party- it’ll depend on the gender balance, but we’ve things like mosaic tiaras to decorate 751 44408 and wear, and Playdoh 751 40541 (ten pack for £2.85) always goes down well. I’ve found that my daughter’s friends also love making things, so folded paper animals and planes kept the party going – these were popular with girls and boys.
Of course it’s essential to have some classic organised games, like pass the parcel or musical chairs, but there’s also Twister which is a sure-fire success - it causes mayhem but the faces of the kids are amazing, and it’s fun for the adults too when the party’s over!
A bubble machine in the garden also is great fun but if it’s raining or you’re gardenless, then charades for kids has always kept my daughter’s party guests amused.
The party bag solutions are a time-saver as everything is in one place for the important going home gift – the bit all kids really go to the party for! By shopping online we hope you’ll also find it easier to tot up your bill as you go along – with the best will in the world that can be tricky when you’re in-store with a basket in one hand and a fractious five year old in the other! We have fillers for all ages with everything from the essential bubbles or plasticene to wooden necklaces, spy glasses or novelty erasers.
And for your after the party treat? May I recommend a massage.