Summer’s here and it’s a scorcher! Nothing could be nicer than a summer children’s party – and our guide will help you make your party a complete success without losing your mind in the process.
Plan for children
It sounds obvious, but far too often, when we plan a party we very rapidly start thinking about adults rather than children. Choosing bright, simple decor, catering that will make children happy and lots of activities that allow high energy kids and calm reflective ones to coexist are key to the perfect summer party. So plan a toddler pool full of water and balls, or even waterbeads, if the budget runs to it, but also set up a reading cabana full of favourite summer books like Swallows and Amazons, Five on a Treasure Island, and Moominsummer Madness, some simpler picture books for little ones and paper and pens to sketch or write … that way all the children, lively or quiet, can keep themselves happily entertained.
Choose your moment
Working out the best time to host your party is crucial. If you are inviting children of different ages, pick a time that’s between standard nap times and perhaps aim to host your event so that sunset naturally brings activities to an end. This can mean holding your party later than usual, but as the summer holidays allow children to stay up later you can probably get away with it.
Work with the nannies
One of the best kids parties we’ve been to had a ‘nanny teepee’ which contained face paints, dressing up clothes and lots of accessories as well as a polaroid camera. The nannies (there were three invited to the party) helped the children get dressed and made up, took their pictures and then pinned them to the teepee. The tent also contained strawberries dipped in chocolate, fresh lemonade and some macarons to keep the nannies happy – it was a total hit with both children and hardworking nannies.
Consider a theme
Theme parties give both children and adults something to focus on. You could consider:
- A sea theme: sand pit, water table, maybe a sprinkler (well away from food and the reading tent), pin the tail on the mermaid etc
- Teddy bear’s picnic: everybody brings their own teddy bear, have Winnie the Pooh themed food in borrowed hampers and play pin the tail on Eeyore (obviously!) and Tigger races.
- A garden theme: lay out stations in your garden for painting flowers on paper plates, going on a bug hunt, making a mini garden (we do this with cake crumbs for soil, a pumpkin seed and a silicone cake case for a flowerpot. We let the kids each plant a seed and label their ‘pot’ and then, when they are all busy elsewhere, nanny sneaks over and puts a sugar flower in each pot. This also forms the basis of their goody bag!)
Be food smart
Food is better served indoors than out – it keeps it cool and free of bugs. It also means you can clean children’s hands and faces before they go back outside, so they don’t become attractive to flies and wasps. If you can’t manage that, keep food simple and avoid sticky treats or melting ice-cream, at least until the very end of the party.