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Post by momofrussell on Sept 27, 2004 16:32:03 GMT -5
Ok, that birthday question got me thinking I will ask my dilemma here. Reece's bday party is next month. Halloween theme! I will be inviting her whole preschool class (7 kids i think) and 3 more toddlers of friends of mine. I know all won't probably show up but if they do, that would be 12 total. Age range would be 3-5 yr olds. I have a very simple craft from Oriental Trading I bought and then they will all decorate their own pumpkin to take home. We are not doing costumes or games. Kids snacks and cake will also be involved..and of course, opening presents. Ok.. my question is... is a pinata a bit too much??? I know age wise they can handle it, but at this age, they can get overwhelmed and since I kept it simple last year and it went so well, I am thinking twice about the pinata. That would be 3 activities and cake and presents. I originally was going to buy one and do it also but now my gut is saying NO.. too much! What do you all think?  A. |
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Post by meghans_mom on Sept 27, 2004 17:46:52 GMT -5
I would say too much...but that's me. I do know the kids love that stuff!
One idea, if you have a polaroid or digital camera...to take a pic of each kid w/ their pumpkin -- one of my friend's hires a woman to do her parties (magician/entertainer) and the woman takes pics of each kid when they get there and we get to bring it home...it's a nice keepsake -
or it can be sent in the thank you card afterwards too...
anyways, hope Reece has a terrific party, sounds like lots of fun!
laurie
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Post by Cathy on Sept 27, 2004 18:15:46 GMT -5
MOMO- I am not a pinata fan...first of all I get scared with kids yielding sticks...and second... my kids do not eat candy (their choice not mine)
Next- I like Lauries idea about the pics...what we did for Emily's tea party- was I took each childs picture handing Emily her present and Emily handing them their goody bag. I then gave each child a piece of paper folded like a card and had them decorate the outsides. When Emily wrote her thanks you, we used the card the child made and enclosed the picture. that we took. That took care of two things.. the thank-you and a fun activity.
Good luck, either way, be sure to take pics to post for us!
Hugs,
Cathy
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Post by Mary_L. on Sept 27, 2004 18:23:05 GMT -5
I have to agree that I think a pinata would be too much. My nieces always have pinatas for thier kids parties and it is such a hassle. The kids get all crazy and I'm always a basket case trying to keep the little ones from getting whacked with the stick. It sounds like you have enough fun activities planned and a pinata wont be missed! Give Reece a big birthday hug from us.
Mary
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Post by TriciaF on Sept 27, 2004 18:59:11 GMT -5
Hey A! I have to chime in in defense of the poor pinatas  . Patrick, age 4, has only had family parties to date. We will see about next year, as it will be his last birthday at the school he has attended since 16 months....we will have to do something. My older son, Connor, had his first friends party in kindergarten, so he would have just turned 6. We had a blast and had a local guy come dressed as a pirate and he did magic tricks and played games with all the kids.....balloons and the whole nine yards. I bring this up because, as great as he was, and heaven knows I was thankful for his help, cause I was entertaining lots of parents I barely knew, the real hit of the party, after he left.....was the pinata. We gathered together at the end of the party and hung it in the garage and all the parents and kids gathered round and we had lots of laughs as the darned thing would not break. After all the kids had tried blindfolded, we started letting them take turns whacking it in plain sight. It still took forever and the kids....all boys but two....loved it. I don't think there is much that boys enjoy better than being encouraged to destroy things with a big stick LOL. Unless its BB guns....oh boy. Anyway, your crowd sounds tiny for this yet....but try them at some point in the future. I have found with Connor that its best on mom if we alternate having a "friends" party every other year. On the off years, we have only family parties and he gets to take a friend or two somewhere special for the day. This year on his actual birthday (age 10), he and I went alone to Carowinds (large amusement park) and spent the whole day....riding whatever he chose, in whatever order he wanted. It was wonderful and a special memory for just the two of us. |
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Post by Cbean on Sept 27, 2004 20:27:59 GMT -5
Ok, feel like I have to defend the poor pinata.  I agree that 3-5 year olds with sticks isn't exactly my idea of a good time, but they do make special pinatas for kids that age. They're in the shape of a drum and have strings hanging down. Each kid gets to pull a string on the count of three and then the bottom drops out. No violence, no injuries, no video footage for America's Funniest Home videos. Of course you can just hand all the kids sticks and lock them out in the backyard, but I better shut up before you all start yelling at me. I'm in a very odd mood tonight. ;D The party sounds great, sometimes less is more and the kids do like free time to play together too! Have fun! |
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Post by MaggiesMom on Sept 27, 2004 22:54:35 GMT -5
Our experience with Pinatas has been this...it's fun, but a little dangerous and a lot of mess!
The first time I didn't know NOT to put hard candy or anything that can BREAK...think sweet tarts...so when it did get busted, it went everywhere! I was vaccuming for hours. LOL And we had to get an adult with a metal bat to break it open!
The second time, I carefully cut along all the outside edges of the pinata so that it was going to bust after the third whack. It worked, the kids had no clue and I didn't have to vaccum! I didn't put hard candy in there either! Just in case!
Both times we did it, it was with older kids. So I'm not sure I'd want to try it with preschoolers. But, if you're the brave type...just be careful!
Have fun!
Robin M
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Post by momofrussell on Sept 28, 2004 9:34:18 GMT -5
You guys are all cracking me up! I think we devated from my question a WEEEE bit LMAO! I didn't want to know the pros and cons of a pinata, I have done them before Just wanted to know IF after two activities for the kids if a pinata would be going overboard. But, it was nice to read you all with your own feelings for the poor pinata... like he was some bunny I was keeping or giving back LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really don't mind if the kids WHACK each other with the stick LMAO or how messy it is anyway. I DO like the picture of each kid with the pumpkin idea though.. and give it to them with the thank you card. They did that at a party Regan went to years ago, they made frames as the craft and then the mom took a picture of each child dressed in the Hawaiian garb. But... we never got the pictures... LMAO.. she either forgot to get them developed or took to long doing so or forgot to give them to us... heehee... so if I do this, I have to remember to PRINT them and give them! A. |
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Post by meghans_mom on Sept 28, 2004 10:08:23 GMT -5
Ahem..if you notice, A, *I* did not deviate from the question at hand (for once in my life)...ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by SuziF on Sept 28, 2004 12:02:01 GMT -5
Oh darling A....Last time we did a pinata for a kids party we did it in lieu of the goody bag.....basically whatever they got was their take home loot. We filled it with more trinkets than candy.
Another year we did a hay scramble where we put down a tarp in the yard, spread out the trinkets, then covered with a layer of hay then turned them loose.That was a big hit for a autumn party & no sticks involved I maight add for the feint at heart! LMAO!
Suzi
~Who is actually thinking of taking the lids to a new tumbling gym/climbing wall facility in town for Sam's birthday as he wants a Spiderman theme & what could be better than climbing walls !
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Post by Cbean on Sept 28, 2004 13:57:28 GMT -5
I climb the walls everyday and I'm so Spiderman, nor am I at a party. Ha ha! I just had to jump in there LOL I love all the ideas and am going to share them with my girlfriend who has twin girls, b-day 11/1! So, sorry that the post took on it's own growth, but I've enjoyed it! So thanks!!!  |
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Post by Alice on Sept 28, 2004 14:48:45 GMT -5
Luke has never been invited to any B/party to his age kids.
He will be 5 this year and I do not have any idea who should we invite. Usually we call relatives and very close friends with their kids.
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. Patrick, age 4, has only had family parties to date. We will see about next year, as it will be his last birthday at the school he has attended since 16 months....we will have to do something. 
I agree that 3-5 year olds with sticks isn't exactly my idea of a good time, but they do make special pinatas for kids that age. They're in the shape of a drum and have strings hanging down. Each kid gets to pull a string on the count of three and then the bottom drops out. No violence, no injuries, no video footage for America's Funniest Home videos. Of course you can just hand all the kids sticks and lock them out in the backyard, but I better shut up before you all start yelling at me. I'm in a very odd mood tonight. ;D The party sounds great, sometimes less is more and the kids do like free time to play together too! Have fun!
