Birthday Mayhem! (Children's Parties)

Member Name: Emmamac1

Product:	Children's Parties
Date:	28/09/09 (133 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fully occupied for the whole party

Disadvantages: Wet and messy

I am still shattered from hosting my son's 10th birthday party on Saturday. Over the years, having four boys, I have accepted and become quite a pro at giving these parties. The games are getting tougher for the older ones, and the ideas to keep the kids entertained is certainly a challenge. Charlie's 10th party was a huge success and I was told "these are the best parties in town!". What an ego boost!

Boys will boys. They need plenty of space and tons of action activities. Our main theme was a 'Water Wars Party'. I made the invites daring each of the 10 invitees to 'group up, find the flag and eat the forfeits". The invites were white on blue card, and then burnt around the edges (just for effect, and requested by Charlie). I love setting the challenge and making the kids so excited even before they arrive.

For the water wars we brought 10 pump action water guns. These guns served as the gift for each child at the end of the party. No need for party bags full of tiny bits. They were all delighted with their gift, and they were definitely going to be used again at home.

On arrival, each child choose a gun, and were then allowed to mess around until everyone had arrived. I had filled two very large buckets with water, so the guns could be easily refilled. Once all 10 children had arrived, and then my four boys on top, we were ready to role. Firstly, I grouped them together and told them the RULES. I think that was one of the hardest bits, as some kept fiddling with their newly acquired guns! Now being a teacher and a mother, I stopped the nonsense and explained where they could and could not spray! Next came the rules and objectives for the water wars.

The boys were divided into two teams, red and blue. I actually did the dividing before they arrived so there would be no arguments. Both teams were to establish a base in the garden, which would be their command centre for the whole afternoon. In the garden we had hidden a fairly large flag. The objective of the game, was on the command "go", both teams would rush and try and find the flag and get it back to their base. If anyone got squirted they had to stay still for the count of ten, and if they had the flag and got squirted they had to drop it. The red team had red water to squirt, and the blue team, blue water, thanks to food colouring.

We played about eight rounds of 'find the flag', and each time both teams got cleverer. They would leave a couple of kids behind to 'guard' the base, some would go clockwise, others anti-clockwise, to ensure they would meet the flag finder. It was really good to see them using the best techniques possible to get the flag. In the later games I introduced water balloons as extra weapons, they loved these.

In between each 'find the flag' game, I did some disgusting challenges and forfeits! I enjoyed making these, and watching the horror mixed with delight on the boys faces. The first challenge was 'pass the eggs' (make sure no one is allergic). The boys line up in their teams. With an adult cracking a raw egg into the first child's hand, they have to pass it back to the last child, who then has to put it into a container. This is done 6 times, and the team with the most unbroken yolks wins.

Another challenge was 'how many marbles can you collect from the icy water using just your toes?'. A member of each team has their feet in the icy water and they both rush to collect as many marbles as possible in 30 seconds. It's really funny to watch, and amazing to see the different children's reaction to the icy cold water. Each child has a go, with their team mates cheering them on.

Now on to the disgusting food games. The boys loved this. One game was each child had a bowl of cooked spaghetti mixed with jelly. Also mixed in were two sweets. They had to find the sweets using just their mouths. The different techniques used were great. Another game involved drinking some revolting looking green gunk with bits in it (coloured custard and raisons). It was most certainly mind over matter, and it tasted quite nice. Once one child said "yum", the others followed. I even had one asking for more!

Half way through the party, I served food and drinks. It gave the warriors time to catch their breath and have some quiet time. We had home made pizza, sausages, mini doughnuts, marshmallows, crisps and fruit juice. Not very healthy, but it's a party, and they were burning it all off.

We finished the games fifteen minutes before pick up time. This left just enough time to have the birthday cake (Yoda, made by a friend), and give the boys free time to swim, and run riot (some more!).

All in all, it was a super party. It lasted for two and a half hours, and was full on entertaining. The boys were quite noisy, to say the least, sorry neighbours, but extremely well behaved. There was no squabbling or accidents. I was amazed at how the teams organised themselves and controlled the mission in hand. They supported each other, and not once did they moan if they failed. My 5 year old was in with all the action, and the blue team did not moan when they got him, just treated him as an equal member (he is a tough little cookie!).

We finished off the day, with Charlie opening his gifts from his friends, tired and exhausted. I actually enjoyed doing the party, and did not feel too stressed out. The boys all participated, and had fun, which is the main thing. Cost wise, it did not break the bank. The guns were the most expensive thing, but individually they cost the same amount as a party bag.

On Saturday night, exhausted, feet throbbing and full on left over pizza, I collapsed into bed thinking what to do next year!

Summary: A great way to celebrate a boys birthday!