Category: Ideas

Joint Birthday Parties

Posted on by

Admittedly, children’s entertainers and children’s magicians can be quite pricy, and that’s only half the cost. With the credit crunch still looming, a great way to save money can be to have a joint children’s birthday party with another parent. That way you don’t lose out on the fun of having a children’s entertainer at half the cost. Aside from the cost benefits, you can also share the organisation and work load that goes with planning a children’s birthday party. That said, does sharing a children’s birthday party with another parent create a headache in itself?

Common problems can be found amongst parents trying to jointly organise kid’s birthday parties, like not being able to decide on what type of party to have. Children’s party entertainers alone can be a tricky thing to decide on. Do you have a themed children’s party or children’s magician, clown, etc.? Kids party entertainers can be one of the trickiest things to decide on when having to liaise with another parent. As your child might want something entirely different to what the other parent’s child wants.

Additionally, many parents can find that they have to compromise more than they bargained for, or workload is not shared out equally, and then after having spent a great deal of time and effort organising most of the children’s birthday party, the parent they’re sharing it with isn’t entirely happy with what has been arranged and in the end you’re left wondering if it would have been better to spend a bit extra and be left to organise your own children’s birthday party.

If you’re planning on sharing a children’s birthday party with another parent, it’s best to do it with someone who has the same ideas as you and who is in the same class as your child so the numbers of children don’t instantly double, otherwise your costs go up and you’re saving is far less.

When organising kid’s birthday parties together, the key thing is to have a clear idea of what you both want right from the start. Have a budget set and decide who is going to do what. Look at different types of children’s party entertainment packages that are on offer.

You’ll also need to figure out who you’re inviting to the party, will it be at home or in a hall, who will organise the food, or if you’re sharing it who will do what. Once you’ve set a clear outline for what you’re going to have and who will do what, that should help prevent there being disagreements along the way.

It can be a great thing for kid’s birthday parties to be organised together. The initial liaising with another parent can definitely be worth the saving, as kid’s birthday parties are not always cheap. Kids party entertainers alone are usually a large part of the cost, so halving that cost can be very helpful. If the workload is shared equally that helps a great deal too. You might also find you can benefit from the expertise of another parent who has organised kid’s parties before. Just make sure you both know if you want similar things before you get too far down the planning stage.

 

Christmas children’s parties

Posted on by

Christmas is by far one of the most magical experiences of childhood. From being too excited to sleep to peeking out of the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa’s sleigh, the memories of the holiday season become some of our most treasured.

In the run up to the big day, throwing a Christmas party for the kids is a great way to make this year even more memorable. Plus, it’s an opportunity for you to get your creative juices flowing and fill the house with festive fun.

Invitations

Snowman Invitations: To make, simply cut out a snowman shape from white card. You can then cut out and stick on a hat made from black card, and stick on a scarf made from felt. Add the face with coloured pens, or use googly eyes for extra impact.

Fancy Dress

When it comes to fancy dress, you’re spoilt for choice. Ask all of the kids to dress as something Christmassy – this can be anything from a penguin to Santa Claus. Provide them with a few ideas on the invitations to get them started.

Decorations

Aside from the essential Christmas tree, you can have lots of fun creating a festive wonderland in your home.

Santa’s Grotto

A great idea is to create a Santa’s grotto – choose a small room, which you don’t need to use and drape the walls and any furnishings with fabric in deep red and purple.

You can then decorate the room with fairy lights, Christmas lights and decorations to make it feel festive. Get one of the adults to dress as Santa Claus and send the children into the ‘grotto’ to collect their party bags and any other treats.

Get Crafty

There are lots of simple Christmas decorations that you can easily make with the kids and the whole family. Try making garlands from pine tree leaves, pine cones, tinsel and baubles. Other ideas include; painting the tips of pine cones white for a snow-effect, cutting snowflakes out of paper to string around the house.

Activities

Every party needs plenty of fun activities to keep everyone entertained. Why not try:

Pass the Parcel

This is a classic game, which can easily be adapted for the festive season. Hide gifts between layers of wrapping paper – the kids pass the parcel round the circle, and if they’re holding it when the music stops, they get to open a layer.

Gift Wrap Relay

Divide the children into two teams and provide each team with a gift-wrapped box – you should also prepare stations with pre-cut wrapping paper and cello tape. Each child has to run to a station, un-wrap and then re-wrap their box, before running back to their team and passing it on to the next person. The first team in which every child unwraps and rewraps the box, wins.

Mystery Stocking

Fill a stocking with a collection of ‘mystery’ party bag fillers, with a distinctive tactile feel. Each child has a chance to feel the fillers inside the stocking – if they can guess what they are without looking, they get to take them home.

 

Common worries for parents

Posted on by

Any parent knows that children’s parties can be stressful. From who to invite to chasing RSVPs, planning an event can feel like a minefield of social conundrums.

However, the important thing to remember is that you’re not alone – visit any of the major parenting forums and you’ll find plenty of posts detailing exactly the same concerns. And, as the saying goes, there’s ‘wisdom in crowds’, so what better place to look for advice?

Here are some of the most common concerns;

Should I invite the whole class?

This is a common concern – how do you decide who to invite from your child’s class? Only invite a select few and you run the risk that someone’s feelings will be hurt, invite everyone and your budget can spiral out of control.

The consensus seems to be that only inviting half the class is fine, as long as you make sure you aren’t just leaving out a couple of children. It’s fairly common for parents not to invite the whole class, especially if their child isn’t close to all of its members.

When you consider that all of the children may bring parents or siblings, limiting the number of invites seems perfectly reasonably – as long as you’re not singling anyone out.

Should I invite boys and girls?

The gender divide is a frequent concern, with many parents noticing boys not turning up to their daughter’s parties and vice versa.

An explanation for this could be the party theme. For example, one parent notes that her son was happy to go to a ‘heroes party’ but not a ‘Frozen’ party. Having a unisex theme is a good way to make sure that all of the children feel comfortable attending.

Another explanation could be age. Younger kids tend to have friends of both genders, whilst older children will often have a group of friends who are the same gender as them. However, every child is different, so it’s important to discuss with them who they’d like to invite.

How much should I spend?

Children’s parties can become expensive, so money is always a pressing concern. Once children reach school age, they’re likely to be invited to their classmate’s parties, which can pile the pressure on to compete.

So, how do you ignore the pleas for all the latest bells and whistles, and make sure you don’t spend more than you can afford? As mentioned above, one of the easiest ways is to reduce the number of people you invite.

However, there are lots of other things you can do to cut down on costs. Hiring out a village hall can be a good bet, as they will generally charge an all-in-one fee for a two to three-hour party, unlike other venues, which will often have additional charges for food etc.

If you’ve got the time, making supplies such as the cake and decorations yourself is a great budgeting trick.

What to do if parents don’t RSVP?

Is there anything more annoying than people who don’t RSVP? Unfortunately, not knowing who’s going to turn up seems to be a common problem

This can be particularly problematic when ordering party bags or food – how do you know how much you’ll need, if you don’t know who’s coming? And the problem is exacerbated if they then turn up with siblings in tow.

A good tactic is to include a politely worded caution in the invitation.  Something along the lines of ‘food and party bags will be ordered on XXX, so could you please RSVP by then to let me know either way’.

If there are still non-responders, it might be worth handing out reminders just before the date stipulated in the invitations.

How much should I put in the party bags?

Handing out party bags has become a staple of children’s parties, but knowing what to put in them is causing some parents a headache. Whilst you don’t want to look like you’ve gone completely over the top (largely due to the impact on your budget!), you don’t want to look like you’ve been too stingy either.

The general consensus is that just a couple of quality items is more than enough, with many parents including a mixture of sweets and small toys, with one or two different items for boys and girls. The focus should be on quality not quantity, as these items will bring more fun for longer.

Throwing a children’s party doesn’t have to be stressful. By following our guide to party etiquette, you can ensure that you sail smoothly through any potential pitfalls. And, if in doubt, talk to other parents – two heads are always better than one.

 

A tea party for little girls

Posted on by

All little ladies dream of having a tea party, dressing up and sitting down at a beautiful table with china cups and floral table accents. So get ready to put on your fancy dress and a tea party hat.

Here are some ideas you need to throw a beautiful Tea Party;

Transform your home or garden into a family fun pastel coloured tea party getaway. Serve tea, lemonade or punch along with dainty finger sandwiches and fruit. Your little Tea Party guests will be over the moon.

Invitations.

  • Tea party invitations can be a tea cup, a tea party hat or just a beautiful tea party designed card. Just be sure to make them really special by using a fancy font and graphics that support the theme. Be sure to give the start time, end time, date and location of the Tea Party.

 

Decorations.

  • Set the mood for your children’s party with great party decorations like a garland archway and play some beautiful music. Cover the party table with a flowery tablecloth and a beautiful centrepiece. Create a beautiful tea party setting for your guests to enjoy the finger sandwiches and tea.

 

Party Games.

  • Sometimes the memories are even more special when guests get to take home the artwork that they’ve created themselves at the party. Whether they decorate tea party hats, tiara, or a special decorative item, it will be something special that helps them remember and share their event with others.

 

Costumes.

  • A tea party for children just isn’t the same without all the guests dressed with some fancy tea party dresses. If you are throwing a tea party, be sure to include a hat or tiara!

 

Party Food

  • Don’t forget the snacks and drinks for all of your tea party guests.  Tiny finger food snacks and sweet flavoured tea drinks or lemonade are always top of the list. But it’s also fun to have some sweet pastries and fruit.

 

The cake.

  • A tea cup cake is always popular with those who like to bake. For those who prefer a simple and less complicated treat, individual cupcakes and ice cream in individual cupcake liners can reduce the mess of serving treats under pressure.

 

Ship Ahoy!!

Posted on by

Ahoy there! Are you and your little ones wanting to take to the seas for a splashing good time? Look no further! Here’s a selection of boat trips across the UK for your budding little pirates!

Circular Cruise, London

Hop onboard and marvel at some of the capital’s amazing landmarks! With a live audio commentary along the way, you’re sure to learn some fascinating facts too! You’ll cruise along the River Thames, hop on at either Westminster Pier, Embankment Pier, Festival Pier, Bankside Pier or St Katharine’s Pier.

Thames River Services, London

Take the family on a fantastic return cruise to and from many piers located on the River Thames. Some of the fantastic landmarks you are likely to see include Cutty Sark, The O2 Arena, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, The London Eye, Big Ben, The Shard and plenty more! Each landmark is truly beautiful and has a unique historical story to tell.

City Cruises, London

Enjoy a fabulous all-day hop on, hop off cruise along the River Thames London offering you unlimited access to the majestic River Thames for 24 hours. You have the freedom to hop off and enjoy some sites and then hop back on at a time convenient to you to continue your cruise, making this is a fantastic family day out to see some of the Capital’s most iconic sites and learn a little bit of history too!

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Hampshire

There’s so much to see and do at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard with indoor and outdoor activities suitable for the whole family. Learn about the Royal Navy as it is today and get an insight into what the future holds. Step on board historic ships that changed the world such as HMS Victory and HMS Warrior 1860. Don’t miss the new‐look Mary Rose museum, which gives insight into Tudor life!.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy, Hartlepool

Come and see the Fighting Ships, what life was like on board HMS Trincomalee and so much more at this authentically-created historic quayside of the 1800s! Young pirates and sailors can jump aboard the children’s activities like the play ship for their own seafaring adventures and explore the Children’s Maritime Adventure Centre!

Windermere Lake Cruise

Come and take a cruise on England’s largest lake! Lasting from between 45 minutes to 3 hours, these trips are sure to please everyone in the family! Enjoy trips all around the lake with a Freedom of the Lake ticket, or join one of the evening cruises where kids get to watch the sunset, you can even get a ticket which combines some of the attractions around the lake.

Get some sneaky exercise in with the kids

Posted on by

Now that spring has made an appearance, it is the perfect time to start making the most of the sunshine to enjoy a bit of fresh air, getting some exercise outdoors. If you’re looking for ways to get your little ones active, as well as cram in a little cardio yourself, have a go at some of the following ideas!

1. Make Household Chores Fun

Whilst it’s easy for the kids to dismiss chores as boring, why not try and turn them into a fun game to get them moving? Challenging them to see how many toys they can put away in a minute might be all it takes to get them running around the house!

2. Sneak in More Steps

This one is a super easy way to make sure you’re moving as much as possible. There’s lots of ways to sneak in some more steps, from parking the car a few roads away, taking the stairs instead of the lift and more.

3. Take a Daily Walk With Kids

Taking a walk everyday is a great way to get your little ones into an exercise routine, which can be both active and educational. See if you can get them naming what wildlife and flowers they can spot on their travels! It doesn’t have to be far, as there’s sure to be something interesting at every corner.

4. Music Motivation

If you’re looking for a way to get your little ones active and ready for school in record time, why not throw on an upbeat playlist that they love and see if they can get ready before the songs are over. Shameless dancing around the kitchen is optional.

5. Gardening with Kids

Prepping the garden for spring and summer is the perfect (yet deceiving) way to get your little ones eager to move. Get them weeding, plant potting and watering flowers to give them some TV free time.

6. Weekly Sports Night

This one is great for getting the family together and being active. Whether its football in the park, bike riding or going for a swim, there’s lots of options available to keep things interesting each week!

Family days out for £25

Posted on by

Boscombe Coastal Activity Park – Bournemouth, Dorset

FREE ENTRY

Stroll down Boscombe Beach and you will be able to enjoy a whole host of coastal activities including free swing ball, table tennis, bouldering and don’t forget to check out the music trail on the pier!9. Wellsfield Farm Park, Falkirk

Family: £22, Adult: £5.5, Child (under 16): £6.5

This family run farm park has plenty to keep the little ones happy.  There’s acres of green space to explore, trails to follow, an adventure play area and so much more. Race around the go-kart track, have a ride on a pony, go pond dipping or try your luck at panning for gold! If you want something a bit more active there’s a climbing wall, agility poles, monkey bars, scramble net, balance beams and a zip wire.

Hoar Park Farm, Nuneaton

Family: £11, Adult: £3, Child: £2.50, Under 2: Free

At Hoar Park farm you can meet a whole bunch of different animals such as goats, chickens, geese, ponies, donkeys, pigs, deer, cows, guinea pigs, rabbits and even a tarantula called Rosie, who you can touch! There’s also a playground where your little ones can run around and keep themselves busy for an hour or two.

Ludlow Castle, Shropshire

Family: £13.50, Adult: £5, Child: £2.50, Under 6: Free

Explore this medieval ruin and your little ones can play at being princes and princesses for the day! They often have loads of special events on from kids workshops to food festivals and on Monday the 29th of August they’ve got a family entertainment spectacular taking place. Watch the knights battle for the Heritage Cup, listen to the Jester’s jokes and listen to exciting talks about medieval weaponry. Please note that prices are higher for this event – £20 for a family ticket.

Alice Holt Forest, Surrey

FREE ENTRY (Parking Charges Apply)

For a day of exploration and activity outdoors take the family to Alice Holt Forest where you can walk, cycle, play or have a picnic. The kids can discover the play area where there’s a pirate ship to climb and explore, a nest swing and even a 3D maze! Entrance is free for all the only cost is parking, which starts at £1.80 for 1 hour, up to £8 for 4+ hours.

Fancy’s Family Farm – Portland, Dorset

FREE ENTRY

Fancy’s Farm has loads of animals and critters that you won’t see at any regular farm! Including slow worms, lizards and even wallabies! Kids will love meeting all the different animals, especially Dinky the Miniature Horse!

The Teddy Bear Museum, Dorchester

Family: £19.99, Adult: £6.50, Children: £4.50, Under 3: Free

At the Teddy Bear Museum the kids will love meeting the whole family of human-sized teddy bears! You’ll also get the chance to see a whole collection of vintage, famous and iconic bears throughout the ages – an unmissable day out for kids and grown-ups alike. Afterwards, you can pop into the shop and pick up your very own teddy bear friend to take home.

The Clink Prison, London

Family £18, Adult: £7.50, Child: £5.50

This museum is built on the original site of a medieval prison. The kids will love the hands on educational experience where you are able to handle original artefacts including torture devices. You will also hear lots of amazing stories about the prison’s past, the inmates and the notorious South Bank.

Tropical World, Leeds

Adult: £6, Child (5-15): £3, Under 5: Free

For an exotic experience take the family day out to Tropical World in Leeds where there’s the largest collection of tropical plants in the UK outside of Kew Gardens. There are different areas ready for you to explore such as Tropical Island, Desert House, South American House, Butterfly House and Tropical World Tour. As you walk around try to spot the meerkats, terrapins, leaf cutter ants and tropical birds.

 

10 family days out in North Yorkshire

Posted on by

1.Wensleydale Creamery

By far the best known attraction in Hawes is the Wensleydale Creamery, home of Wensleydale cheese. The centre offers cheese making demonstrations, a small museum and viewing gallery, cafe and shops. The creamery has a lot to thank Wallace and Gromit for; the animated duo helped increase production at a time when sales were slowing. Nowadays the creamery sells a cheese named after them, I bet it’s a popular choice for visitors.

Wensleydale creamery

The best part, for a family day out, is the cheese shop. It’s full of samples, even for those people who don’t like Wensleydale cheese.

You can visit the cheese shop for free; a family ticket (2 adults and 2 kids) to the museum and cheese making area costs £7.50.

2. Hardraw Force waterfall

Hardraw Force is England’s highest above ground single drop waterfall, with a plunge of 100 foot. It’s a short easy walk to the waterfall through the grounds of the Green Dragon Inn. We visited during a dry spell; I’d imagine it’s even more impressive after heavy rain.

The waterfall is open daily from 10am. A family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) costs £7.50.

3. Hawes Ropemakers (Outhwaites)

Outhwaites Ltd, Ropemakers, Hawes

Located in the town this traditional ropemaker is worth popping into for 20 minutes or so. It’s mesmerising standing in front of the machines watching rope being made. There are machines making braids of all thicknesses and lengths from church bell ropes to skipping ropes. And if you’ve got a dog, their leads are available to buy and very popular.

Entrance is free.

4. Sheepdog demonstration

Countryfile have resurrected “One man and his dog” over the last couple of years which may account for the popularity of this evening out.

Sheepdog demonstration, near Hawes

Run by a local farmer, Richard Fawcett holds weekly demonstrations in a field just outside Hawes throughout the summer season.

Visitors are introduced to the dogs and watch them working the sheep. They make it look easy even if the sheep don’t always behave according to plan!

Tickets cost £5 for adults, £1 for children.

5. Dales Countryside Museum

The Dales Countryside Museum is a small local museum that focuses on the Yorkshire Dales and its people. Housed in the old railway station you’ll find exhibits ranging from Bronze Age spearheads to a Victorian smithy. Outside there are railway carriages with activities for younger children.

Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes

The Dales Countryside Museum is open daily except over the Christmas period and throughout January. Admission is £4.50 for adults, kids are free.

Explore Bristol with kids

Posted on by

There’s plenty to keep young kids occupied in Bristol, from At-Bristol to SS Great Britain. Here are some of the best ways to keep your children and teens entertained when visiting the city…

Banksy art, Bristol

But there’s a lot more to Bristol than Banksy. Starting from City Hall and going through the city centre to Stokes Croft you can learn about the techniques used, artist backgrounds and the meaning behind some of the pieces.

Bristol street art

Depending on your point of view, our final destination, Stokes Croft, is either full of drug dens and brothels, bohemian and edgy or gentrified and expensive to live in. Whatever your thoughts there’s definitely lots of street art to see.

St Nicholas Market

Leaving street art tour head back to the city centre via the indoor St Nicholas Market. The market has the usual clothing and knick-knack stalls but what sets it apart are the food outlets. With options from all over the world it wouldn’t look out of place in Borough Market.

Cabot tower

Built in the 1890s to commemorate the journey of John Cabot from Bristol to Canada the tower is free to visit. There’s a 360 degree panoramic view from the top although getting there may involve a squeeze. The spiral stairs are pretty narrow and things get interesting when you meet someone coming the opposite direction!

Giant’s cave, Clifton Observatory

Clifton Observatory is home to two attractions, a Camera Obscura and Giant’s Cave.  There is a touch of make believe about the tale, the steps lead out onto a platform with an impressive view of the gorge and bridge.

Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol

On the far side there’s a small visitor centre. Kids can play with a weighing machine that tells you how many of yourself can stand on the bridge without it collapsing. Quite a few fortunately!

Eating out

One of the great treats on a city break is eating out.

Under the stars

A floating tapas boat moored at the Harbourside. Lots of tasty veggie options, reasonable size portions and a quirky venue.

Urban Tandoor

An Indian restaurant with great service in a small (and dark) venue so book in advance.

Swoon gelato

An ice cream treat for the kids with lots of different flavours to choose from. Very tasty.

Save on your children’s party

Posted on by

Gone are the days when a sandwich, bowl of jelly and a game of pass-the-parcel were enough for a fun children’s party. Social media bragging and peer pressure have upped the ante.

Some parents admit to spending £800 on their kids birthday bash, with £300 being the average cost, according to a poll by Mums Show Live!

Extravagant parties include an entertainer for three hours at £435 (£145 an hour); catered food and drink for 30 at £3.95 a child (£118.50); hire of a hall at around £100; birthday cake £64.90 and party bags for everyone at £3.25 each add up to £97.50. Grand total: £815.90.

Here are simple ways to stop your party parting you from your money.

Invites

Email invitations or download them for free from websites.

  • A fun idea from is to write the details on an inflated balloon, let the air out and ask the nursery or school to hand them out after class.

  • Share the party with one of your children’s friends with a birthday around the same time and keep it short, say two hours rather than three. Keep numbers down by making it clear that guests’ brothers and sisters aren’t invited.

  • If you can’t face having it at home, or don’t have enough space, summer parties can be held in a local park or free outdoor play area with a picnic and energetic party games.

  • If you don’t want to take a risk with the weather, get a quote from a soft play centre or local hall. Avoid peak times – weekends, school holidays and half terms – when admission charges are higher. Babies often get in for free. Ask if you can bring your own food.

Entertainment

Professional children’s party entertainers are expensive. There are horror stories of the family pet savaging the magician’s rabbit and little ones being left in tears by grumpy clowns. Keep the stress and cost down by doing it yourself.

You can always organise traditional games such as blind man’s bluff, pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey and musical chairs.

Catering

Young ones typically don’t eat much, so don’t go overboard. Sandwiches, crisps and ice cream with a flake should be enough. Or ask family and friends to bring a dish and bake your own cake.

If you’re not a baker, and don’t know an enthusiastic amateur, buy plain fairy cakes and get the kids to decorate them.

Borrow a tablecloth and decorations from a friend. Or get a plain white paper cloth, scatter crayons and stickers on it and get the children to draw on it. Balloons are always popular, especially if you customise with glitter.

Party bags

These are a real bone of contention and thinking up what to put in them can be stressful. Even if you buy loads of plastic toys from a pound shop this can quickly add up.

One idea is to buy a set of books such as the Mr Men series and let the children choose one to take away. A book will last far longer than a tatty toy that will be broken by bedtime. Or do a lucky dip.

If you must have a going-home gift, decorate brown paper bags and buy seeds, multipacks of sweets and stickers to fill them and a slice of cake. Or fill a jar with sweets and tie a ribbon round it.

There are lots of ideas on the internet on how to throw a great party on the cheap. We are sure if you stretch your imagination it will be a real success!!