5 yr old's BD Party: Prizes or No Prizes? Help!
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5 yr old's BD Party: Prizes or No Prizes? Help!
I am having a Batman birthday party for my ds Adrian in a few weeks. I am going to list the ages of the kids that will be attending.
1 12mo
2 18mo
1 2yr
1 3yr
2 4yr
1 5yr
1 7yr
1 8yr
1 10yr
1 11yr
Is this going to be nearly impossible or what???
Okay, I am going to have each child decorate their own party bag with theme-related materials. We are also going to do a theme-related craft. I am also going to give each child a Batman mask and cape to wear during the party. There will also be candy to fill the party bags.
I have 6 games planned. I am soooo not good at party planning, so if you could help me out on any changes/additions to these games I have planned and whether or not to give prizes, I would GREATLY appreciate it.
1. Musical Bats - Like musical chairs, but each chair is numbered, when the music stops a random number is called out. That child gets a sticker and is "out". This goes on until all kids get a sticker. My question...should the last remaining child also get a prize?
2. Pin the Bat on Batman - traditional pin the tail on the donkey game but with Batman. Prize here?
3. Stomp the Bad Guys - Balloons with Bad Guy faces drawn on them, all tied up and filled with candy and placed on the ground. Children have to "stomp the bad guys" (balloons). Prize? Or is the candy prize enough?
4. Capture the Criminal - A game that includes "clues" to finding the "criminal" which would be a picture of a Bad Guy. After the child finds the criminal, I will take a picture of him/her holding up the captured criminal and do a "Newspaper" type thank you note, featuring that child's amazing capture, to be sent out after the party. But do they also get a prize? If so, that would be 12 prizes right there with this game alone.
5. Bat Tag - Children have 6 bats taped to them, they chase one another to get each others bats. Whoever has the most bats at the end of one minute wins. Should I even do this one considering the span of ages of the children? Should I only have some children participate, or do groups? AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
6. Wrap Up the Bad Guy - Mike and my two brothers will be the Bad Guys. The children will wrap them up with toilet paper! Should I do 3 groups of children, one per bad guy, as a group competition? Prizes?
Overall, should I do prizes for some games, but not for certain ones, like the "Stomp the Bad Guys" game where candy is in the balloons? Should I just not have prizes because it seems to me the big kids will win them all. If I do have prizes, I could buy a whole bunch, and give the kids a prize who did not win prizes during the games. One reason I was leaning away from prizes is because they will already have the mask and cape, candy, sticker, craft and party bag. Please, someone, HELP ME!
Also, while I'm at it, and you all already think I'm totally lame, I'll ask one more question. For food, I was going to serve punch, juice, and soft drinks, a fruit tray, vegetable tray, and trail mix/chips. The party is at 1:30. Should I have some sort of main dish like hot dogs, pizza wraps, finger sandwiches? Or is this too late in the day?
OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING THIS FAR 
And an even greater thank you if you bother to give me your opinions. LOL
I just re-read this and realized how LONG of a post it is, I am so sorry.  I just got carried away. I want to make it a really nice party for Adrian. Mike is even going to dress up in a Batman costume for the kids!
I am just really worried about the whole game thing and prizes. It is really getting to me, I think I'm losing it! I just want to get this all figured out before I end up in an institution!!!!
I think it sounds great!I would consider leaving out the bat tag because of the smaller kids, I could see them getting pushed down. I don't think I would do the prize thing, it always results in someone getting upset and the games sound fun enough on their own. It's just extra money that they probably won't even notice you spent. If you're party is at 1:30 I wouldn't plan on feeding them, most people would have already fed their kids lunch.
Hmmm, I'll think more on this later when I have more time, but I wanted to let you know my initial thoughts.
I would avoid prizes, as well, considering all the party favors you'll have.
Stomp the Balloon might be a problem. First of all, I wonder about the condition of the candy after the stomping, but mostly I worry about the NOISE. It might terrify some of the kids. When my daughter was in K the teacher needed some balloons popped and my daughter FREAKED OUT when it started. And she was six at the time!! With your wide ages, someone in there is bound to be scared by it.
Bat Tag has the potential to be super fun, or the potential to get out of hand. I might avoid that to avoid any 'tackling' that might occur, or any little ones being run over. If it's warm enough and you did it outside with similar age groups, maybe it would be better.
I don't think you need to feed anyone lunch. Most people eat around noon, no need to feed them a meal.
It sounds fun! Great ideas!
My friend, Edie, always made sure that everyone got a prize for every game. She never wanted anyone to feel left out.
If you do prizes I would make them very small. Maybe the winner could get 2 stickers, where everyone that got out only received 1 sticker. Something simple. Sounds like there will be plenty of treats to go around so I wouldn't worry too much about a prize.
I also say don't worry about a main dish. The kids will probably all eat before they come.
Everything sounds like fun! What cute ideas you have Do you have room for me and my 3 kiddos to come too? LOL
Aww, that's sounds like fun...can we come?
No prizes sounds a whole lot easier.
If you can, maybe do the games separating the big kids and little kids. or else the big ones will win every time. Although most little kids care more about playing the game and having fun and don't really care who won.
The balloon thing sounds fun, but i agree, some little ones might get upset when the balloons pop.
IMO, just have the food you suggested. Don't bother with hotdogs, or sandwiches. It sounds like the kids will be too busy playing games to stop and eat! Plus, everyone will have already had lunch before they came.
Have fun!
Thanks everyone. We have decided to eliminate the balloon game, as well as have two rounds for each game - one for the big kids and one for the little kids. I think it is absolutely necessary for the Bat Tag game like a lot of you said. I think I'm going to hold out on a main dish as well and just provide the snacks I mentioned. I like Robin's idea of small prizes like stickers if I decide to do prizes at all.
Thank you so much for your help!!!! If anyone has anymore suggestions, PLEASE keep them coming.
Oh, and you are ALL invited!
Well, I think you are wrong you are a wonderful party planner. I love the bat tag!! Sounds like so much fun for all Yeah!
Amy,
I am having a Batman party on March 20th for my son who will be 5,too!
I think it sounds fun!
We are requesting that all kids come in their favorite super hero costume if they want to!
I am planning a little super hero scavenger hunt for all the items to fill their treat bags! So when they read the map and find the goods there is one for each of them.
My husband is bbq'ing hotdogs, hamburgers, and chicken. I wanted pizza, much easier but my son loves bbq and asked daddy to make it for his friends.
We are also playing pin the key on the Batmobile. My daughter drew a huge batmoblile with charachters and I cut out cardboard keys to attach.
We are going all out also because 5 is a big deal in our house too!!
Have fun!
I think you forgot the most import rule~ K*I*S*S
Keep It Simple, Silly (well, silly isn't the real word, but it is our substitute for the word )!
Here is what ALL kids are interested in:
Cake/icecream
Opening gifts!
games/crafts are fun, but not the main event.
As for the types of prizes, I always used Oriental trading company. When DD was young, we did inflatable balls (they're young, they don't need more than that). As she has gotten older, I have increased the prizes to the smaller items that are theme related.
You've got GREAT plans! but I think you over extended w/ everything. Narrow it down.
Those w/ babies can't do much and prizes are pretty much going to be a mute point.
Those older kids are just wanting to go wild.
Plan for a quick party. Have food available if that is in your plan. Don't wait to start serving food. Start ASAP. Kids can play or eat first. Parents will eat.
Once you know all the guest have arrived, bring all the kids together. Have the parents who are there help gather them. Have a special area on the ground for the moms w/ babies. Have a table for the older kids. Have the crafts ready to go onto the tables/floor. The older children, esp the 10-11 yr olds, can help pass it out if you need. Get the kids' attention and give directions before any craft item is placed out. Show your example. (It's kinda like teaching class, but the school age kids know the process and follow well, while the younger kids can settle down as mom listens/helps.)
Do the craft. Kids can play after they finish. Crafts can dry or whatever is needed while rest of party continues.
Choose one (may be two....just follow the mood of the party) game. Give instructions. Play the game. Have a ball or two avail for the babies to play w/ each other/moms. I pass out the prize bags to each child during this time. I don't wait for them to leave. Sometimes the first guests to leave get forgotten.
After the game. Start the cake! No reason to wait any longer. Sing, eat and head straight to the gifts.
Those families wishing to leave at this point will. If kids/parents are having fun, they will continue to play for a little longer.
Parent's and kids have REALLY enjoyed my daughters parties because I keep it focused on the "fun stuff" and not too much of it. Play, eat, gifts. That is all you need.
I would do a gift bag for when they leave with a few age appropriate gifts in it. And not sweat the prize per game thing. I would focus more on the fun of the party than on who is going to win what. Because the truth be known the older kids will sweep on the games leaving the little ones with nothing. Not cool...
I would also still plan all the games.. But not have a set schedule to get to each of them. We have planned games that were major flops when they came down to it and I luckily had thought in advance for something like that to happen and had a couple of back up games planned. We have also had games that they wanted to play the whole party and never got to the other ones. Another thing I would suggest would be not having a set schedule. Craft for 15 minutes games for 20 cake for 10 and then gifts type of thing. You will stress yourself out trying to keep on a schedule. Plan everything out tentatively and enjoy yourself.. A happy mommy makes for a happy child.
Like Dana said.. Cake/ice cream Opening gifts!
games/crafts are fun, but they are not the main event. They main event is the celebration, the being together and the sharing that moment.
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