Help with organising 3 yr olds party

[mydarlings]

Hi,

I'm new here and have come on board looking for some help.
I am organising my first birthday party - for a three year old and have a few ques I'm hoping you can help me with.
We are having it at a park - with playground-starting at 2.30pm. Would you have games and if so when do you do them? Also what time should you bring the cake out and when should we open the presents? I am planning nibbles will the kids just 'race' by during play and help themselves or should I try and sit the kids down on a picnic rug?
Sorry these may sound so obvious but I cannot believe how worried I'm getting over a three yr old's party! :confused:

Thanks for your help.:)

[grass is always greener]

I too am organising a 3yr olds party.
I guess it depends on what food you are serving as to where they eat it.
I would just let them go, it will be less stress for you trying to wrangle a bunch of 3 yr olds into organisation.
Games to play would be pass-the-parcel, pin the tail on the donkey. I would google some more, theres plenty out there.

[codswallop]

let the kids run by and eat at will youll never get them to settle it would be like trying to herd cats but tougher!
play the games before the cake and have cake the last 1/2 before it ends (helps to round them up and settle them down)

[lukaelmo]

I am lazy and just put the food and toys out and expect people to enjoy themselves!

All my parties are the same, food, toys, sandpit, ballpit and now a trampoline... oh and one year we had one of those machines that blows bubbles, that was a big hit.

I don't organise any games to play, for me the kids are having fun as it is, and to organise them to sit down and play something just seems like way too much of an effort for me. Same with the food, it's all there, if they want it, go for it.

I think the only thing that I really do is make sure everyone is offered some cake...

Anyway, I do it that way because it pleases me... you should do what will please you :).

Good luck, and hey, don't stress, they are little kids, as long as there are people to play with, there's no boring bits to life.

[PinkBinkie]

Seeing you're having the party at a park I wouldn't stress too much over party games. Maybe just have a few as backup in case the kids get bored, but seeing it's at a playground I doubt that will happen. A good party game is a treasure hunt, maybe for lollies for the lolly bags or something. My sis had her dd's party at a park and got there early so she had a table undercover she could set up with food and with chairs for the adults to sit on. I brought along a rug and some toys for the babies and toddlers. The food was left out for everyone to help themself to, plus a couple of eskys with cold drinks. The cake was cut towards the end of the party. I'm sure the party will be a great success no matter what. Kids at 3 seem to be pretty easy to please :D

[mydarlings]

Thanks all .... ok so the deal is just to let the kids go. I have a game in mind incase they get bored (something like - who can jump like a kangaroo etc ?- and then give one child a prize. I'll then keep going until everyone gets a prize ... is that OK - I don't think my 3 yr old would know about pin the tail on the donkey etc) and I suppose just to have drinks and nibbles for the adults as well.
Now just to prey for a nice day!! :sunshine:

[RainbowSky]

Sounds good to me. I'd have the food all laid out and ready when they arrive (2.30pm is a good time for afternoon tea so I wouldn't wait too much longer) and then let the kids wild in the playground for say, 45mins to an hour or however long you want. Then I would gather them up for a game (pass the parcel is always good, you can put a lollipop or something between each layer so all the kids get something if you want.) and the bday cake. After the cake they can play or people can go home or whatever.
I wouldn't worry too much about adult food, maybe some a platter of some nice cheese and bikkies with dried fruit or something that gets put out for the mums and dads when the little ones go off to play. Just something simple.
Just make sure you've got lots of drinks in case it's a warm day!