FOOD
I cannot recall the amount of times that I have arrived at the venue of a children's party to set up the show, to be confronted by a large table, or tables bending, and groaning under the sheer weight of food that has been provided for the guests. The hostess providing this much food has surely invited 100 guests at the very least.
After finding that there has been no mistake, and only 15 children are expected. I have visions of how big, or how big the hostess must think that, they are. To be able to consume even a small proportion of the overall amount of food provided, they would need the appetite of a fair sized bull elephant.
In these situations, towards the end of the party after the guests have eaten their fill, I usually notice the husband of the hostess viewing the mountain of uneaten food with dismay. I don't need to be a mind reader to tell that he knows exactly what he will find in his lunch box every day for the next two months.
TIDYING UP THE MESS AFTERWARDS (to top)
If you desire a party that can be completely prepared in advance, without obvious waste, and no tidying up afterwards, try this!
Allow two sticky-backed name labels per guest. Write the expected guest's name on both, apply one to the owner of that name as they arrive at the party, and the other in advance to a simple 10" x 10" cake box, or a specially printed party box.
Into whatever type of box you choose, place only the quantity of food you feel your own child would eat. Two sandwiches, small packet of savoury cheese biscuit, crisps, little party cake, etc. When it's time to eat simply match the child to their food box.
When they have finished eating, add the usual items that you would normally add to a party bag, to their box. When its time to go, reunite the child and their box once again, allowing them to take it all away with them. This method is not only more practical than other ideas, but the children love it as they leave the party the same way as they arrived, with a box or present.
EATING OUTSIDE (to top)
When the weather allows you to eat outside, and you are not using prepared party boxes as described above. Place the food on a table, rather than on a sheet or blanket on the floor, picnic style. It is also far better to ask the children what selection of food they would like, and then place what they require upon their plates while they watch. Rather than allowing them to do it themselves, unless they are older and more sensible.
Outside surfaces are not always even, nor are picnic tables very stable. So unless you wish to run the risk of an upset table, followed by the possibility of offering plates of dust, and debris covered food to your guests after such a mishap. Play safe and ask an adult to do the serving.
IN A HALL (to top)
Halls can be ideal locations for holding buffet style party meals. However children seem to quickly forget manners when away from the discipline of home or school. So to avoid pushing and grabbing while at the food table, tell them in advance which end of the table you wish them to start choosing, and collecting their food from. Also to take only as much food as they can eat, as you expect to see clean plates when they have finished. Although they can return for more food if they wish, when they have finished the first plate.
BIRTHDAY CAKES (to top)
I am not going to try and tell you the best source for the purchase of a birthday cake in your area. But a few minutes phoning around delicatessens, Supermarkets and cake shops in your area will be well spent. Many of these shops will offer a wide range of cakes, depicting children's favourite TV characters.
What I will urge you to watch for, is the little darling, that takes his sport in blowing out the candles on the birthday cake, before it even reaches the table. Upon introducing this fun new game, the rest of the children will need no encouragement in participating. A simple precaution against such high spirits, is to get the children to stand back a little further than the birthday child, before even lighting the candles.
LUNCH TIME PARTIES (to top)
As an entertainer, I now perform at as many lunch time parties as ones held in the later afternoon. The lunch time party has become popular for many reasons, one being the preparation time of food. Lunch time parties allow you the chance of offering fish fingers and chips, sausages, beans, etc. Any number, or mixture of frozen convenience foods are possible, and are easily prepared in a short time.
What could be easier than a tray full of oven chips and a beefburger squashed between a bun. The children seem to prefer this type of food to the more traditional party food.
Here again a word of warning. When providing hot dogs, Beefburgers etc., children seem to enjoy a dollop of tomato or other kind of sauce. Allowing them to personally apply this can be expensive, as all sense of moderation and proportion abandon most children, when they are handed a squeezer ketchup bottle.
BARBECUES (to top)
If you have a little more time available, and an easily lit and controllable barbecue unit at your disposal, why not. A smoky eyed, outside barbecue can be just as enjoyable and attractive to children as adults. Why not to go the whole distance and get the children to attend in cowboy and western costume, and arrange theme games, etc. Call it a "BANGERS AND BEANS PARTY".
SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS (to top)
When writing up your shopping list for the party, give a moments thought to who is coming. If you have invited guests from either the Jewish, or Muslim faiths, ham sandwiches and pork in any description will not be advisable. Even having a portion of this forbidden flesh on the same table as other food could be taken as an insult. Some more orthodox members of these religions will only eat Kosher, or Halal meat, and other food products. However on such occasions you will usually be informed of such dietary requirements well in advance, or they will bring their own food.
In general though catering for a mixed group is quite simple. If a barbecue, offer fish rather than meat, and in a more traditional party, sandwiches without meat or eggs, using jams, preserves, peanut butter instead, etc. For vegetarian children, and there are many meat conscious children around nowadays, replace fish with a vegiburger. Your real problem starts when you find out that your own little ray of sunlight, has befriended a vegan who they wish to invite. Vegans as I am sure you all ready know, in addition to appearing on Star Trek, also reject the consumption of not only meat, but also dairy products of any kind.
I am sure that for most people reading this, it goes with out saying that glasses to drink out of are not a good idea at children's parties, especially for younger children. Excited children do silly things, and run the chance of falling on, or breaking the glass and cutting themselves, to name just a few possibilities.
On many occasions at parties, I have seen children imitating parents by hitting their cups together and shouting cheers, in the same style as their father may do, when at the pub. Unfortunately over excited children use far more energy than is necessary in most things they attempt, and this imitation of striking their cups together, and toasting each other has usually ended in the most boisterous child receiving a soaking when his paper cup could no longer stand the abuse. Just think of the possible outcome had they been given glass. Even worse! in the years that I have been performing at children's parties, I can recall two occasions when children have, perhaps through excitement, bitten a piece out of a drinking glass.
Another potential danger that so many parents overlook, is giving children food to eat while watching entertainment of some sort, a clown, magician, puppet show, etc. Usually the hostess, thinking that she is being considerate to her guests offers light savouries, such as crisps and cheesy biscuits. These dry morsels, require more chewing than most foods, and can easily jam in a child's throat. The children naturally will be devoting the majority of their attention to the entertainment you have provided, rather than to the task of chewing and swallowing these savouries. Very often when performing Magic shows in parks and shopping centres etc. I have seen parents buy their children ice creams to eat while watching the show. The result is usually, that most of the treat ends up running over their fingers and drips onto the floor and their clothes.