That is too many kids. Tell your kid to lower it. I think only have snacks available is very odd and distasteful. You can buy a couple of pizzas for the kids. Look, if you don’t have the money, it’s cool, just don’t have the party. Feed the kids!

watch a movie and service pizza, hot chocolate bar and smores and do the gingerbread houses and yes they fall apart and are a mess

Look I get what you are trying to do but having attempted this hen my kid was younger I learned my lesson. Parties are just expensive. Even at home parties. You will end up regretting trying to nickel and dime. Expand the budget to $250

It might help to have a few backup activities. Oriental Trading Company has inexpensive craft kits. With kids that age, one big hit was decorating denim drawstring backpacks with fabric paint. Decorating mugs and things like that can also work as party favors.

For the gingerbread houses - there is a trick where you heat sugar in a pan (make sure kids aren’t around when you do this because very hot and sticky) til it melts and creates a syrup. then you use that syrup to put the gingerbread houses together and it hardens and they actually stay.

I did it for three 4 year olds last year and it worked super well. No falling apart houses and they were able to just enjoy decorating. I did it before everyone arrived and then just had all the decorating stuff out. Put brown butcher paper down on the table with a bunch of things to decorate, frosting etc and just let them go. Oh and a piece of cardboard with foil on it for each person to put their house on and decorate.

And yes only 2 hrs

Graham cracker gingerbread houses are the way to go. We’ve hosted that age kid and younger for several years. The easiest way is to preassemble them using icing or hot glue. Of course, hot glue only if you’re not planning on snacking on them later. Secure each house on a foil covered piece of cardboard. Save all the leftover Halloween candy (or skim off the top). My kids don’t like the hard candies, dots, tootsie rolls, smarties, licorice that they get at fall parades and are great for decorating. Supplement as needed.

They don’t end up looking like your classic gingerbread houses, but the kids have fun making them.

13 kids is a lot for an at home party. I try to limit it to 5 or 6.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks so much for all of the ideas!! These are great ideas!!! I am also glad I am not alone on the gingerbread houses!

I have two older boys - I am thinking the 14 year old can be more help than the 11 year old But I should ask them to help and my husband.

My ideal budget is $200 but not sure if that's realistic. Maybe if I stock up on the halloween candy for the decorating!

I was wondering about finding a teen for tinsel / fairy hair - I have a bunch of that!

I have a small corn hole, giant jenga, and giant connect 4 yard games that I could put out and a small bounce house that is probably ages 4-8, so this could be its last hurrah!

Thanks again!

These are all great ideas OP. Check out Michael’s in store, they often have discounts for crafts. Also, I often see nice things at the dollar store and Aldi’s seasonal items. It seems the 200$ will go towards food, cake and crafts. So totally doable.

Thanks so much for all of the ideas!! These are great ideas!!! I am also glad I am not alone on the gingerbread houses!

I have two older boys - I am thinking the 14 year old can be more help than the 11 year old But I should ask them to help and my husband.

My ideal budget is $200 but not sure if that's realistic. Maybe if I stock up on the halloween candy for the decorating!

I was wondering about finding a teen for tinsel / fairy hair - I have a bunch of that!

I have a small corn hole, giant jenga, and giant connect 4 yard games that I could put out and a small bounce house that is probably ages 4-8, so this could be its last hurrah!

Thanks again!

Anonymous wrote:Cocoa and s'mores sounds great. Do gingerbread people instead of the houses. That's really all you need to do!

This. Check in your neighborhood / community if an artsy high schooler may be willing to do face painting - some simple stuff & Get a face painting kit.

Come up with 1-2 activities for outdoor and just in case indoor that are more active. A small bounce house, musical chairs, something to get them moving for a bit and get them into the spirit.

Cocoa and s'mores sounds great. Do gingerbread people instead of the houses. That's really all you need to do!

You won't need too many snacks since the kids will gorge themselves on gingerbread house candy. So keep snacks simple - easy to eat like apple slices, grapes, pretzels, goldfish. Done.

On a budget: skim off some of the Halloween candy your kid brings home a month from now for decorating in Dec. Or buy the discounted Halloween candy on Nov. 1 (CVS marks it down 75% the week after halloween; YMMV).

Decorate an upside-down waffle (or big sugar cone) cone (Christmas tree) as opposed to houses which are a pain . To transport, place a large solo cup or like a big gulp type cup over "tree" to take home.

The weather is still relatively mild in Dec so outdoors is fine. You can rent a bounce house for cheap or just open up your yard for free play - get some big bouncy balls from the Dollar Tree, for example.
Or

What is your budget??

Do you have people who can help you?

I think all of this could work. Bear in mind the sun sets at like 4:45 in December so you probably want to have lighting in your outdoor space. It wont be pitch black at sunset but just something to consider. I also think all of your ideas (gingerbread house, hot chocolate bar, and fire pit s’mores) have a lot of messy sticky components so I’d want to have more than one adult supervising/assisting/setting up/facilitating. I’d have some specific lawn or indoor games set up like cornhole or hula hoops or jump ropes or potato sacks. I think with that many girls it can be helpful to structure the play/activities a bit.

2-4 pm
I love the gingerbread house idea but agree with you on the room for issues. Could you pre assemble the graham cracker kind, or maybe do “flat” gingerbread houses aka really big cookies?
Or, if you are going to do hot chocolate, you could find the DIY mugs where you out the paper insert in the middle? Stickers, markers… let them go to town and then drink out of them and then take them home! Activity and favor in one!

I am really trying to turn a new leaf and not blow so much money on my kids' bday parties so I have an actual budget this year. Usually I get nervous about having to entertain so many kids and end up dropping a lot of money on some kind of entertainment.

My daughter wants to invite 13 kids over to our house in Dec. for a winter bday (3rd grade, turning 9). (This is more girls than I am willing to host for a sleepover). She would like to be outside, weather permitting - I figure they can play inside and outside, more inside if it's cold. I am thinking 2-5pm on a Sunday? With just snacks and not full meal? And hot choc bar and fit pit smores for the dessert in lieu of cake, weather permitting?

I am possibly considering gingerbread houses as an activity but idk - those always fall apart for me!!!

Do you have any other tips for me on how to do this on a budget? I would take advice on anything - activities, food, favors, etc.! I can make some things if I have to but I am not super crafty. Thank you!