It will be totally fine, sounds like a lot of fun, OP!

I think you’ll be fine and you don’t need anything else. Facilitated games is fine, but don’t do too many - maybe just one. Kids also need time to just be.

I find DC (American?) parents to be totally crazy with birthday parties. We’ve done a bunch of backyard parties for two kids (now 3 and 9), and they’ve been great. A few decoarations, toys suited to the size/age, and then trust kids to make their own fun. Kids are just happy to be together, and often VERY happy to be together without an adult telling them what to do, how to do it, and who to do it with.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think starting at age 4 you may think about something else like the bounce house (that’s why indoor playgrounds so popular for birthday parties, the kids are racing around using energy.) Think of kids in attendance, too.

What does think of kids in attendance mean?

I don't think our yard can fit the big rental bounce houses- we own the little kind but only a couple kids at a time but can easily go back to park parties which have been great success. Zero interest in indoor playgrounds for many reasons including wouldn't be able to include her cousins ( who she cares more about than friends) or neighbors and so germy. We've gone to multiple other backyard parties and kids seem to be always having fun but same for playground parties.

Are you sure you have sufficient space for the number of people you want to invite? If you don't have room for a bounce house I'm skeptical you'll have room for what could be 70-90 people (30+ kids and parents).

yea i'm not worried fitting people we just have lots of big structures in the yard (climbing dome, swingset, playhouse, etc) and shape of yard doesn't leave a big empty green flat space for a large bounce house (our small one fits fine). i don't think it would be 90 people... the 30 kids accounts for people bringing siblings, so adding parents doesn't triple it...

we've been to many backyard parties where 15-20 families are invited-- her class alone is 13 kids plus 3 families worth of cousins and a couple family friends/neighbors. we can certainly go back to a playground party. goodness we've gone to multiple backyards in petworth and our yard is much bigger than those! the kids are running around playing much more at the playground/backyard than structured things we've gone to like a nature center or firehouse where they look at a truck 15 min but otherwise in a party room.

6 of the kids are cousins including 3 teens... some kids are baby siblings, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think starting at age 4 you may think about something else like the bounce house (that’s why indoor playgrounds so popular for birthday parties, the kids are racing around using energy.) Think of kids in attendance, too.

What does think of kids in attendance mean?

I don't think our yard can fit the big rental bounce houses- we own the little kind but only a couple kids at a time but can easily go back to park parties which have been great success. Zero interest in indoor playgrounds for many reasons including wouldn't be able to include her cousins ( who she cares more about than friends) or neighbors and so germy. We've gone to multiple other backyard parties and kids seem to be always having fun but same for playground parties.

Are you sure you have sufficient space for the number of people you want to invite? If you don't have room for a bounce house I'm skeptical you'll have room for what could be 70-90 people (30+ kids and parents).

And parking space too

no bounce house with 30 4 year olds - someone will break a leg or an arm! It will be CHAOS in that bounce house unless (and even still) you hire a "bouncer" to keep the rule of only 6 in the bouncehouse (or whatever). But even then, parents will always push and push for "just to add my tiny son/daughter, it won't be an issue and s/he REALLY wants to bounce right NOW with birthday child! Can't wait until anyone else gets out....

I think

Anonymous wrote:I think starting at age 4 you may think about something else like the bounce house (that’s why indoor playgrounds so popular for birthday parties, the kids are racing around using energy.) Think of kids in attendance, too.

Disagree. I think 4 and 5 are great ages for "traditional birthday games" like pin the tail on the donkey, musical chairs and a pinata. Kids aren't going to have those memories if no one plays games with kids.

Frankly I'm sick of indoor playgrounds for birthday parties. They're fun, but there isn't anything organized. It's just kids playing by themselves for 1.5 hours and then eating cake/pizza. The parents and also the party place hosts don't do a single thing with the kids.