I need to plan my youngest son's 2nd birthday party. My husband and I feel strongly about inviting our families until the age of 5. This allows our children to get to know their aunts, uncles, and cousins better. However, my husband has a very large family and once we add my family, and our close family friends, we end up with approximately 30-some kids and 20-some adults!
My other son's birthday is in June so the number of guests was never an issue because we had the party outdoors; but, my soon-to-be 2 year old's birthday is in November so it's too cold to have the party outdoors. I looked into renting our town hall, but if I do that then what type of activities would I plan that would occupy all the different ages of kids? Keep in mind, money is limited and Christmas is close. Please help.
By Momof2boysNbigfamily
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As far as your kids getting to know relatives better, you could serve the same purpose, maybe even to a better extent, if you visited these family members on a regular basis. Once a year parties aren't going to serve the purpose. Also when there is a whole group of people, you don't really get to know anybody that well.
You could divide the parties. Have one for your husband's family one day and one for your family the next day. You could do the same for close friends, have that one the following week. Whatever happened to parties where the adults just visit and the kids just run around, playing whatever comes to their imagination.
Do you have a basement? Even if it is just plain cement, have the party there, and borrow whatever folding tables and chairs that you would need. I'm not a big fan of large get togethers of any type and never have been. The only time I might be in favor of that type of get together is if you have a really large area to have it. My thought about large parties for small kids, is that they get used to them and therefore expect them to continue.
How wonderful that you want to have the families involved! Have you thought of asking if you can use your church basement? Our church members often use the basement of the church for big parties. Or does one of the other family members have a bigger house that they would share?
How about a bowling party? Several bowling establishments have party plans so everyone can bowl (you can plan some fun prizes for the "most unusual delivery", "most gutter balls", "most splits", etc.) After a game or two, the party room allows time for opening gifts, eating pizza and cake, etc.
Or, you can plan a family scavenger hunt at a nearby mall. Give families different clues about what to find (they must jot down their answers), then when they return to the meeting place, their answers are put together to solve a puzzle. Inexpensive prizes are awarded to the family who solves the puzzle first!
(The above scavenger hunt can also be done at a museum, if you have one nearby, and they may have a party room as well!)
You can also schedule a make-a-plate ceramic studio; every family makes a commemorative plate, and it's great fun for every member to contribute!
You can also do a "volunteer" project all together - what a beautiful impact that would have on your community! Check your community's non-profit organizations for ideas.
For more ideas in your area, just check local businesses - I'm sure you'll find lots to do with your large family.
Have lots and lots of fun - it sounds like you'll all have a wonderful time just being together!
Sometimes your local hospital has community rooms that can be rented very inexpensively - you might check with them.
I agree with redhatterb in not planning anything - adults visit and children make their own entertainment. Otherwise what should be an enjoyable time turns in to "work" for a lot of people. There would need to be someone in charge of entertainment for several ages which would require another 4-5 people - at least - since 10-year-olds are not going to be interested in a game for a 2-year-old.
Let the adults enjoy themselves and the children entertain themselves and at present-opening time, try to keep the other children sitting back a ways so that whoever wants can get good pictures of the birthday child opening the gifts.
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