Parties for children

Be on trend with your child’s party in 2018!

By Claire Winter

Children’s parties are always a hot topic of conversation in most households across the country. Who to invite? What theme? Which location? We’ve talked to party specialists and planners to find out the top party ideas for 2018, so you don’t have to.

Unusual themes

Think of a party with a twist. “Children’s parties are becoming even more sophisticated in 2018! Unicorns and Mermaids are still going strong but expect a fresh twist on the theme. Also expect to see wedding trends making their way into children’s parties, particularly celestial (moons and stars) and all things holographic. Think, oversized disco balls and lots and lots of sparkle!” says party organiser fableandmoon.com

Chocolate parties

Hire a chocolatier to come to your house and teach your children to make some fantastic chocs. Alternatively hire some moulds and melt dark, milk and white chocolate so they can make their own. The chocolate is hot so this option is probably not suitable for very small children. The Chocolate Party People (www.thechocolatepartypeople.co.uk) offers a Build a Bar, Chocolate Pizzeria and Truffle Making package for kids. An extra bonus is they get to take away their chocolates instead of a party bag.

Unicorns are still cool

Kids are still going unicorn crazy. Harriet Jones, founder of online boutique store Rockahula Kids (www.rockahulakids.com) says “2018 has to be the year that the unicorn trend and theme takes centre stage at children's birthday parties.

Over the last few months, we have seen an incredible increase in demand for unicornthemed accessories for party favours, whether it be hair clips, charms, necklaces or hairbands. A kitsch, rainbow unicorn party sounds like just the ticket!

Glamping

Belltent and glamping parties are going to be really popular especially during the summer months. Set up tents with themes like cowboys, intergalactic, or botanical. You can hire companies to put them up in the garden and if you haven’t got a garden—set up the tents in the house. Andrew Pearce, co-owner of the belltentexperience.com says “we have seen a huge increase in bookings for children’s parties. Bell tents are fun and versatile. You can set them up indoors, or outside and kids love them. Sleeping in a tent is magical whatever age you are!”

Get me out of here

Escape rooms venues are a great choice for older children. You get locked in a room and have to work out how to get out. It’s a great team-building experience and no mess in your house! Many escape rooms have themes—you could even get guests to dress up to match it! You need to check what the age range is and whether you need adult supervision.

Top tips for a budget party

Timing

If you hold a party between 3pm and 5pm, you can provide party snacks or treats instead of a meal. Try fruit kebabs that you dip in melted chocolate for a fun treat. Hiring a chocolate fountain could also be a fun way to end the party. Just warn the parents not to dress their children in their best party clothes! Older children would probably prefer a pizza delivery.

Try E-invites

Create your own digital invitations to email to guests. You can also use the free option at www.paperlesspost.com and pay a small amount using various other websites, like www.mini-epic.com. Founder of the business Jonathan says “Our digital invitations can be created and sent in just a few minutes, with no paper or postage involved, which not only saves you time and money but also saves some trees! But what's proving really popular is the ability to download your Mini-Epic invitation to share via WhatsApp."

Look for bargains

Your pound shop can be a treasure trove of party napkins and decorations. Buy plain paper bags and get the children to personalise them. You could also make cupcakes and get the children to decorate them. Party favours and entertainment all at the same time!

Themed parties

Choose a theme like pirates, Alice in Wonderland or teddies for the younger kids and base all the games make all the games centred on your chosen theme. Decorations can be homemade—get the whole family involved. Pinterest is a great place to get inspiration.

Share

Split the cost by sharing the party with a classmate whose birthday is at a similar time. Just make sure you agree who is doing what!

Don’t forget to say thanks

Take a group photo of all the kids at the party and print it off at Boots or use an online site. Get your kids to write a thank you note on the back with a Sharpie or gold pen. A great momento and thank you all at once!

The best local entertainers, the best parties and the most fun!

The Action Station

The team continues to seek out the best and most unique entertainment for your party. Creative interactive storytelling, magicians, jugglers, DJs, and fantastic facepainters for memorable fun filled parties with the Action Station – 0870 770 2705 www.theactionstation.co.uk

Adam Ants Parties

Adam Ants offers amazing parties at affordable prices. Adam Ants and his talented team make sure their parties are non stop fun. With something for all ages: magic, balloon modelling, puppets, music, dancing, games, face painting. They also offer amazing disco/sports parties or the ever popular a Build a Bear party. You can hire tables and chairs/bouncy castles/soft play and ball ponds. Why not invite your favourite character to the party from Mickey Mouse to Pepper Pig and many more? “Just wanted to say a massive Thank You for today! It's was such an amazing party & Kitty had the best time ever!!!” Sarah. 020 8959 1045 / 07969 121094 info@adamantsparties.co.uk www.adamantsparties.co.uk

Allsorts Drama for children

Allsorts offers fantastic original themed drama parties. Understanding how important birthday parties are to children, they want them to have the most fabulous party ever! The parties are always a whirl of excitement, fly to the world of make believe, become a Film star, Magician or Detective. Explore the drama of murder mysteries. The only limit is your imagination!

020 8767 5298 or 020 8969 3249 www.allsortsdrama.com Allsorts also run term time classes, holiday courses and private tuition.

Battersea Park children’s Zoo

The perfect place for children to celebrate their birthday with their friends and the animals too. This family friendly zoo hosts fantastic children’s parties which include a mini tour, where children find out lots of funny and foul facts about lemurs, snakes, monkeys, mice and meerkats, get to help a zookeeper to prepare an animal’s dinner, meet and stroke a rabbit, create their

Parties

very own animal badge and the birthday child paints a brick on ‘The Birthday Wall of Fame’! Party food and goodie bags are included and guests can stay on and enjoy the zoo. Parties start from age 4 upwards and last for two hours. 0845 601 6679 info@batterseaparkzoo.co.uk www.batterseaparkzoo.co.uk

Nutty’s Children’s Parties

A variety of fun-packed, exciting, dynamic, highly interactive, imaginative and original adventure parties, discos, drama workshop parties, holiday workshops and more for ages 3-11. All parties are run by experienced, dedicated, professional actors and most themes can be catered for.

For more info please visit www.nuttyschildrensparties.co. uk or email danny@nuttyschildrensparties.c o.uk or call Danny on 07884 050954.

For regular updates and their many 5* reviews please also visit www.facebook.com/nuttyschild rensparties

Kids Fusion

Beautiful private venue Based in the heart of Battersea, Kids Fusion can be pre-decorated with customised themes, they can arrange facepainters, caricaturists, balloon twisters, qualified fun sports coaches and more!

Book your child’s party experience on parties@kidsfusion.co.uk 020 7998 8480

Blueberry Playsongs Parties

Blueberry parties are lively, interactive musical parties for ages 0-5. One of their talented entertainers will play guitar and sing songs with joining in, actions, jumping games, dancing and instruments. Shaky egg maracas, parachute games and a puppet will add to the fun—perfect for little ones! A 45-minute session in London is £125. “Blueberry is wonderful entertainment for little ones; fun, cheerful and gentle.” 020 8677 6871 info@blueberryplaysongs.co.uk www.blueberryplaysongs.co.uk

Karting

For all those budding Lewis Hamilton's out there, why not sample a real children’s motorsport party experience with The London Karting Company?

With their large mobile circuit being setup in Battersea and Roehampton, drivers from 4 -11 years old can race one of the amazing F1 styled electric karts around the 150-international track. Drivers will receive race suits and helmets and are given a full safety briefing along with live race commentary through-out the event and nicely finished off with the trophy and medal podium presentation.

The London Karting Company have been running motorsport parties for children all over the UK since 2011. They are fully mobile

and can either bring their party format to their popular London locations, or if you prefer they can bring the event to your preferred location.

020 8677 8677 www.londonkarting.com

Little Kickers

Tooting, Balham, Streatham Little Kickers offers fun filled football based parties for ages 2-7.

Dive into magic with Richard Pinner

Magic has never been more popular thanks to successful television programmes such as ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and ‘Help, my supply teacher is magic’. Children are becoming ever more engaged with the fabulous art of magic. During the early school years it can be tricky to inspire children with theatre. A high quality Magic Show is an excellent way to bring the theatre to you! For ages 4-7 there is little better for a civilised birthday party.

Magic is not only a performance art form, it is an excellent platform for learning. It engages the mind in processing problems logically and forces us to think outside the box as well as

Working closely with you, your energetic and enthusiastic Little Kickers’ Coaches will create the perfect football party. They can adopt your party theme and create imaginative games based on your child's favourite things—be it a swashbuckling pirate, a powerful superhero or a superstar footballer! 020 8675 1155 trichardson@littlekickers.co.uk www.littlekickers.co.uk

encouraging confidence through performance skills. Richard Pinner’s workshops for children aged 8-12 are a brilliant idea for parties and bring a group of children together in a problem solving exercise. All the children learn how to perform simple magic tricks that they can take home and perform again and again.

Call Richard and learn more about the world of magic. www.MagicAndLaughter.co.uk 020 7352 3524

PARTIES! Wonderfully fun musical parties for your under-5’s! Guitar-accompanied songs with actions, joining in, jumping and dancing, instruments, puppet and parachute! The perfect party for little ones.

Call 020 8677 6871 info@blueberryplaysongs.co.uk www.blueberryplaysongs.co.uk

Little House of Science Parties

Book an amazing science party and get 60 minutes of mind blowing scientific experiments and demonstrations, including chemical reactions, air vortexes and mini robots. The parties are for children aged 4-11 and can be held in your home or your chosen venue in London. www.littlehouseofscience.com

Perform Parties

Perform parties are high energy, fun and totally infectious. Based around a colourful theme, Perform’s enthusiastic party leaders use a magical mix of songs, games and laughter guaranteed to ensure every child is part of an enthralling adventure. From the moment the lively leaders walk in

the door, they'll give your child and friends the best birthday party they've ever had.

Whether your child wants to be a swashbuckling pirate, a shimmering mermaid or a dazzling superhero, they'll be sure to have a brilliant time.

Themes include: Moana, Ghost hunters, Alice in Wonderland, Outer space, Secret spies, Chocolate adventure, the Ice Queen, Dinosaurs, the Magician's Chamber, the Sound of Music, Finding Dory, Trolls and much more. To find out more or book a party call 020 7255 9120 or visit www.performparties.co.uk

Playball

Chelsea, Fulham, Battersea and Clapham Playball parties can be tailor made

Give your child a party to ignite a new passion

Children's birthday parties have taken on a life of their own in the last few years. Parents want to make their little one's day very special but finding something to make the day unique can take a lot of searching.

Razzamataz Parties are a new kind of party that celebrates and ignites a child's imagination through performing arts. Razz parties, a Dragons' Den backed theatre school, is an original way to host a party as well as a way to introduce performing arts to children who have not tried it before.

The fun and exciting parties will be a great way to celebrate with friends while singing, dancing and acting to children's favourite pop songs, and or musical theatre shows. Think Little Mix, One Direction, Matilda the Musical or Frozen!

To find out more information about Razz Parties or a free trial session at Razzamataz Wimbledon

please call 07500 837 911 or email: wimbledon@razzamataz.co.uk or visit www.wimbledon.razzamataz.co.uk

Bedazzled parties

Bedazzled plans and creates bespoke children’s parties and events, delivering unforgettable experiences to make every occasion one to remember. Whether you’re looking for just an entertainer or help from start to finish, their dedicated team of event managers and designers work to your chosen budget offering outstanding entertainment and transforming any space into a perfect party venue.

Whether it’s swashbuckling with pirates, learning to be a magician, being a princess for the

afternoon or going on a jungle adventure, anything is possible with enough imagination and they are there to make your child’s dream celebration a reality.

You may have a vision or chosen theme for your child’s party, but if not, they will create one together. From invitations, theming, party bags and entertainment to the all-important cake, they can arrange as much or as little as you like.

www.bedazzledevents.co.uk 07964708505 / 020 3652 5708

Parties

to suit any child's fantasy, be it their favourite sport, superheroes, princesses, cowboys or space rangers. The treasure hunts are always a popular request, with missions to find wild animals and jungle creatures, underwater caves and tunnels or snake infested Crocodile Rivers! 020 8123 2217 gavin@playballlondon.com www.playballlondon.com/parties

Mother Nature Science

Perfected for boys and girls ages 5-12 – by the nutty MNScience fun-professors over 10+ years in their top-secret UK laboratory. Parties combine the best of learning and the best of fun! – 100% guaranteed and hassle free! Their superscience-parties are presented outdoors, indoors, in homes, or wherever you may choose to hold a party. Each Mother Nature Science party is priced with maximum value in mind and has spectacular demonstrations and interactive activities. www.mnature.co.uk/scienceparty/

Rockstars parties

Book a party to remember with these one and two hour Recording Studio parties for children (aged 7 and over). They are based in South London at a professional studio and their experienced staff will ensure that you have a great time and end up with a recording to be proud of. 020 8767 1125 www.rockstarsparties.co.uk

Silly Millie Clown parties

Funny magic show with giggles galore, plus Pass the Parcel, Plate Spinning, Musical Bumps and Parachute Games. And don’t forget Karaoke and lots of balloons. 07939 239397 faith@thetingle.net www.sillymillietheclown.co.uk

Sinbad’s soft play parties

Choose from Play and Eat Parties at this traditional play venue where the kids have loads of fun in the play frame and then have a party tea in their dedicated party room. Or choose an Exclusive Private Hire for larger parties: have the entire play space to yourself! Age 0-8, includes playtime plus party food and balloons, from £10.99 per child. 82 Durham Rd, Raynes Park, London SW20 0TL 020 8947 7987 www.sindbads.co.uk

Twizzle parties for families

The Twizzle team organise and run the best parties in town! All their entertainers are professionals, many with a background in theatre and television. Some are also members of the Magic Circle. Whether you want a traditional birthday tea party at home for a few of your child’s friends, or whether you want a sports party for the whole party at an outside venue, they can help with your

party. Twizzle Parties organise, plan and run parties for families with children of all ages. They can be as involved as you like. If you want them to simply provide a bouncing castle, or food boxes, then they can do that. If you want them to run the entire party, then they can do that too. They also cater for different budgets and can help at your budget, they can provide you with a party that you and your child will remember. Traditional birthday tea parties, sports parties, and theme parties like Pirates, Fairies and Teddy Bear picnic. Their entertainers are real professionals and have lots of experience with children, meaning that your booking is in the hands of a professional team. www.twizzle.co.uk

Lucy Sparkles & Friends

Fulham, Putney and Wandsworth Outstanding party entertainment for children aged one to six. Very flexible and happy to come to your home or to privately hired venues.

Their fantastic children's entertainment sessions run for 45 minutes, one hour and two hours and can include a live musician, singing games,

Upbeat Pop and Rock parties

Be a star! Choose a song, rehearse it with your very own Upbeat vocal coach, record it with your personal sound engineer and put together a performance with your choreographer. MP3s/ CDs produced for everyone at the party.

upbeatmusiccourses@gmail.com 07816 901396 www.upbeatmusiccourses.co.uk

‘upbeatlondon'

Ukulele Gurus Party

A Ukulele Gurus party with The Strings Club is packed full of highoctane party games, fun-filled activities and memorable musicmaking. From only £7.50 per child, parties last up to 1.5 hours and are led by not one but two highly talented, super friendly party leaders, hand-picked for their professionalism and fun personality. Free hire of a ukulele for up to 30 children. www.thestringsclub.org

rhymes, parachute play, dancing, children's percussion, magic tricks, puppets, games, action songs, 'sparkly' glitter tattoos, face painting, free invitations, treats and, of course, lots of magic sparkles! Contact Lauren on 07508 900 220 lauren@lucysparkles.com

The Children’s Entertainer

Fun & Games, Mini Disco, Magic, Juggling, Puppet Shows

07961 355269 www.mrbooboo.co.uk

Silly Millie the Clown Parties for 3-9 year oldsFunny Magic Show, Puppet’s, Party Games, Silly Songs and Balloon Animals

Call 020 7823 8329 - 07939 239397

www.sillymillietheclown.co.uk