Parties to Remember

January 2012

partiestoremember — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:28:35 +0000

As a party entertainer, I see such a variety of child behaviour and experience situations that have me leaving a venue
with smiles on my face. This is such a satisfying vocation that I want to share some of the funny and pleasing happenings that show me the future generation will keep our world on its axis

My blog is updated a week after the previous month, sometimes sooner.

I had extreme parties this month, extreme in expense. One was held in a west London venue with the staying parents enjoying an endless flow of good champagne and healthy food. The children at this party had me organising games, a face painter and a ball pool. Too much choice because young children have no concept of the time it takes for a game to be played, a face to be painted or how much time to spend in a ball pool. Hence there was some sadness in some of the children because they missed out on certain games while being face-painted, missed out on face-painting because they spent too long playing games or in the ball pool. Some wanted only the ball pool and missed the better of the other two activities. To have choices at a party is a luxury but usually only really works when children are about 6 years old and not 3 or 4 years.

Another party was held on a council estate in a very clean community hall. Again, the parents had spared no expense in giving their daughter a lovely party. At this one, the food was all family made (cooking all night and early morning) for the children and adults. The mother dressed up in a costume that represented her daughter’s theme and family members had been blowing tens of balloons up for hours the day before. The table was beautifully thought out with decorations and colour.

While both parties displayed a parents’ love for their children — that they have an enjoyable day, one party followed a format that to give a lot of choice means no boredom, the other concentrated on the food, theme and one form of entertainment – games of different types of challenges. In the latter party, every child was content and there were no upsets.

It is hard to know what is right but it is the birthday child on that day that must be catered for. If they want several activities and it is affordable for the parents then why not? If it is a princess party in a community hall then put down the red carpet and encourage your child’s imagination if you can. It is the party and all the friends together on one day that the birthday child loves and, of course, the cake.

December diary

partiestoremember — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:39:45 +0000

December: Rather than write about the parties I helped with in December I have decided on telling of a scene that brought a smile to my face.

Walking across the pavement in front of the National Gallery, London, I saw 2 small boys no more than 6 years of age chatting excitedly to one another and walking at quite a pace. Looking around I spotted their parents with pushchairs and younger children and they too were walking hurriedly in the same direction.

The 2 boys exclaimed to each other ‘Wow! Have you ever seen such a big Christmas tree?’ They then jumped up and down laughing and moved further on to where there were some singers performing. It was a Jewish choir with a cantor performing to all those, who wanted to listen, in Trafalgar Square. The 2 boys I then noticed were wearing scull caps and had shawl fringes hanging below their jackets. How heart-warming to see such a religious mix on a winter’s evening Christians, Hindus and Buddhists listening to Jewish religious music, Jewish children admiring a Christmas Tree and after the male choir a Reggae Band. Everyone was smiling, chatting, laughing and enjoying the atmosphere and the company they were in. Me, I had an invite to a Christmas party at the National Gallery and was able to see the Leonardo exhibition without crowds.

November diary

partiestoremember — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:36:02 +0000

A gentle bonfire party with six-year-olds watching pretty fireworks behind large french doors. All the children were excited and happy especially when all the fireworks were finished they were each given a coloured sparkler to write their name is silver snowflakes. The birthday cake also had sparklers on the side. On the cake board held up with some Blu Tac covered in icing. This is the best place rather than on the cake because cake sparklers drop a black/grey residue when lighted which spoils the cake and is unappetising.

I do wish to emphasise that party givers must always expect the unexpected and enjoy surprises. To stereotype is wrong. I have given out small leather wallets with a chiseled pattern on the front – dolphins, fairies, elephants, fish, cats and pandas to name some of the designs. The girlish of girls, dressed in pink as a fairy may take an elephant or fish wallet, the boy dressed as a super hero will take a fairy. It is wise to leave alone and not suggest to them a different pattern.

Their choice displays free-thinking, they are not swayed by their peers and it may be that Elmo is a favourite story for the girl and Peter Pan a favourite with the boy. I enjoy seeing children’s choices and would never attempt to get them to exchange for something more fitting their gender. They have chosen a toy, a design that caters to them at that time and have had great fun in choosing the item.

October 2011

partiestoremember — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 17:07:19 +0000

October: Spooky parties, and firework parties. I will not handle fireworks and if parents want fireworks at a birthday party I can help mind the children but I will not light fireworks or take them to a party. It is too risky for an entertainer if there are between ten and twenty children to look after and light fireworks. However, children love fireworks at any time — if they’re not scared by the noises fireworks can make — and if a garden is big enough and there are plenty of adults around then it is a thrill for adults and children.

Pirate Alice: Picture by Sian Fassnidge

September 2011

partiestoremember — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:35:55 +0000

I had some lovely parties this month, however, I am writing about only one. A party that was good in many ways but left me a little concerned regarding the children. The party was for a four-year-old and the child guests were two and a half years to four and a half years old and for some children both parents stayed to socialise with the host family. The room where the party was held, a church hall, was exceptionally clean, safe and a reasonable size for 22 children but add to that 22 plus adults and the noise level would have been manageable if the hall had had carpet and curtains. The hall had neither which meant the adults’ happy chatting soon over-powered the children’s fun especially when the adults slowly encroached the entertainment area — ignoring the children’s need to run away from a hungry wolf or crocodile. On asking the adults to move back to the drinks area they did but soon moved back towards the children treading on their toes, blocking their line of vision and knocking them over when moving without looking.

This was a birthday child who had looked forward to their party for several weeks, excited that their friends, new and old, would be there, looking forward to the games and presents and that everyone was there for their special celebration. Adults, please remember that it is the child’s birthday party and, yes, a good time to meet new parents and establish/forge networks but so many forget in that social networking the reason for the party and ignore all the children’s pleasure.

August 2011

partiestoremember — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:08:19 +0000

August and July: Quiet months because most families are on holidays or the friends of their children are away at conflicting times. However, the few parties that I did help with were rather special and that was partly due to the fact that the children were free of curricular activities because it was the holidays. Two parties stand out. A park party in Fulham Palace Gardens where there were so many children — siblings younger and older than the birthday party invites but who went scrambling over fallen trees, played with balls and bubbles while I had the birthday group. The children came with mostly both parents so there was good involvement all round yet a lovey casual atmosphere. I left after my two hours knowing that both adults and children would be staying for a few more hours — the sun shining, happy faces and plenty to eat and drink. If there is no rain park parties can be super fun for all ages.
Three-year-old Ben’s pirate party was in a big garden and most of the child guests were 3 years or under. Both parents of the guests came with their younger children so again it was a multi-family affair. Ben’s mother has given me permission to use some of the wonderful photographs she took on the day and it’s lovely to see how attentive and interested the young children are in the gentle activities and in their pirate or princess outfits.

An earlier party was again in a private communal garden where 24 three and four-year olds were able to join in my games or have a little run around. All the parents stayed so it turned out to be a jolly afternoon as there was plenty of home-baked food for all and many parents joined in the games. A lovely, relaxed party.
Please refer to last August’s entry about early September party bookings if you are a novice school-gate parent with a child whose birthday falls in early September.

July 2011

partiestoremember — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:57:39 +0000

I am privileged that I am able to enter people’s homes and witness family traditions and ethnic ceremonies. To see colourful clothing from India, Pakistan, Mauritius, Eastern Europe, South America, Africa and more. To eat food from these exotic countries; I am vegetarian and there is always something delicious to choose from when I am offered food. On many occasions I am treated as a family member from afar and the utmost courtesy is shown for my well-being after an hour or more of entertaining. Replenished and refreshed I then continue with more fun for the children.

June 2011

partiestoremember — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 13:51:42 +0000

This has been a wonderful month for parties. I have managed some large numbers this month, 25 plus children, and all the children were lovely to one another during the games. No tears, no shoving, no teasing and no meanness. It is lovely to play games with children who support each other and enjoy having fun. So often the most popular games are those where no prizes are given, when the children have to run away from a monster (wolf, crocodile) and all one hears is laughter. At one party, a child asked if I could go home with them; which is a great reward after a day’s work. What more can one ask for in job?

May 2011

partiestoremember — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:46:22 +0000

There were some lovely parties this month and one had two sisters who really cared for one another but did they enjoy the party? Quite often, an older sibling is told by leaving parents to look after their younger brother or sister during a party. This quite often leaves the older child continually holding on to their young sibling’s hand and not joining in the party games. Perhaps, the instruction ‘Keep an eye on your sibling but if there is a game you wish to play and they don’t make sure they are happy to watch and then join in the game.’ A party room is a safe environment and all areas are visible so the older child can easily keep an eye on their sibling. The game “What’s the time Mr Wolf?” can be scary to tiny children and for them not to join in is understandable but to restrict older children seems a shame if they believe they must hold their sibling’s hand at all times. At a party this month I saw two sisters sit through a party because the older child had been instructed to hold her sister’s hand at all times – even during the party-food — and the younger child wished to sit and watch everything. Their ages were 3 and 5 years old. Children are trusting, keen to please and take all instructions seriously: the older child followed her order to the letter, the younger child trusted her sister not to let go. Both were right but both missed out on some of the party fun. Parents choose your words wisely to ensure at least one of the children who want to join in can.

April 2011

partiestoremember — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:41:35 +0000

Not such a busy month due to the Easter holidays, so this gave me some time to search out new items for prizes. One of the parties this month was with just seven children and the age range was 1 year to 7 years of age. It was to celebrate the birthday of the 1 year old. The mother of the birthday child joined in all the games holding the baby and that was such fun as the six other children were so excited at being able to “teach” the birthday girl how to play. Duck, duck, goose being a favourite; we had a chair for mother and baby so there was no struggling to get up from the ground quickly to chase the ducker. There were many more adults at this party than children but the parents of those few children were wonderfully encouraging to their offspring in making sure all the little guests had equal opportunities in the games. That is also my role, to ensure every child feels equal and special but a little extra emphasis on the star of the day – no matter how old they are.

March 2011

partiestoremember — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:33:24 +0000

I wrote a few months back about a father who had baked his child’s birthday cake and the look of wonderment and love her face expressed on seeing the cake he had made. I received such a look this month during a party I was working at. The birthday child was 6 and on the day of the party which was held on a weekday at lunchtime. There were 27 children and all were there to have a good time, there were no cliques, no tears, in fact all the children helped one another in the hunting games and there was no pushing or shoving one another throughout the party. Happy well-adjusted children but what made me happy is that 7 years ago I did the birthday child’s older sister’s party and she turned up just a face in the crowd during a sit down game and I said hello to her by name. That child, Phoebe, gave me a smile that will stay with me for a long time. She was pleased I had acknowledged her and used her name – what a simple action to give one such a life-long dear memory.

February 2011

partiestoremember — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:19:52 +0000

A feature in The Sunday Times Magazine 2.2.2010 cited parental allegations of party clowns shouting at children and hitting children, in one case breaking an arm. If the parents’ stories are accurate, and a reputable newspaper is bound to check such serious claims, it is appalling and I cannot understand how an entertainer can become so cross. No child should be scolded, let alone hit, by a stranger whom they have come to enjoy some fun and warmth with. The younger the child the more disturbing and cruel it sounds. Readers, this is unusual behaviour from an entertainer: the majority of us care for the children who look forward to a couple of hours of fun from us.
The party this month that I wish to mention was in SW London and had more than 30 children, aged from 18 months to 6 years – my biggest to date. Parents of the youngest children stayed and it was delightful to have them encourage their toddlers to participate in all the games organised for the older children. And the older children accepted that the younger children were there to enjoy themselves, too. Well-done, party host, for being brave enough to have two siblings share a party.