Children’s Summer Party Planning Tips
Since 1st May this year, at Sharky & George, we have organised 796 ‘summer’ parties. Whilst planning these in our minds they were all in glorious sunshine, in reality there has been a little more rain than anticipated. Whether it’s a children’s birthday party in the garden or a 24-hour challenge for 200 adults on a private island, fun is the priority in everything we do to make sure everyone has a blast, whatever the weather. So from us to you, here’s some ideas and top tips for planning your summer party…
Olympic Games
With 2024 being the summer of the Paris Olympics, what better theme to go for than your own Olympiad. Choose some of your favourite disciplines and modify them for the ages and numbers coming to the party. The more ridiculous the better. A few ideas that we particularly enjoy are:
- Shoe shot put
- Long balloon fencing
- Break dancing (Breaking officially!)
- Hobby horse dressage
- Obstacle course triathlon
- Beach volleyball
- Nerf shooting
Be sure to start the party off with an opening ceremony with a torch bearer and each country represented with flags and stirring music. And a medal ceremony is essential, ideally with some form of podium if you’re feeling creative!
Park Location
If you’re going to host a party in a park then you want to find a spot that has some shade, is close to toilets and ideally has access to a tap for water games. We’d highly recommend sharing a https://what3words.com/ location with all your guests so that you can pinpoint exactly where you’re going to meet.
Reduce Single Use Plastic
Water bombs are essential to almost every summer party. We used to get through thousands every week, but after some serious research, development and testing, we have settled on some excellent reusable magnetic water bombs, which are much better for the environment and are also a lot easier to fill up than fiddling about with tap connectors. All you need is a bucket of water and a few reusable water bombs and you’re away. On the same subject, provide paper cups and jugs of water rather than loads of plastic water bottles.
Drip Drip Drop
This is a great version of ‘duck, duck, goose’ with water. Everyone sits in a circle, one person has a cup of water and as they walk around the circle they drip a few droplets onto each person’s head, saying ‘drip’ each time. When they choose to say ‘drop’, they pour the whole cup onto the person’s head and leg it round the circle back to that spot before being caught by the person who received the drop. You then switch over the cupbearer.
Slip & Slide
If you want to have a slip and slide, get to a building merchants or look online to get roofing plastic rather than an official slip and slide. You’ll be able to get something far bigger and better at a much lower price. We’d also recommend just using water rather than washing up liquid to avoid rashes on sensitive skin and messing up the grass.
Plan for & Embrace the Weather
We are of the opinion that in almost all cases you should crack on, whatever the weather, so if it looks like it’s going to be wet, ask everyone to dress appropriately and then soldier on as if it was a lovely summer’s day.
Top Tips Tick List:
- Break for lunch/tea in the middle
- Have a wet weather plan – keep the party outside if possible
- Water bombs – or a finale at the end like a silly string battle or eco confetti cannons.
- Get parents involved with games – don’t just stand and watch
- Make a banging playlist
- Keep tea short
- Jugs of water and cups – save plastic
- Bowls of food – avoid things you have to open
- Avoid hot food
- Retro tea faves are the best
- Use a sprinkler if you can
- Get an ice cream van instead of cake
- Make a den for tea
For help planning your next summer party, speak to the Sharky & George team today.
222 Kensal Rd,
London,
W10 5BN
T: +44207 138 3556
