Hi,
We moved to TX about 4 months ago. Since then we have been unpacking, getting through Thanksgiving and Christmas and just trying to make a home. Well, my daughters have made friends and have shown interest in having a get to know you party with some of the friends they have made and some they want to get to know better. I think that is a great idea. My oldest actually was invited to something like that when we lived in another state. It was nice - no gift needed! Anyway, I was thinking about the invite and what the kids could actually do. I was thinking having the girls come over and play Wii, have pizza, and watch a movie. I am planning on doing it on a Friday night from 5pm - 10pm. It will not be a sleepover because I personally would not let my daughters sleep over someones house without actually knowing the family and they would probably feel the same. My question is does this sound good and does anyone have any other suggestions? This will be our first "play date" with the kids. My kids are 10 & 8 and the kids they are inviting are the same ages. I want to keep this fun and upbeat!
Thanks a bunch!
Thanks for all the great ideas!!! I hear what you are all saying about 10pm being too late. I'll change that. I was going to do it on a Friday night, but I forgot about the Saturday morning sports. So ending it earlier would be better. Maybe I should have one daughter's party on Friday night and one on Saturday night. I never thought about the AG Mag. My daughter has the subscription, so I'll have her take a look and choose some ideas! You all are so wonderful!!!! Thank you!!!
I like that or ditch the movie and do a mani party. Maybe you can get a friend to help you paint nails and they can lounge around and talk.
It sounds like fun. I also think it is a great idea and best not to do a sleepover like you said. My only suggestion would be to have seperate parties for each of them. If you did that, it would be easier to talk to some of the parents at drop off and pick up and maybe start to get to know them a little. That may be hard to do with too many girls and parents. I wouldn't worry about any other activities but if you wanted to you could have sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles to decorate. Kids that age really love to do that and it is cheap and easy.
I'm not sure how todays kids feel about plain old board games, but those are nice since you can have several people participate at the same time and there are some games that do ask fun questions......Apples to Apples is a favorite in our family
I love the idea! I would suggest that, especially if the kids' parents don't know you well or at all before this invitation arrives, you consider a weekend afternoon party instead of evening. Like someone else said, 10 p.m. seems like a late end to a party where the kids still have to get home and wind down enough to sleep that night. An afternoon party could include outdoor play as well as Wii and food.
To help girls get to know each other better, maybe include more interactive activities instead of a movie. My daughter is 10 and has had friends over for simple crafting parties and play dates -- one was holiday crafts; another was "spa" crafts that girls this age adore, like making simple soaps together (supplies are at any craft store) or sugar scrubs (brown sugar, white sugar and almond oil are all you need, and they can decorate containers with stickers, jewels, ribbon!), etc. Or the girls can string beads, make friendship bracelets, etc. Let your daughters choose! Crafting allows more talk between the girls, sharing of ideas and opinions and tastes, etc., than if they were sitting down and watching a movie or even playing Wii. If you're not "crafty," don't be daunted! Craft kits are just fine and contain all you need! Board games are great too -- find out if there is a game most of them love already (for instance, around here it's Blokus because they play it in school to build strategy skills but love it at home too).
American Girl has terrific, interactive party ideas -- games as well as crafts. You don't have to do entire, themed parties as they suggest; just pick the single activities your girls like best. Look at AG party, spa or sleepover books in the bookstore, or at AG Magazine back issues in the library. Perfect ideas for 8 and 10 year old age range.
I do agree with the person who suggested a separate party for each girl -- they don't share the same friends, I'm sure, so give each girl her own time with her own friends. I hope that whatever you do it is terrific! You're a considerate mom!
Instead of a movie maybe do some fun interactive games. This way they have more time to spend focused on one another!! Sounds like a great idea tho!
Sounds like a good idea.
It sounds like a play-date?
To me, 5:00-10:00pm, is late.
Then the kids need to wind-down post party, clean-up, and then go to bed. By then that is at least 1 more hour.. later... that they would be going to bed.
But, it would be on a weekend.
You'd need to specify if the parents can stay or not?
Then you can get to know them too?
And feed them dinner?
Or just snacks?
Kids that age, are very self-reliant and independent.
My daughter is 8... I often have like 5 kids over at one time. Or more. They are very independent and do their own thing. I don't really need to stage anything or plan entertainment for them. In fact, they tell me they are FINE and quickly get engaged in their own activities. I of course, supervise.
Sounds like fun.
All the best,
Susan
I think it is a great idea. The only thing I'd skip would be the movie. Why... I'd want to keep the kids interacting with each other.
THe scavenger hunt is a good idea... they work together in teams. Mani/pedi is also a lot of fun.
Good idea mom!!
Sounds like a lot of fun. Great idea!!
Also, if I were a parent of the kid being invited to your party, I would be so happy if I were invited to meet you too! I think it's a good idea for kids' parents to meet each other, to feel safe about future "playdates". You could serve light appetizers or even just pizza for the adults as well. Hope it all goes really well!
And I don't think 10pm is too late for a Friday night... if it's too late for people, they can pick their child up at whatever time they want. Maybe dont' schedule important fun activities after, say, 9pm, but I'd say leaving it until 10pm would be okay...
I think it is a great idea! Something you could do so the kids could get to know each other better is write out some questions on index cards like fav. color, fav. animal, fav. food, etc. Have them draw from a bowl or something and answer the question then have everyone else answer the question, then discard that index card. Hope this helps!
Hey -
I see that you already realized that 10PM is too late. I didn't read the other posts, but if my child were invited, I would be picking up by 7 or 8 - mainly because I have other young children and I personally don't want to stay up until 10PM to go and retrieve a child. You could even consider doing it in the middle of the day.
Good luck!
L.
I think it's a great idea. We did this when my kids changed schools. It was August, so we had water balloon games and did it during the day. It was fun. You might consider doing it on a Saturday and earlier since some people might not want their kid up until 10 on a Friday (soccer, baseball, etc. Saturday committments would make me not want to do it, especially if I didn't really know you). I'd also suggest doing something where the parents might come too so you can get to know them. If you meet at the park, the parents might stay too and you could get to know them a bit better.
Hi P.! Great idea! sounds like fun! I've been thinking about a similar issue. My daughters 8th birthday is just 4 weeks after we will have moved! Trying to figure out how to handle a birthday party and inviting new friends from neighborhood etc.
you can do a scavanger hunt around the house or get to know you bingo or any ice breaker-y games to get them interacting. I am thinking that a movie would not encourage conversations. Sounds like a great fun time; I too would not go quite that long though for that age. I think 830 end time would be easier for everyone. you could have them come over right after school and make (or grill, since the weather's nice) personal pizzas w/ pre-cooked dough and let them build their own or something easy for dinner.
