Hiring in entertainment for a child's birthday party
is almost always the easiest option, especially for younger children. An
entertainer or entertainment is more likely to hold the children’s
attention and behavior should be better as a result.
Depending on the type of entertainment, fees can range
from very reasonable to exorbitant! Some adults will think that any fee
is worth it for the peace of mind they gain from delegating the party to
someone else. If money is a problem, perhaps you can consider sharing
the party with an entertainer, who could come in for a limited time
rather than the whole event.
One option that may not cost the earth is to provide a
pony! Perhaps you have a friend that owns ponies? Many children that
have never been on a horse or a pony, and a pony ride at a party would
be a memorable event. If you are going to offer pony rides, make sure
that parents and guardians know about it in advance and are happy for
their children to participate - and remember that some children may be
allergic to animals.
A magician is a classic entertainment idea for a party. Obviously
magicians vary in price, but you should be prepared to shell out to get
one that is reputable, well-established and good with your age group. A
good magician will keep the attention of the children, amaze them,
thrill them and have them giggling too! And a good magician will leave
them with something to talk about as well. A word of warning here: my
kids once attended a party where the hosts decided to cut costs by
dressing the father up as a magician and supplying him with a magician's
set with which to perform his tricks. The kids spotted his inexperience
immediately and the whole occasion was rather embarrassing for all
involved. If you can't afford a good magician, think of an alternative
for your party.
Most kids love animals of all kinds, and another good entertainment idea
is to bring in a wildlife rescue worker or an animal rescue foundation
member. Find out whether there is such a thing in your area. The kids
may be allowed to interact with the animals as well as learn something
about them. Perhaps they will even be able to handle a snake or a
spider! Again, make sure that you have checked with parents in advance
and that you are aware of potential allergic reactions.
Other entertainment ideas:
Juggler
Clown
Story-teller
Puppet show
Trampolines
Climbing wall
Bouncy castle, bouncy slide etc
Cooking party (bring in a local pizza or pasta
cook)
Arts and crafts (a crafty teacher may be prepared
to guide the children in making masks, wall hangings or other
special projects which they can take home at the end of the party)
Dancer - find a young dancer who will teach your
budding pop stars a dance routine, then take a video and send the
kids their own copy after the party
Make-up / nails / hair - little girls love the
"makeover" party concept
Dressing up - pay a teacher or other experienced
person to bring in a collection of dressing up clothes, make-up etc
Face-painting
Acting - perhaps you can find an out-of-work
actor to lead the kids in an improvisation or help them put together
a short play which they can perform to the parents at collecting
time
