Ella...... you are so brave I am afraid I am a bit out of touch with kids parties, but I know my 6 year old grandson would like anything, as long as it's noisy

Dead Soldiers......play music.....stop music, when music stops children must drop to the floor, and play dead, no movement, no noise.........first one to move or make a noise is out........

3 hours later play music again.......

Party bags and home......sorted! 

not got a lot of experience with boys but since its the summer maybe you could get them outside how about some giant garden games or a themed treasure hunt with tasks and secret tasks hidden ? or get a big pool and equip them all with water shooters

and gin... plenty gin!

Too right.  That'll keep the little buggers quiet. 

and will help numb the pain !

3 hours??!!??  You are kidding, right?

Gypsie the garden is out of bounds because we are awaiting a boy coming round to do some serious work (it's like a jungle out there).  This was why I was trying to get him to one of the play centres because I don't have the room or garden   

And seriously....how long before I can throw them all out again?

I reckon 2 or 3 would do it

I'm trying to lessen the numbers but kids can be stubborn!  I've never seen me beg a 5 year old so much   I should put my foot down but it's only once a year and I don't want to take him somewhere he doesn't want to go.

Hours or Gins?

bottles dear ella, bottles

2 hours - cut the numbers to 8/10 ............loads of possible games. Just make it more manageable.

I did one for my grandson - we played charades (with jobs, TV characters) pin the antennae on the dalek, Start a story (4 words each) - musical bumps /statues - once the eating is out of the way it's a doddle if it doesn't go on too long. If it's summer - bouncy castle or if all else fails - for the last 30/40 mins a video.

I'm thinking of not inviting the 3 younger cousins coz they're unable to join in and they will be the noisiest and distracting so yeah, they're out (harsh!). 

Thanks for the game tips soozy.....will be trying some of those

get some old clothes from a charity shop...divide them into teams.....they have to put all the clothes on...run or walk down to a table..get the clothes off.go back to the next kid...they go up to the table and put it on etc etc...

or............get big bowls of jelly......put maltesers in it.......they stick their faces in and try to get the maltesers out with their mouths..........very messy but good fun...

or you could get a kids entertainer round...we had magicians...puppet shows and that sort of stuff when ours were younger.......usually they're there for about an hour.....then you give em the grub........then you could play musical statues,dead lions,simon says or something......then do the birthday cake.......that always uses up time what with the singing and them having the cake.........doll out the party bags if you're doing them.....result!

Have you a Wii of PS or anything? Just play knockout games winner gets sweets or something.

Mummy Wrap Game
One of the easiest and most fun games!  See which team can wrap their mummy in toilet paper first. Divide birthday party guests into teams of 2 or 3 and give them 2 rolls of toilet paper.  Let teams decide on who will be the mummy and then race to see who can wrap their mummy in toilet paper the quickest using all the paper. Stock up on paper and play this game a few times switching out mummy's.

Imo NO NO NO .....................that's all kids do these days - it has to be a bit more special than that - a bit of face to face communication and FUN. We should not rely on technology to amuse our kids!

http://www.birthdaygamesatoz.com/

Organise lots of games, but be prepared for them not to do anything other than make lots of noise and at least 2 of them to be sick on your carpet. Good fun though, I used to love it, but my son used to sulk under the stairs until his (still) best mate got him to join the fun.

Haha the Mummy wrap game sounds like fun!

Thanks everyone for the help.  Just going to give the wee one another day to mull it over and have found a place that do a party and nature trail and games in their wee park so I might try to talk him into that   He's a stubborn one though!

My two always had parties at home - and we don't have a garden. They always invited every child in the class and with siblings ect we would end up with 30 kids here.

We always had theme parties (with everything homemade!) so based the games around the theme.

You need to get a few mates to stay and help and have structure. We always had musical type games as everyone was arriving, then the usual games with a theme variation. We never had them running around with food and drinks. We always did an hour or two of games then food and cake then quiet games like pass the parcel and dead lions after they'd eaten.

Try to prepare as much as poss in advance (ie party bags) too.

Best of all enjoy it. I can understand why parents do the whole 'party at a venue' thing but my kids were the envy of their mates because of the parties they had.

yes....you can play pin the nail on the donkey, musical bean bag, before playing Musical Statues.......start music......stop music.......

3 hours later, give out winners prize and goodie bags........ 

Using reverse psychology I managed to interest him in the nature trail place so I've booked that this morning.  It just means less mess for me and most importantly less stress!  I don't mind smaller parties at home (had a few of those with the older son) but everytime I've had one I always say never again

Just need to bring food for the kids and party bags and they'll do the entertainment.  Just hoping now that we get decent weather so the kids can make the most of the nature trail

Thanks for all the game ideas.....they'll still come in handy for rainy days through the summer!

The last time I had a kids party at the house, it involved a swimming pool, a bouncy castle, a hose pipe and fairy liquid.  I had a fab time 

That sounds like fun - good luck