With the huge increase in children’s entertainment venues, we’re seeing more and more parties hosted at hired-out locations, from trampoline parks and soft play centres to cinemas and children’s beauty parlours. While these sorts of parties offer hosts much less stress and organising, they do tend to come with a higher price tag—and a lot more waste—than a home-hosted birthday party.
Just ask someone to help clear up after a typical birthday party and you’ll see the environmentalist in them awaken: single-use paper plates, cups and cutlery, disposable tablecloths, wrapping paper, and large amounts of food waste, all being piled into a black plastic bag.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Home-hosted birthday parties (or those held in a local hall or park) can be simple, low-waste, and low-stress. They just need a little more prep time in advance to ensure they run smoothly.
Here we’re going to give you some advice on everything from party games to party food; to help you plan a celebration your kids will remember for years to come.
Planning a Date and Guest List:
The important bit! When are you going to host your party, and who are you going to invite? These two decisions can influence each other—and everything else.
If you’re planning on inviting a lot of people, can you fit them in at home, or will you need to hire out a space? If the party is in the winter, is there enough indoor space? If it’s during the holidays, will your child’s friends be available?
No date will suit everyone, but a good starting point is to check with the parents of one or two of your child’s closest friends. Then decide whether you want to invite a few close friends or a larger group.
If you decide that you need to host the party somewhere other than home, shop around. Not all venues are expensive—take a look at village halls, scout/guide huts, or your local park.
The Theme:
While children love a theme, it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to head straight to the shops or online to buy everything with your child’s favourite character printed on it. As well as being costly, this is often the most wasteful part of a party—paper tableware and decorations that are thrown away at the end.
Why not use the character as inspiration for a colour scheme? Decorate your table to match the theme or adapt games slightly so they fit in with it!
Hosting a Frozen birthday party? Decorate your table with icy blues and lilacs, and maybe add some snowflake decorations that can be reused at Christmas.
Kid crazy for Batman? Black and gold shout it out—no need to have his face printed on everything.
Creating a Party Timeline
Don’t be tempted to let the party go on for too long. It’s better to have happy children going home wanting more, than a roomful of kids who’ve run out of steam.
Some simple games or activities at the start can help get everyone in the party mood. However well the children know each other, they’re often shy when they first arrive and may need a little encouragement to join in.
Food is often a bit of an afterthought at children’s entertainment venues—hurriedly served in the last 20 minutes, with just enough time for the kids to gulp it down and sing Happy Birthday before you’re ushered out for the next booking.
When you host your own party, you choose when food is served. We like it in the middle of the party—enough time for the kids to sit down, refuel, and then head off to play again.
Alternatively, if the party is outside standard mealtimes, a simple buffet or snack table that everyone can pick at throughout works well.
After food, allow for more playtime—perhaps with one or two organised activities. Just be sure to set an end time, so parents know when to collect their children and you have time to clear up and relax.
Party Games and Activities
This depends on the age of the children, but here are some favourites that work across age groups:
- Pin the Tail on the Donkey
A timeless classic! Easily customised—try “Pin the tail on the mermaid,” “Pin the horn on the unicorn,” or “Pin the eyepatch on the pirate.” - Scavenger Hunt
Great for free play later in the party. You could do an Easter-style treasure hunt, a nature-themed alphabet hunt, or offer a clue-based version with a map or riddles. Tailor it to your theme and age group. - Musical Chairs or Musical Bumps
Minimal setup—just a few chairs and a playlist! All you need is an enthusiastic volunteer to kick off the dancing!
- Arts and Crafts
A great way to keep kids busy, from an open table with colouring and stickers to planned activities like decorating biscuits or creating masks. These crafts can double up as party favours—salt dough dinosaurs, homemade bracelets, or painted pet rocks make lovely take-home mementoes.
Serving Up the Food:
First, decide whether you’ll seat the children all together at a set time or offer a buffet-style snack table available throughout the party.
Then, plan your menu. Most kids don’t want to sit still for long, so keep food quick and simple to reduce waste. Try to balance out sweet treats with fruit, veggies, dips, olives, cheese & crackers, or pasta salad.
One of the easiest ways to reduce party waste? Ditch the single-use tableware. Instead, opt for proper crockery, cutlery, and linen. If you don’t have enough (or simply don’t want to use your own), we have a huge range available to hire. This is also a fun way to play with your theme—coloured napkins, glassware, and table setups can make mealtime more exciting for kids.
You could even be playful with food presentation—why not use tiered cake plates? (They’re not just for afternoon teas!)
Creating Memories:
One of the best parts of any family celebration is the creation of traditions. These often happen by accident—a special breakfast, a go-to game, recording a yearly birthday chat, or an annual photo can become something your child looks forward to every year.
Hosting a party at home gives you the chance to start those traditions, big or small, that make your family’s celebrations uniquely yours.
So, There You Have It…
Our top tips for hosting a birthday party at home! We hope they give you the confidence and tools to plan a fantastic, low-stress, low-waste celebration. As long as your child is having fun, their friends are there, and they feel special—they’ll love it. And that’s what really matters.
At Co-Ordination Event Hire, you can browse our full range of catering equipment, furniture, linens, and accessories on our website. Or get in touch with our expert team to discuss your party plans. We’re always happy to help you pull off an excellent celebration at home that’s simple, fun, and eco-conscious.
