What’s the key to your kids party success?

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Welcome to the land of party….okay, so lets get straight into it.Our Bristol CTP Party Manager, Mallory has some key insider tips into how to make your next kids party a BIG Success.

    • Important things to consider when organising a kids birthday party are;

      • ONE – Venue

        • TWO – Entertainment

          • THREE – Cake

            • FOUR – Food

              • FIVE – Party bags

                • SIX – Decor

                    • annnnnnnnnd GO!…

Venue

                        • Important things to remember here, don’t hire a room that’s too big you don’t want to look like nothings going on (unless you’ve got a sports party), don’t hire anything that’s too small or full of tables – the kids need to be free to run around man! So, you need a medium sized space with room or a side room for food and drinks whenever that might be. Some of my favourite halls to entertain in are:
                          Redcatch Community Centre – easy to park, good size hall, cheap to hire, accessible from different areas! Bedminster/Totterdown/Brislington/Arnos Vale.
                          Redland Parish Church Hall – all of the above, plus they have various room sizes available too. Accessible from Clifton/St Andrews/Cotham/Henleaze/Kingsdown
                        Long Ashton Village Hall on Keedwell Hill – great size, quite big but not too big, easy parking and accessible from Bishopsworth/Ashton/Failand and Barrow Gurney

                     

                                        • Entertainment

                                            • Book us! We can help provide a fun filled birthday party, that we can make it bespoke to the birthday child and your needs. Trust us, we know what we are doing.

                    Cake

                                              • There are plenty of extravagant cake makers around (you can find them on local community FaceBook sites), or even give it a go yourself, with a helping hand of the birthday child, even if it looks a little sloppy, don’t worry – everyone will know its full of love!!

                    Fooooooooooooood

                                                  • (The parents favourite bit, where you get to eat the ring biscuits you loved as a child) easiest option I’ve seen at birthday parties – PIZZZZZZZA! Order it in, or cook it up yourself. Use the cake as desert….

                    Party bags

                                                      • Sweet cones, you can order them online, they’re cheap and can be themed! Or head on down to the local pound shop and get a themed activity book that can be handed to them on their way out – something that their parents might appreciate, getting those brains working with a little fun…

                    Décor

                                                        • Balloons, balloons, balloons, get the colours that suit your theme, tie them up and hang them from everywhere. Cheap, easy and effective!

                                                          • One stop shop for the perfect kids party <3

                                                            • Any questions, just let me know – Mallory, CTP Party Bristol circa 2014

Wonderful Children’s entertainment at weddings

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Wedding Entertainment for kids!

    CTP Party love a wedding and we host kids wedding entertainment quite often, especially in the summer months. So there has been a very special wedding here in the UK this past week and unless you have been hiding under a rock and not like the rest of us who were glued to our TV screens on the weekend you will have somehow missed that a normal girl just became a Princess and married into the Royal Family.

        With all the attention on the groom and his bride most of the day, we did catch a bit of air time with the children who took part in the ceremony and wedding party. The little ones looked so cute and behaved so well on the day, which is no easy task especially with all the noise, press and attention of the crowds. But our question is what happened to the children after the ceremony with the kids, once the photos were finished and everyone went to the wedding reception?

            This is an age old question for couples looking to arrange their wedding day. Do we invite children and what do we do with them on the day? Will they behave? Will they cause havoc? How do we occupy them so their parents can relax and enjoy some adult company…? Well CTP Party have been invited to do just that in a number of different ways at some of our clients’ weddings.

                 

                  In the past, we have arranged wedding packs for children aged 3 – 8 years with toys, activities and things to keep little ones occupied for the wedding breakfast. We have sent along “Nanny like” party hosts who take the kids on a magical adventure away from the parents and we have also sent along characters such as Princesses, Fairies, Pirates and even Superheroes to some weddings to keep the little ones entertained.

                    We find the best way is to plan your entertainers party session while the wedding breakfast is taking place. This way you get about 1 hour – 2hours of “adult time” with the kids all fully engaged with the entertainer. You have to bear in mind that you may need somewhere separate for the kids and the entertainer to be/play. So we can play activities, music and games without interrupting the speeches.

                         

                          A party host can come to your chosen venue at your specific time and we can tailor the activities to suit the space/the children attending your wedding. In the past we have attended weddings as a Fairy (the only other person allowed to wear white at the wedding bar the bride) and as a Superhero (who took the kids to their spots at the table) whether it is an appearance you want or a full on 2 Hour party session for the kids, we can help make your special day…just as special for your little guests so there is no need to leave them at home!

Party Tips for Parties being held outdoors – Festival & Sports Day Parties.

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Let’s get the kids outdoors!

With the weather in the UK starting to improve…we thought it was only right to talk a bit about hosting parties outside. We can’t lie, our favourite parties over the past 23 years have all generally been outdoors. We love the kids faces when they can run around on grass and we enjoy the fresh air! Saying this…there are some obvious risks in hosting your party outdoors and we are going to talk about them later but for now, what are the best things about hosting a party outdoors and what do you need to think about?

 

 

Well, our festival parties, sports day parties and family themed games are all best hosted outdoors or in garden spaces. The reason being is some of the games can only be set up on grass (the hurdles) and being outdoors normally means we can play some of the more fun (wetter) games!

 

What we recommend you need for a great outdoors garden party: 

  • A large (medium sized) space which is safe and secure with either fencing or in your back garden. This limits children running off and getting lost.
  • Some form of cover (just in case the heaven’s open…) or sometimes to shade your little ones from the sun if it gets too hot!
  • Some form of power – we don’t need it for our music machines as they are remote but if you want bubbles/lights/hot drinks for parents then you will need some form of power. Of course, if we are in your back garden…you can just make the parents tea and coffee inside.
  • Some drinks on the side (for the children.) When the kids run about outside, they generally get more thirsty and we find need a quick drink every hour or so.
  • Some sunscreen – just incase children don’t realise they are outdoors and haven’t applied any before coming to the party
  • A rug/towel – when the kids needs to come indoors, this is a good idea to ensure their shoes aren’t dirty/muddy & leave footprints to your toilet
  • If hosting the party in your garden, remove any large trampolines and/or climbing frames. These are great for a couple kids but when you have 30 children descend on your garden, your trampoline will reach maximum capacity very quickly and you will find that a child or 2 will get upset or worse yet hurt so if you can’t hide it/move it then have another parent or family friend on guard to ensure kids can’t jump up on it.

 

What are the best party packages for outdoors:
Well, to be honest most of our parties can be run outdoors. We have some amazing photos of Princess, Fairy, Pirate & Superhero parties being hosted outdoors however our favourites are the Festival & Family Games parties. These parties have lots of fun equipment to keep the kids occupied including Egg & Spoon races, Hula Hoops & the kids favourite The WATER BUCKET relay race! All these games include running, movement & enthusiasm and kids love them.

So what do you need to look out for when hosting a party outside:

  • Well, the obvious risks of planning a party outdoors is that the weather doesn’t play ball and it rains all day…so the best thing to do is have a back up plan. If we can’t be outside for the party…where is option B (think a local hall, a lounge etc.)

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  • If the outdoor space is not your own garden…you may not be insured to have a party there and worse yet, the council or land over may stop your party 1/2 way through so make sure you have asked permission and looked at relevant insurance covers if you need one.
  • It may get “TOO HOT.” Believe it or not, every year there are a couple weekends whereby the weather is so hot that it is actually dangerous to have the kids in the garden without any shade so make sure if you are planning an outdoor event that you have relevant shade spots in the garden and please prepare well with drinks on the side and sunscreen.
  • There can be lots of distractions in the garden. Try and ensure that dangerous items are hidden or removed from the garden. For example, try not to leave a garden tools in the middle of the garden or the lawn mower as these could be mistaken for toys by the kids.

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    So what’s left to do? Well, pick a date and invite your kids friends over and then get a CTP Party Host to do the rest! We will bring the party to you and we bring all the music, equipment, games, activities, prizes for all the kids a special gift for the birthday child.

    We can host parties across the South of the UK and recommend a maximum of 30 kids for 1 entertainer. If you happen to go over this…no problem we will book another entertainer onto your party!

    Anyway….let’s all continue doing the “weather dance” and let’s get some more sunny weekends booked in!

    Easy Ways to personalise your kids birthday party with extras & other party tips from CTP Party

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    Like most people, we here at CTP Party are bonkers over Etsy and independent party boutiques when it comes to little parties or big parties for children.

    Every week we receive new requests; either a new idea, theme or vision that a client has asked us to research for their child’s up and coming birthday party. This can be the wild and feisty…or the subtle and amusing. We literally get asked about all sorts of different things when it comes to kids birthday parties or special events. So we have made a list of our favourites below and  I’ve also thrown in a few other bits that I couldn’t help but drool over here in the party workshop.

    These colourful sweetie bags are available from Sweetmafia. I found them on Pinterest. They are a great idea and really colourful and eye catching. Just be aware, there may be kids at the party who can’t eat sweets due to allergies or are veggie so just take that into indication.

     

    This piñata is so lovely! Idea for the very fashionable Unicorn parties which we seem to be hosting every weekend at the moment. A Piñata can be a great game to get all the kids working together. We include one with our Jedi Academy party where the children have to use their “Jedi mind tricks” to overcome the meteor shower piñata and pull on long strings to open it rather than hit the piñata.

     

    We love these personalised lovehearts. As a big fan of sweets, why not have them made with a personal message.

     

    One extra we absolutely love making up are the personal and made to order party bags (take home bags) which we offer in a variety of different materials (satin/silk and/or hessian sack) and we have loads of colours to choose from to match your Superhero, Jedi, Princess or even Mermaid theme! We pop 5 – 6 items in each one and we try and theme them as much as possible. The above are from a Fairy party we hosted last month.

     

     

    National Unicorn Day 9th April 2018

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    CTP Party are raring to go after the Easter Holidays and we are delighted to start the week with National Unicorn Day! As most of our clients are aware, we love to host parties as a Unicorn and we are finding it is one of the most popular themes for 2018!

    So…why do we think the Unicorn Trend is so fabulous and here to stay? Well…mainly because people love bright colours which make them feel good and the unicorn trend is all about bright pastels and bright visuals.

     

    Our team of young and dynamic entertainers say they love wearing a colour which makes them stand out at parties and the reaction they get from children when they walk in the door is amazing. The kids love their bright clothes, their glitter, their hair! They literally cannot get enough of the bright and attractive costume.

    So…who loves unicorns? Well, to be honest it seems to be everyone. We have booked Unicorn parties for 7 year olds girls, 5 year old little boys and even an 11 year old girls. Both boys and girls love the theme and seem to think it is great. Our unicorn keep the whole party upbeat and sometimes our clients get really into the theme with their decor and food.

     

    Due to most popular supermarkets supporting the theme too, it’s so easy to pick up reasonably priced party decor and unicorn table wear. Pinterest has loads of ideas for Unicorn flavoured food and Unicorn party food ideas and we can top of your party with our purple satin and net pouches for each child to take home as a Unicorn Party Bag.

     

     

    To find out more about a Unicorn themed party near you or how you can book your own then please get in touch or go onto our Unicorn Themed Page. 

    Great Feedback from clients this month!

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    Kids Parties with CTP Party

    We really enjoy parties…in fact, we find that we are quite obsessed with the buzz that hosting a party brings to our team! The feeling of all the kids being happy, the parents being delighted that the party went well and all the children’s faces full with smiles.

    Most of our team have been with us a long time, we retain our party hosts for months, sometimes even years and they continue to amaze our team in the office on a weekly basis.

    This month we have received so many lovely photos, emails and even phone calls from clients saying how happy they are they went with CTP Party. One mum who was let down by another company actually believed it was fate that she got let down…as it meant she found us and had the best party possible!

    With all the lovely feedback, we do occasionally get to see some photos and here are some of the ones which have been sent in to our office from parents and clients who have had parties in March! We hope you enjoy them….

    If you would like to have a great birthday party with little stress and with a team who have a vast experience in entertainment (21 years and counting…!) then please do get in touch. However small, large or strange you think your child’s party request may be…we have really heard it all and we are sure CTP Party can help!

    We offer children’s parties and kids events in the Surrey, Berkshire, Bath, Bristol, Oxfordshire, Reading and Hampshire areas however we do travel within reason so please get in touch regarding your next party.

    Space Party

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    Kids are teaching the Bristol Team a thing or 2!

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    Eat, Sleep, Learn, Party!

    Recently, the Bristol team have been hosting lots of Dinosaur, Space, and Stars Wars parties. What have we learnt?
    These kids know their stuff! Its pretty astonishing, the facts they come out with!
    A lot of our entertainers host lots of different parties and we are able to theme our games to your chosen theme to suit the level of the group – because they are great with children. We’ve been doing it for 23 years, so we know it works. When we know a specific entertainer likes Star Wars, Disney Princesses or Dinosaurs for example, we will most likely put them to host that party because of their knowledge, which in turn, makes it a better party. See what we did there….
    However, what we have discovered is that even the entertainers who have a particular interest in the film/character will learn stuff throughout the parties! Because kids are like information sponges! I mean, did you know that there are talks over T-Rex not actually being a Carnivore anymore, and that he might have been more of a scavenger? NO, nor did I, until 6year old Luke from Backwell in Bristol told me! Annnnnnnd did you know that Pluto is actually known as a “Dwarf” Planet? NO, nor did I until 5year old Jenny from Henleaze told Andy the Astronaut!
    It just goes to show, that even when we know our stuff, someone else, even the 3,4,5,6year old down the road, might know a little bit more and we can learn from them. Let our kids teach other kids interesting facts through the art of play.
    Here’s to choosing a party with the theme you love!

    Animal & Dinosaur Parties and why they rock!

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    Kids are loving our Animal Themed & Dinosaur Themed parties at the moment. Whether it is a full on Jungle Explorer experience or simply a Dinosaur Enthusiast they want…we are finding both boys and girls of all ages are mad for them!

    Instagram Feedback from Animal Party CTP Party

    We started running animal inspired parties back in 1997 as we knew children of all ages loved Jungle, Farm and Pet animals but now with the New Jurassic Park trailer out we are finding Dinosaur parties are gaining momentum.

      • If your little one would love a Dinosaur explorer to come to their party and talk all about Dinosaurs and play games in the theme then let us know! We can tailor your party to your child’s interests and needs and can host up to 30 kids with one entertainer (one explorer!)

        • Let our team of young and enthusiastic entertainers take the kids on a wild adventure whether it be looking for Dinosaur Secrets, playing Musical Monkey Bumps or simply pass the parcel. We can be at your party for 1 hour, 1.5hrs or even 2 hours and help you serve the food, drinks and present the Birthday Cake!
    • Interested in learning more about our Animal Parties then click here  and for our Dinosaur Explorer Parties click here. 

    Glitter Everything – Party Fashions for 2017

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    Popular trends this year

    Have you noticed all the sparkles, rainbows, glitter, trolls, unicorns and magical themes running around this year!? Have you noticed parents (usually the mums) loving them just as much as children!? YES US TOO.

    I think I now see something “Unicorn” themed in every shop, from birthdays cards to the soft cuddly toys in retail shops, to unicorn Christmas tree baubles, yes we have seen them!

    …And CTP Party are extremely happy about this as it means we can go extra wild with the glitter at parties! Kids love it, and parents do too, BONUS! (Don’t worry it comes off easily in time for school!)

    Now obviously, the birthday parties we host have a main priority; that being that the birthday child has the BEST TIME EVER, with their friends. But if we can get the parents involved too, then smiles all-round surely!?

    Don’t forget in the lead up to Christmas that these themes work perfectly for that time of year as well as birthdays so make sure you type #GLITTERGALORE in your enquiries for a 10% discount if you’re party is in the BS/BA/GU/SL/PO/SO areas…

    We cant wait to share the glittery fun with the kids, and the parents!!

    *This promotion ends 31/1/2017 unless booking is made in 2017 and agreed price made with office.*

    Halloween Half Term

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    Halloween Parties & Trick or Treat

    What do you think? Are you happy to let your kids join in this spooky/scary but fun Halloween festival? These days it’s quite the norm for children as young as 2 to go out Trick or Treating in the early evening and many kids have a great time. However we’re finding lots of mums aren’t sure if the kids may be spooked at the idea of knocking on strangers’ doors in the dark.   Many parents don’t want their kids coming back with nightmares or buckets of sugary ‘candy’; and increasingly we hear of lots of families saying they don’t know how the old couple next door will respond to a herd of kids at their front door demanding treats.
    Here at CTP Party we love a bit of Spooky Fun but would recommend if you are letting your kids Trick or Treat this Halloween, you accompany them, and maybe do a pre-check of houses in the area who are happy to join in the fun and limit the amount of candy handed out.
    CTP Party can help too as we regularly get asked to supply a Wacky Witch to Trick or Treat with the kids, or alternatively if you want to make Halloween a ‘Fun Festival’ why not organise a mini party with age appropriate spooky games and fun hosted by Wacky or our Wizard characters. Call us on 01252 471070 for Halloween Parties or Visits in the Hampshire, Surrey, Bristol, Bath, Reading & Berkshire areas.