Birthdays!

A to Z of Birthdays: entries in red mean the business purchased an ad from NW3kids

Bouncy Castles:

Bouncy castles, soft play gym and ball pits, giant garden games including Connect 4 and Jenga. Hampstead-based. www.kids-rule.co.uk, or kidsrule2007@yahoo.co.uk or phone 07949 454048/07908 368685.

Helpers and party planners:

Nathalie Frost is an artist and qualified teacher who creates unique works of art with children for children.Nathalie also runs creative parties for birthdays and special occasions. Please visit www.nathaliefrost.com or email violetannie@hotmail.com or on 0207 4490364.

Little Bears' Parties: We plan and manage your children's party from beginning to end, starting with preparation of invitations, through the provision of catering and entertainers, and finally making sure they leave happy and contented with a party bag at the end! We have a spacious hall in the heart of Hampstead (at Hampstead Hill School) or are just as happy to organise parties in parents' homes or at any other venue. Call Elena on 077207 84035 elena@littlebearsparties.co.uk www.littlebearsparties.co.uk

Entertainers:

There are pages and pages of clowns, magicians etc... on the web (www.familiesonline.co.uk has lots of stuff). The following entertainers we have either seen or hired or have come recommended by other parents

            Ali do Lali: (01494 774 300). I quote a mother: "he came, he ate fire, induced   laughter, and handed out an enormous number of sweets and candy."

Debutots Early Years Drama
For 1-7 year olds. "Choose from one of our exciting themes and let us take your children on a fantastic and unique adventure, with imaginative play, games, dance, bubbles and much more. Up to an hour in duration."Jennifer David
Debutots Early Years Drama Tel: 020 8442 2380 www.debutots.co.uk

     Go-Kart Party: I've been to several of their parties and all kids (including girls) waited patiently for their turn around the "race track" -- a sure sign of enjoyment. www.go-kartparty.co.uk 0800211 8383 or 0870 116 2000. from age 4; Talacre Sports Centre and Haverstock Secondary Schools can accomodate track.

     Jenty the gentle clown: 0208 527 4855 or 07957 121764. Jenty does face-painting, singing, puppets that doesn't scare the little ones. Particularly good for the under-3 crowd.

     Mia Holman: 020 8540 4203. Mia, who runs a music/play/art class in Hampstead, will tailor her activites, songs, stories to the birthday child's interests. A good choice if you have little ones and bigger ones.

Mystical Fairies: 12 Flask Walk, NW3 1HE 0207 431 1888. www.mysticalfairies.co.uk. They have excellent Peter Pans and Cinderallas etc... but they don't come cheap.

Steve the Snakeman: From age 3, most homes and venues are suitable. Steve shows his rare snakes, chameleons, iguanas, amphibians and spiders for about an 1 hour 15 minutes. Amusing snake games with prizes (ages 4 and up). NW3kids mother loved it! Call Steve on 07966766284 or ludwinmanagement@hotmail.com www.stevesreptileparties.com

Tony Macaroni: 0208 442 0122.Games, puppets etc.. entertainer from age 3 to 13.

Venues: Not all places allow bouncy castles or amplified entertainment so ask beforehand.

      Castlehaven Community Centre (www.castlehaven.org.uk 0207 485 3386 21 Castlehaven Rd. NW1 8RU) Just around the corner from Camden Market and on the 168 bus route. Very good indoor/outdoor space but you would need an entertainer of some sort

Ergotec Action: Floor-to-ceiling climbing wall, basketball, mini tramp, joyride system etc. Specialised, themed sports / game parties. My 6 year-old loved his party and so did his sports-mad friends. Easiest party I've ever thrown as they do everything, including party bags. Food is not allowed but Oliver's Cafe is next door in Belsize Village. www.ergotecaction.co.uk

Kentish Town Farm: 1 Cressfield Close, NW5 4BN. 0207 916 5421. Has a nice but smallish room that can be rented, with the added bonus of the animals.

     Gospel Oak Methodist Church: Agincourt Rd, NW3 2NT (10-15 minute walk from Belsize Tube). Contact Jane Ramsey on 0207 586 4436. Nice, bright space with parking; £55 pounds for 4 hours (includes one hour to set up and one hour to clean up) plus 10 pounds for the caretaker. Bouncy castles welcome. I've lost count how many times I've rented it.

     Hampstead Town Hall Interchange Studios: Haverstock Hill. Can't beat the location.

     Highgate Newtown Community Centre: 25 Bertram Street, N19 5DQ 0207 272 7201 www.hncc.freeuk.com. Big room, garden, parking and use of a kitchen.

     Mystical Fairies: 12 Flask Walk, NW3 1HE in Hampstead 0207 431 1888. www.mysticalfairies.co.uk. As a mother of two boys, I can only imagine what it's like but friends tell me the fairy grotto is a pretty good place to have a party if you're really into pink!

     Pizza Express: They all do make-your-own pizza parties but probably more appropriate for the 4s and up.
In Belsize Park and Hampstead.

     "Rascals" at Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre Soft Play. Soft play climbing frame.They also do a separate room with all sorts of soft toys and small bouncy castle. Great place to have a party but the lack of space for post jumping around cake and snacks is a real problem. Cafe next door can accomodate but no separate room. Adelaide Road, 0207 974 2012 also try 0207 482 2834 www.camdenswisscottage.co.uk ).

Sunshine Play Group 37a Broadhurst Gardens, NW6 3QT: Not far from O2 center on the Finchley Rd. (C11 bus stop 2 minutes away.) Baking parties are a specialty. Contact Agnieszka at info@sunshineplaygroup.com or 0207 7328 0713

     Talacre Sports Centre Dalby Street 0207 9748765 : It's possible to rent part or all of the Treetops climbing frame, though I don't recommend it for under 3s. You can also hold a "sports party:" football, trampoline. My son adored his football party. Food and birthday cake can be catered. Best to show up at the Sports Centre to talk to them and book it. Staff are very helpful.

---Swimming Parties

Archway Pool: (www.aquaterra.org 0207 281 4105) Birthday parties for up to 30 children. Both the tube and the C11 stops right in front of this wave pool with bubbles and slides. Water is quite cold so summer time parties are best.

Swiss Cottage Pool (Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre, Adelaide Road, 0207 974 2012 (Leisure Centre) also try 0207 974 5440 for Swim Club www.camdenswisscottage.co.uk ). Brand-new facilites make this a very popular choice. You can book up to three months in advance. NB There is no party room and cancellations due to faulty pool are not uncomon (I speak from experience.)

Party bags, Party hats, Balloons etc... ---

       Party-Party: 11 Southhampton Rd. NW5 4JS 0207 267 9084. Everything you need for your darling's special day: party bags, paper plates and cups, balloons, games and costumes.

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Just a few suggestions --

Don't have a house party with lots of under 5s if you can't handle the mess (ground chocolate cake on rug; spilt juice etc...) Even if your children are capable of sitting nicely at a table, I can assure you mine were not! Church halls and community centres are big, relatively inexpensive and not particularly delicate.
Do keep the ages of all invited children in mind when thinking of activities. For example, mixed-age treasure hunts, especially where the birthday child is the younger one, are difficult to pull off. The older children will find the loot in a nanosecond, you'll have a crying child, with quite a lot of time to fill.
Do think about the type of activity in relation to the number as well as age of guests. Pass the parcel with more than 10 children can be deathly dull.
For most under 5s, non competitive games are the most successful -- "keep up the balloon," bubble chasing, limbo dance, parachute games etc... For fives (and mature 4s), it's got to be a proper game. A small prize or sweetie usually takes the sting out of being called "out."
Don't assume the number you invite is the number you will get. Not everyone RSVPs, and lots bring unexpected sibilings. If either is a problem, say so on the invite, particularly if you're being charged per head.
You don't have to agree to drop-offs (i.e parents taking off.) I certainly do not for under 5s or in a public spaces. remember: you are responsible for that child so don't feel bad about saying no.
pinatas are great but you may want to engineer a trap door for younger children, as the cardboard is stubbornly resilient. I've seen a grown man reduced to beating a paper machee donkey with a stick for a solid 5 minutes before even making a dent.
Lucky dips are a nice alternative to party bags.
If you have a particularly energetic party in mind, like a bouncy castle or football game, have a little arts and crafts table available for the shy ones. I found decorating party hats with feathers and sticky tape (not glue) and lots of stickers to be really popular.
Of all the food I've seen at parties, Pizza Margherita from the major delivery companies (Dominos, Express ect...) has been the one most consistently eaten.
I could go on ... and I will if anyone wants me to.