how to manage multiple kids age groups

SunAndRain

Fir DD"s first bday party we are having a pool party and inviting all our friends.  So there will be ages 1-teenage years.

Planned activites I have include:

1)decorate your beach pail

2) pinata with pull strings

3) tattoos

4) swimming of course

Should we invest in a volleyball net for the teens and adults to play?

Should I buy a sand table NOW for the toddlers to play in?  I worry it'll make an insane mess, however, in our backyard.

Should I lead some pool songs for the parents and toddlers like we do in swim class).  Most swim with their infants/toddlers so they'll "get" it, though I have no idea if they'll enjoy it!

At what age would be "fair" to cap the pinata.  It is intended for the little kids, hence the pull strings, but I don't want to be unreasonable to the teens.  So cap at 9? 11? 6? what??  Will the 10+ year old kids naturally not be interested?

And what about party favors?

I have those beach pails and a few toys (bubbles, etc) but they are not for the teens.

I'm also having a candy station and was planning on having people shovel their own candy.  I guess I should buy small bags but, yikes, I wasn't planning on spending $100 on candy!  

It is a big party, yes, and we have flexibility in our budget which is great.  My challenge is simply not KNOWING how much or little to organize when it comes to activities for multiple age groups!  Last party with toddlers I quickly learned that if you don't oragnize their activites then they'll orgainize their own...which is great in your own home but doesn't work SO well in ours...especially not with a few dozen adults mingling around.

TIA!

XCrissCrossX

I think you're over thinking this. It's a pool party. Kids love to swim. They'll be swimming.

tracy41

XcrisscrossX:

I think you're over thinking this. It's a pool party. Kids love to swim. They'll be swimming.

That.

karen_loy

XcrisscrossX:

I think you're over thinking this. It's a pool party. Kids love to swim. They'll be swimming.

totally; bigger kids probably won't even be interested in doing anything other than swim (pinata, games, favors..) Just get some bags to take candy home and they'll be happy

SunAndRain

karen_loy:

XcrisscrossX:

I think you're over thinking this. It's a pool party. Kids love to swim. They'll be swimming.

totally; bigger kids probably won't even be interested in doing anything other than swim (pinata, games, favors..) Just get some bags to take candy home and they'll be happy

Thanks. I really don't know what bigger kids do and don't like so it is hard to plan when trying to create something special for all guests. They mostly all have pools but hopefully just the party atmosphere will make it different from their everyday swim time.

kellydw

maybe water balloon toss? granted it normally turns into a water balloon fight with the big kids.

EastCoastBride

XcrisscrossX:

I think you're over thinking this. It's a pool party. Kids love to swim. They'll be swimming.

Basically this.  What you have planned so far is fine.  I'v ebeen to "overplanned" parties before and they just end up being either annoying or stressful (especially on the hosts who are trying to do too much).  Skip the volleyball and sand table and pool songs.  Just let people hang out. 

I think beach pail favors for the small kids would be cute.  I'd put their names on them, though, so that everyone knows who they are for.  Past that - I'd actually consider the candy station as the favor.  If you have bags - people can take candy w/ them.  

 

notkateanymore

XcrisscrossX:

I think you're over thinking this. It's a pool party. Kids love to swim. They'll be swimming.

This.

I might do a sand table and bubble for the smaller kids to play with if they get tired of swimming.