Party for 7 year olds ALL boys!!!

[amirose]

Hi, Warning that this is going to be a long one!

I am a children's party organiser/entertainer. I am trained in child care and education but have always worked with the 4-5 age group.
I run my own business we have been going 5 months and I have learnt LOADS. However I have now met a challenge I think I need some advice with.
Yesterday we did a party with 17, 7 year old boys. The theme was army.
I set up an assault course and as the children arrived I walked them round it and all was going well. However as more children started arriving the worse things got. It was mainly a staff problem because my other two members of staff were not properly walking the boys round whilst I stood at the start to stagger the boys laps. But basically what happened was chaos. They all stopped running the assault course and started chasing each other round the garden jumping in the flowerbeds swinging on the swings breaking our equipment it was awful!
I decided to forget the assault course and called them all over (with huge difficulty!) I made a speech saying they were in the army now they were not boys who screamed and acted silly - no they were all men now. We then tried a game of sergeant major says. It was impossible to line them up horizontally so we lined them up vertically and I tried to get them marching round the garden. It started fine but then they all ran past me started screaming and running round the garden again I called them all back said they were useless (in an army major way!) and tried again but same thing happened. I tried getting them to do sit ups and press up etc but half the boys started running round again.
Anyway then we tried target practice. I had targets and water bombs. Its started brilliantly but then they were messing around so much waiting their turn that the Que became confused and I could no longer keep track of their scores. Then I tried just getting them to chuck them at the tree as they liked watching the water bombs burst but again they just got silly and started running around.
Next game we tried injured soldier they had to rush across the garden wrap up two nominated team mates in toilet paper then walk them back across the garden first team to do it wins. Anyway getting them to choose team mates was a nightmare they completely ignored me and I ended up with odd numbers in each team. Then boys who hadn't been involved decide to involve themselves again. They ran across the garden and did wrap their team mates in toilet paper and actually did complete the game much to my surprise though none of them had listened to any of the rules or instructions.
I handed them over for food and they literally sat down 5 minutes then chased each other round the garden (all with food in their mouths ) as we weren't responsible for this part I left them to it!
Then after food we tried the cake none of the boys would sit down to sing happy birthday and in fact al crowded round putting their hands all over the cake.
We tried a game of pass the grenade where they stood in a circle and passed it round when the music stopped whoever holding it had to pretend to die. well they all just lobbed it at each other passing it round the circle however they please getting out then rejoining the game.
After that they all ran round the garden again. By that point I was exhausted. I went round asking the boys do you want to run round the garden or play another game the unanimous reply was "run round the garden". I spoke with the parents and said look if I am supervising is that a problem. They asked the boys themselves and got the same reply so agreed. So thats what they did for the last 25 minutes!

Does this sound like normal behaviour for an all boys party at 7? Was it my lack of control or their age group? and lastly is it my fault for the games I chose?

I'm interested to know if other entertainers can control an all boy group of 7 year old's!!!

Kindest Regards
Amy

[Corabar Steve]

Please take the time to introduce yourself in the Newbies Section.

Interesting post & one I'm sure that will have quite a few responses.

[karl james]

Hello,
Sounds like a nightmare. Hope you haven’t been put off from working with kids. I think that’s why many DJ’s dont go there due to just how unpredictable children can be.
I think first impressions are important. Maybe wearing the full army combat gear, getting them in a line for inspection would have got there attention. Show them who is boss by picking out the birthday boy, asking his name and give him a dressing down in front of his mates. Get them to say “Sir, Yes Sir’, when ever you asked them a question. Sounds a bit tough but kids that age who are into army know everything about WW2. To be in an actual army parade would be just great. To have an Army Sgt order them around would have been even better. What about staying out of sight whilst everyone turned up? Then march into the room with the A Team theme playing. Maybe the odd “IN COMING!!!!” and a bomb explosion, the kids have to run for cover. Top and bottom of it is to convince the kids that it’s the real deal and they are not there to do the Music Man.

Hope this helps.

[Tonsk]

Hi Amy

From doing many kids parties myself I would say you did your best, but 7 year olds and all boys is asking for trouble...

I've had a mixed group of 8 year olds doing the same kinda thing, there was an adjoining field where they all legged it to every 15 minutes for about 5 mins..

Was frustrating, but the parents were happy coz the kids were still enjoying themselves even if they weren't doing exactly what I wanted them to be doing.

Parents are a weird thing like that, if they think the kids are happy and they don't have to do anything, they are happy too....

Chalk it to experience and the next time someone calls for a quote about all boys parties - mention this experience and tell them that at that age, they just want to run about..... The parents will appreciate it, book you and get you to supervise the running so they can have a couple of hours off....

[soundtracker]

I did a party on Saturday afternoon for 21 eleven year old girls, I said to the mother of the Birthday Girl "No boys then?" she said no, all they do is run around shouting, and sliding on their knees - actually it was a good little party- so she may have something there!

[amirose]

Hello,
Sounds like a nightmare. Hope you haven’t been put off from working with kids. I think that’s why many DJ’s dont go there due to just how unpredictable children can be.
I think first impressions are important. Maybe wearing the full army combat gear, getting them in a line for inspection would have got there attention. Show them who is boss by picking out the birthday boy, asking his name and give him a dressing down in front of his mates. Get them to say “Sir, Yes Sir’, when ever you asked them a question. Sounds a bit tough but kids that age who are into army know everything about WW2. To be in an actual army parade would be just great. To have an Army Sgt order them around would have been even better. What about staying out of sight whilst everyone turned up? Then march into the room with the A Team theme playing. Maybe the odd “IN COMING!!!!” and a bomb explosion, the kids have to run for cover. Top and bottom of it is to convince the kids that it’s the real deal and they are not there to do the Music Man.

Hope this helps.

Hello,

Thanks for everyones replies!

I know I didn't mention it but we did have a sergeant major in full costume! I got Steve my only male member of staff who is 34 fully dressed up in authentic gear from an army surplus store and all they did was laugh at him!
He tried shouting in an army major voice and getting them to do star jumps when they were disrespectful (one of the kids actually punched me in the boob) but nope they just laughed. I was REALLY surprised about this.

I couldn't get them to be quiet to explain the games at all. I would have 3 or 4 boys pushing and shoving and the majority giggling and interrupting. I said soldiers I can wait all day for you to be quiet and one shouted at me wait all day then

I absolutely love the idea of hiding and coming out to music. I think you would only be able to do this with the sergeant major as you would need 2 of us supervising the kids as they arrive (they never arrive all at the same time) but its a great idea.

Hasn't put me off working with kids but maybe all boys!
I do three year olds parties and its very difficult to engage them but they are not stupid or rude and always smile!
I think with an all boys party again I am going to restrict numbers to ten or encourage the parents to invite some girls to balance it out.

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

I understand how hard this situations can be to control but i think you need to fight with them and become an authority figure who they look up to and respect that's the only way you will be able to control them.

I think this problem is becoming more and more of a problem these days especially in schools. the problem is you just can't discipline them these days so the problem is getting out of hand.

Bring back the Cane!!!

[Mayhem 1]

Hasn't put me off working with kids but maybe all boys!
I do three year olds parties and its very difficult to engage them but they are not stupid or rude and always smile!
I think with an all boys party again I am going to restrict numbers to ten or encourage the parents to invite some girls to balance it out.[/QUOTE]

Hiya Amy,

I would never do a party for just boys it is a recipe for disaster!!!!

I always make sure that there is a fair mix of boys and girls because if the boys dont join in they will see the girls winning all the sweets & prizes and they will soon come round to your way of thinking!!!!

Speaking of 3 year old parties, I did one myself yesterday and it was amazing, had them all joining in with the chaos and dont forget to boost your audience you always have a secret weapon - "The Mums" who will always join in just to make sure that their child is in with a chance of a prize.

Besides you can say the same thing I do and that is that if they do not join in they dont love their children!!! laughs all round and then you will have them.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I always make sure that there is a fair mix of boys and girls

Surely you don't stipulate that though before taking a booking? Or do you?

[Mayhem 1]

Hiya Mate,

It depends on the age group buddy