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 :bang: 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 :rolleyes: ) 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 :rolleyes:

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

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

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

Sadly i see this as beyond our control. all we can do is advise the parents and hope they listen.

Would you actually turn down a booking then Garry if it was all boys?

I'm with you on the sweets thing though. as soon as they realize there not getting any but the girls are their straight in there trying to beat the girls. works every time;)

Never tried the mum thing though, will put it on my list of things to try:)

[Mayhem 1]

Hiya Spud Mate,

hope you are well.

No I would not turn it down buddy but I would be a bit more strict with what they can not do (normally with mum & dads back up) ie sliding on their knees, running around etc.

Something else for you to use Spud and Amy is this:-

If you have a mix boys and girls and the boys booo the girls for any reason stop the show and say this:

"Please do not booo the girls for 2 reasons lads, Reason 1) It is bad manners and reason number 2 is if you boo them that means you fancy them.

No more boooing after that !!!

[milo]

I wouldn’t do war themed entertainment – Tell them to go to laser quest, paint balling or something like that if they want to play at being soldiers, I don’t even make balloon guns.

No matter the age, kids go to a party to run around not to be told what to do (this is what they have teachers and parents for), they will join in with games that they are familiar with, because they know what they are doing and they don’t need to pay attention to new rules, but as soon as you try to introduce a new game they wont enjoy it because they will be too bust talking about Ben 10, Lego Batman and who their girlfriend is (my son is 7 and the whole class fight over who’s going out with who – Scary) to remember how to play.

Don’t forget that the theme is something the party child likes and the other guests may not necessarily be that keen. Themed parties are fine, but themed entertainment is a recipe for disaster, unless it’s something like HSM.

I do kids parties for all ages as follows:

Three and under – I don’t do a sit down magic show for this age range as they have a short attention span and don’t understand the magic. I will tend to do these parties as a clown, but I get the kids to do my make up, try on my shoes and I give away foam noses so everyone is comfortable with me. I then go on to do sing along songs such as happy and you know it, mamma’s taking us to the zoo etc. They like parachute games and pretty much anything they ALREADY KNOW from tv or nursery. Balloons modelling goes down well, but make sure the parents are happy for the younger ones to have balloons and stick to doing things that aren’t too likely to pop when chewed. If you have softplay or ball ponds these are great addons. Try to stick to 1hour bookings as 2hours is just too much for this age.

Three to Five year olds – At this age they will have been to a few parties and they understand it a bit better. Again they don’t have a great attention span so I do a couple of big bright & funny magic tricks and move straight onto games such as traffic lights, corners, pass the parcel (if less than 12 kids) and stuff like that. Play musical bumps or some kind of music game with prizes and finish off with balloons and a pie in the face!

Five to Seven year olds – perfect audience for a magic show, they have been to school and are more used to structured activity! I start by introducing myself and getting the kids nice and loud. Ask them who lives in a pineapple under the sea! Say that one half of the room was louder than the other then do a competition to find out using the Spongebob soundtrack (you can get a really good 10 minute routine out of this using the Axtell noise’o’meter and the kids love it). I then call kids up to do FUNNY magic (the magic isn’t important it’s the funny way you present it), followed by something like a HSM quiz using slush powder to threat water over the loosing teams head, mummy game and a 1 hour disco with dancing games.

Over 7 – They have seen all the magic, they want to be grown ups so just do them a disco and lead the action songs. Don’t structure it … They get enough structure at school.

Oh yeah – Most important thing!!! Get a headset mic and don’t be afraid to take control, shouting without a mic doesn’t work even in a small venue. I use an amp can and a rechargeable battery so you can be heard anywhere.

Remember – They can smell fear! :p

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

Good advice but abit to structured for my liking. I think you need to "read the crowd" a bit even with children.

So milo you offer a clown, magician, presenter, DJ and baby sister all in one? Do you charge any extra for these?

[Dragonfly]

just have lots of how far can you skid on your knees competitions :D :D :D :D

[milo]

I do Clowning, Magic, Balloon Modelling, Face Painting, Discos, Quizzes, School Assembly Safety Talks, Bouncy Castle Hire, Catering, puppets and pretty much anything else you want. I’m also a Beaver Leader, I do youth work with my local youth group, I have a 7 year old son and I studied Children’s Care Learning & Dev a few years back. So I suppose you could say I’m an all rounder?

I agree with you totally – Obviously not every party is the same, there are a few people in my area who do the exact same party over and over and they have been doing it for 20 years! They say that it’s because it works, but the feedback I’ve heard is that no one wants to see the same show twice!

I have a 10-15 different magic routines so I can chop and change depending on the audience. Sometimes you turn up to a 4 year olds party and it’s all 8 & 9 year old cousins! Also the older ones will help to keep the younger ones in line because the young ones will copy the older ones.

My intro usually follows the same structure and if some of the kids have seen me before they like showing off to the others because they know what to do.

“Right boys & girls can I have you all sitting on your bottoms in front of me here please?”
“Can anyone tell me my name?” – Some can some can’t, but it’s printed on my magic box so there is always someone who shouts out Milo.
“WHAT! Who called me BIRO? (or SPYRO or whatever you like)?”
“It’s Milo thank you very much…. And do you know what usually happens when I come to a party?”
“Usually I come on and say hello everyone and everyone shouts back hello Milo. Do you think you can do that for me boys and girls?”
“Right here goes, on the count if three, 1,2,3….. Hello Everybody!!!”
“That was rubbish, who here has a brother or a sister?”
“And do you ever argue with your brothers and sisters?” (they will scream YES)
“Do they mums & dads?”
“Right well that’s how loud I want you to shout for me today”

Repeat Hello everybody bit…

“I think the girls were louder than the boys!”
“What do you think boys?”
“Well there’s only one way to find out”

Then get the Noise’o’Meter.

That’s everyone warmed up, the shy ones have come to join the fun, the parents are happy and you’ve set the stage for a good show (10 minutes in).

Everyone knows my name, their voices are warmed up so all I need to do is teach them the magic words and we’re good to go! (magic words can be something like Umpa, Umpa, Stick it up your Jumpa to get a laugh).

Always pull someone up to help and make them look a bit silly with big glasses, noses, ears etc. I use a top hot that falls down to their shoulders then I use fuzzy felts to stick a face on the front!

I love the mummy game, because I play the Benny Hill theme and run around the outside of all the teams with a roll or two of my own! But I have several games I can use depending on the audience. I also work with Blind and deaf children so I have specialist things I do with them.

Best advise is that if you want to try something new and it doesn’t work straight away, just scrap it and move onto something you know works. You can look at why it didn’t work when you get home and try to fix the problem.

I’m not sure I would take two “employees” with me either - £150.00 for me or split it three ways?

Remember to have fun and listen to what the kids tell you they want.

[Mayhem 1]

I am always introducing new games at children’s parties simply because they always need fresh material, but… any new games are quick for those taking part and also fun to watch especially if you say that the ones who are watching are the judges!!!

With boys who slide around on their knees it is just a simple case of a quite word with mum or a teacher if it is a school and it is soon resolved.

Scenario for you: Last week I did a primary school event that was split into 3 different age groups the first one (Littlies) was superb - The second one is where I had a boy causing all kind of trouble (there is always one) things like shouting continuously when everyone else was behaving fantastically, sliding on his knees but worst of all he made it his mission to go round and punch every girl there!!! “ENOUGH” I thought to my self and called him up in front of all the school and was just about to point out the error of his ways when his dad came over, I thought “here we go” his dad said “is he being naughty?” and all the children screamed “yes he is” so he made the boy apologise to the school and me and then he took him home.

The secret is to let the kids have fun but let them think they are getting away with it but in reality they are not.