Most parties now have two kinds of fun going on at once. There is the old-fashioned stuff, like a bouncy castle, musical bumps and a cake with candles. Then there is the screen side: a playlist on a smart speaker, a games console, a video call with the relatives who could not make it.
Both have their place. The trick is getting them to work together so the children are not glued to a tablet and the adults are not bored stiff. Here is how we would go about it.
Start With the Classics
Old-fashioned party fun works because everyone already knows how to join in. No instructions, no logins, no arguments over whose turn it is on the controller. Put a bouncy castle in the garden and the children will be on it within seconds of arriving.
Good classic options for a family party:
- A bouncy castle as the main attraction. It keeps a crowd of children busy for hours.
- Party games between bouncing sessions: musical statues, pass the parcel, a treasure hunt round the garden.
- Races and challenges, especially for older children. An inflatable obstacle course turns it into a proper competition.
Where Modern Entertainment Fits
Tech works best when it supports the party rather than taking it over. A few ideas that go down well:
- Music. Build a playlist with the birthday child beforehand, so it is full of songs they actually like.
- A video call for grandparents or friends abroad, just for the cake and singing.
- A dance game or karaoke on the TV for a rainy half hour or the quieter end of the day.
- A shared photo album that guests can add their pictures to.
Get Both in One Go
Disco castles are a neat mix of the two. You get a traditional bouncy castle, plus built-in music and lights that make it feel like a little party of its own. The Disco castle with front slide and the Mega Disco are both in our disco range, and children love bouncing to their own songs.
If the grown-ups are feeling nostalgic, Infinite Lives has a good read on why retro games are making a comeback. An old console in the corner goes down well with older children too.
Plan the Day in Blocks
Rather than having everything on at once, split the party into chunks:
- Arrival: straight onto the castle. It burns off the early excitement.
- Games: a few organised games while the bouncers take a breather.
- Food and cake: bring in the video call here if family are joining remotely.
- Wind-down: music, a dance game or a film for the tired ones.
Moving from busy and active to calm and screen-based tends to work better than the other way round. Children who have bounced for an hour are happy to sit down.
Keep Everyone Comfortable
A good host thinks about who is coming. Toddlers, teenagers and grandparents all enjoy different things, so offer a choice and let people drift between them. If the parents fancy a go too, our castles for adults are built for grown-ups to bounce on. Keep a quiet corner for anyone who needs a break from the noise, and tell guests roughly what is planned so nobody is caught off guard.
Grown-Up Parties Are a Separate Thing
Adults-only evenings are a different event altogether and should be planned on their own, well away from any children’s celebration. If the kids’ party is in the afternoon and the grown-ups carry on later, make it a clean break, with the children home or in bed first. What adults choose for their own evening, from a games night to a disco or something like british sex cams, is their call, but it belongs only at a private, over-18s get-together.
To see which castles are free for your party, check your date and book online.