How to hold a birthday party at preschool

What to ask the teacher first

Message the teacher a few days ahead, or earlier if you can. Good questions to ask:

• Does the class hold birthdays for individual children, and does the school have its own rules for them
• Which day of the week and what time suits the class best
• Does any child in the class need care around food, and does the school have rules about cakes or sweets brought in
• May parents stay, or is it just the teacher and the children
• If you would like to bring in a visitor, what does the school need to know first, and do other parents need a heads-up

Note the answers before you order the cake or buy party bags.

A time that fits the class routine

Ask the teacher to point out a stretch of the day that is rarely interrupted, away from main lessons, meals and nap time. A tidy one-hour slot is easier to fit into a class routine than a long one. If the teacher suggests a different time from the one you had in mind, go with the teacher, who knows the rhythm of the class.

Check holidays and closures against the school calendar.

Cake, snacks and party bags

For the cake, ask the teacher how to serve it. Slices cut ahead of time, with small plates and tissues, usually make less mess than cutting in the classroom. Choose snacks that are easy to handle and not sticky, and repeat the question about children who need care around food so the teacher can guide you.

One identical bag per child is a simple way to make sure nobody feels left out. If the school has rules about gifts or food brought in, follow them.

An activity that fits one hour

Here is a sample hour. Split it up by whatever time the teacher gives you:

• Start: the class sits in a circle, sings and blows out the candles
• Next: serve the cake and a light snack in place
• Middle: a seated game or a short story to give the children a rest
• End: face painting or colouring, then party bags and a group photo

Choose something the whole class can do together, and ask the teacher before any running games.

Bringing a face painter into class

By our estimate, one artist covers a class of about 10 to 15 children in 1 hour. The painting spot needs 1 table and 2 chairs. Children can choose their design before you book, so you can show them the options the day before.

To plan the time, count the children in the class and compare with the estimate: each artist paints about 10 to 15 faces per hour, depending on the design. That is a rough guide. If the class is big, message us to talk about the length of the session or about adding artists. For big events we can send up to 5.

Our public prices are 500,000₫ for 1 hour and 900,000₫ for 2 hours, listed on the face painting prices page. If a child has sensitive skin, tell us when you book, because we cannot promise every colour suits every child. Ask the teacher, and the other parents too, before a visitor comes into the classroom.

The gallery has a picture of children gathered around a face painting table, so browse the photo gallery. If your child is very young and you are unsure, our article on the best age for face painting has more to think about.

FAQ: birthdays at preschool

Does every school allow birthday parties in class? We do not know any school's rules. Ask the teacher or the school directly.

What does face painting in a classroom need? 1 table and 2 chairs. Ask the teacher where in the room the table can go so the line stays tidy.

Can the session run longer than 2 hours? Anything over 2 hours is agreed separately, so message us on Zalo with the number of children and the time the teacher allows.

See also: Kids' birthday face painting. To ask about a date, message us on Zalo at 0908 980 603.