Summer holiday fancy dress fun with George at Asda

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This summer is the last one where N hasn’t really got an official summer holiday.  He’s still at nursery through most of the holidays, but when George at Asda suggested he get some friends together to celebrate the summer holidays, we reckoned it was a great idea.

We were sent some fancy dress costumes to get the children in the party spirit.  N didn’t even bother waiting for his playdate I organised.  He decided that when his cousin came over to play that they had to get dressed up.  It did make me laugh watching Buzz Lightyear and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle standing watching superheroes on tv.

I decided that we’d just have a playdate one morning.  It was really informal, and last minute work and family commitments meant we only had a few round, but the kids enjoyed it and for me, it was lovely to catch up with a few friends.

I’d decided to do a few snacks for elevenses.  Biscuits, strawberries, veg sticks and then some pastry pinwheels.  One pesto and one apple and cinnamon.  The pinwheels went down brilliantly with both adults and children, so they’re definitely something I’ll make in future when we’ve got friends over.

With the weather being nice, we all headed outside.  So the children made the most of the slide and swings.  N doesn’t play much with them despite him wanting a set, and then my agony in getting the climbing frame built, but it’s really brilliant for when friends come to play because there’s so many options.

Once the children noticed the dressing up boxes, they headed straight for the newer sets of costumes.  N’s best friend from nursery was straight in opting for Buzz Lightyear, complete with wings and helmet.  A quick lap ‘flying’ round the garden and he and one of the TMNT were back driving the gator.

The girls opted to be Rapunzel and Tinkerbell (although don’t tell anyone that N did try on Rapunzel’s ‘hair’ earlier on in the day!).  There was no such stereotyping when it came to playing – Rapunzel was quite at home driving her little sister on the gator,

And trying out the Ezyroller.  That always goes down well with the children, with most of the adults wanting to try it out as well (if only we were all under 10 stone!).

The costumes didn’t last long – the warm weather, and them wanting to be a bit more boistrous on bikes and the trampoline.  Shame, I’d have loved a photo of Buzz and Tinkerbell bouncing away on the trampoline.

The kids are always funny when they first get together, especially when there’s so few.  The boys have started getting a bit anti-girls when they’re together which is a shame, but a trampoline’s a great leveller, and before long they were comparing what each of them can do.

A couple of hours and they were played out and it was time for home.  N was pleased that his best friend’s new baby brother was brought round to meet him although I do think he was still a little phased.  He refused to hold the baby…which is probably a good idea.  No point him getting ideas that babies are cute in case he starts asking me for a baby brother.

I’d never really thought about doing a fancy dress playdate.  It’s definitely a good theme to try out.  Next time I’d probably try and create a den, or leave out items for them to make their own den.  Then they could have their own world for the characters to play in.

Have you had a fancy dress playdate or party before?  What are the favourite characters your children like to dress up as?