The single biggest question parents ask us when booking their child's birthday is: what should the kids actually do for two hours?
The answer depends almost entirely on one thing: how old they are. Here's our by-age breakdown of what actually works — based on thousands of bookings across the Jollee marketplace.
Ages 1–3: Free play wins every time
Under-threes have short attention spans and limited structured-play skills. Formal entertainers usually fall flat — the kids wander off after five minutes. What works: soft play hire, a sensory play specialist, or simply a decorated room with toys, bubbles and music.
Keep the party to 90 minutes maximum. Include a parent for every child — it's social for the grown-ups too.
Ages 3–5: The entertainer sweet spot
This is prime entertainer territory. A skilled children's entertainer can hold 20 three-to-fives spellbound with magic, puppets, silly songs and interactive games for 45 minutes straight. Look for entertainers with specific pre-school experience — they know when to slow down and when to dial up the silliness.
Character visits (princesses, superheroes) also work brilliantly at this age. A 30-minute appearance often costs £80–£120 and generates the most excited screaming you'll ever hear.
Ages 5–7: Mix entertainment with activity
At 5–7, kids can focus for longer but want to do, not just watch. The winning combo is usually 30 minutes of entertainer-led games and magic, followed by an activity: cupcake decorating, pottery painting, a craft workshop, or a disco.
Bouncy castles still land well at this age, but pair them with something structured — otherwise energy levels spike and crash in unhelpful ways.
Ages 7–9: Experience-led parties
By 7, many kids find traditional entertainers "a bit babyish". Shift to experiences: laser tag, escape rooms, pizza-making classes, science shows, sports coaches running a mini-Olympics. Jollee has verified providers for all of these.
This is also the age where venue parties start to win — most homes can't contain the energy of nine 8-year-olds with sugar in them.
Ages 9–12: Give them agency
Tweens want to choose. Instead of picking the activity, offer a shortlist: ice skating, trampoline park, cinema, makeover party, cookery class, escape room. Let the birthday child choose with one or two best friends, then book the venue and let the kids run their own social time.
Structured entertainers rarely work here. Hosts, yes. Scripted shows, no.
How to book with confidence
Every supplier on Jollee has verified reviews from other UK parents, with photos from real parties at your child's age range. Filter by age, read honest reviews, and message the supplier directly before booking. No more hoping for the best.