It's also the age of the whole-class party, which is where a party entertainer for 6 to 8 year olds really earns their keep. Thirty children, one hall, two hours. Someone needs to be in charge, and it doesn't have to be you.
Games that always work at this age
Musical statues and musical bumps are still unbeatable. Add in corners, sleeping lions (a gift to any adult who needs five minutes of quiet), limbo, a relay or two and a big game of pass the parcel, and you've got most of a party.
A good entertainer keeps the games moving so nobody's out for long. That's the secret. Children this age hate sitting on the side, so the best games bring people back in quickly or give whoever's out a job, like spotting who moved.
Magic they'll try to catch out
At six to eight, children have worked out that magic is a trick. So they shout. 'It's up your sleeve!' 'It's in your other hand!' A good magician plays along, gets it 'wrong' on purpose, and then pulls off something they genuinely can't explain.
That back-and-forth is the whole fun of a kids party magician at this age. Lots of volunteers, lots of noise and a big finish for the birthday child.
For the birthday child, the last trick is usually theirs. They might wave the wand, say the magic word or find their own name appearing somewhere impossible. Whatever it is, it tends to get the biggest cheer of the day.
Prizes, winners and the odd wobble
This age group cares a lot about winning. Most entertainers bring small prizes for the games, and the experienced ones make sure prizes get spread around rather than one sporty child scooping the lot.
There will probably be at least one wobble. Someone gets out first, someone's sure they didn't move. Entertainers deal with this all the time, usually by giving the upset child a special job for the next game. It's sorted before you've even noticed.
Whole-class parties in a hall
If you're inviting the whole class, book a hall. Thirty children in a living room isn't a party, it's a crush. A hall gives space for running games and a proper audience for the magic show.
Book the hall for half an hour either side of the party so there's time to set up the food and tidy away. Ask the entertainer how much space and setup time they need, and whether they'll want a table and a plug socket.
School halls are worth asking about as well. Some primary schools hire their hall out at weekends, and it's a space every child already knows. Leisure centres and community centres are the other usual options.
Fitting in the food
With this age group, food usually goes in the middle. Games first to burn off energy, then food, then the magic show while they're sat down and full. It's a simple order that just works.
Have the food ready to go before the break starts. Hungry seven year olds waiting for sandwiches to be unwrapped can undo all the entertainer's good work in about four minutes.
Boys, girls and mixed parties
Mixed parties are the norm at this age, and a good entertainer pitches the games and jokes so everyone's included. If the birthday child is mad about football, dinosaurs or a certain film, mention it on the quote form. A themed nod here and there goes down well.
It helps to send invitations with a clear finish time. Parents of six year olds tend to arrive exactly on the dot, and a party that runs over makes the magic show finale a bit of a scramble as coats go on.