Maybe birthday parties do not have to be that hard or that bland….
Throughout the year, but more noticeably during the school year, we always have a birthday party on the calendar. We have thrown many birthday parties with our three girls and gone to many more parties of their classmates and peers. I have done everything from using the internet for ideas to going to a place where the only thing you have to do is show up. There is no cookie cutter plan for young children’s parties, but making sure that everyone has a good time is always a plus! These parties are some of my personal favorites for the under thirteen crowd:
- Create Your Own Party. We have done at least two home parties where everything from the food to the décor to the activities were all inspired by things online. We did a certain wizard themed party when my oldest daughter was in high school with included non-alcoholic butterbeer, hat shaped cupcakes which picked the house the eater would belong to and homemade décor. There was also a friendly monsters party for our middle daughter that included a famous street sign, cardboard cutouts of all the popular characters and a certain yellow bird smash cake. Both of these home parties took tons of hours of prep time, but if you love being creative this type of party might be for you.
- Arcade With A Restaurant. Where we live, we have one of the arcades that my husband and I grew up with as kids that has a mouse, video games and skeeball (of course!). I have done this one for each one of my girls once and it can be all inclusive or anywhere in between. Typically, we bring the cake and allow the arcade to provide the food, drinks, décor and party bags. The parents usually stay and enjoy the memories that this arcade chain in particular brings. The best part? They do all the cleaning for you.
- Art Studios. We have been to a few of these and I actually had my bridal shower at a studio. We have a child themed art studio near our house that specialize in kids’ birthday parties, but other art studios have parties too such as pottery and painting. When my daughter broke her arm a couple of years ago, she had such an amazing time even with her non-artistic dad helping!
- Indoor Bouncing Houses. We have been to some bouncing chain locations for birthdays and the kids always love going to these. Normally the parents send you the waiver forms by email so that the children can go jumping as soon as they get there. I highly recommend saving the socks that you have to pay for and keep them for your next bouncing house adventure. Depending on the location you go, they may provide the food and decorations while other places it may be all DIY. The best part is that the kids have a great time and wear themselves out.
- Rec Center Parties. Our local rec center has party rooms and the ability to rent out an indoor basketball court. Most do not provide the food or the decorations, but provide the opportunities to do the activities that you may want the partygoers to partake in. Lets be honest, an indoor basketball court have the versatility to play sports, relay races and many different activities. The cost per person ratio may be lower for this compared to an arcade or bouncing house party.
- Pool Parties. This type of birthday parties make me a little nervous especially when there are weak swimmers in attendance. Normally, perceived as a summertime birthday party does not have to be conducted only on a 80 degree day. We have been to an indoor pool party at a hotel where the pool was next to the conference room. The last time we went to one of these parties, it only got up to 19 degrees, but with the power of a hair dryer in a changing room, nobody in my family left with a wet head.
- Pavilion Parties. We have been to many of these, mostly with family. Most pavilion birthday parties that we have been to have had a playground within a minute walk. Weather ultimately plays a big factor in these parties, but if the weather is great, this type of gettogether is a win-win. The adults can have calm, quiet conversations while the younger crowd can play their afternoon away!
Child parties can be stressful, but as long as the kids have fun, it was worth the work. The only challenge is when the child wants to top their previous birthday party!
