He wants a Mario Bros party at Chuck E Cheese

[limabean]

Ugh, I miss the days when I had total control over the birthday theme and location!!

So what kind of garish parties have you had to throw for your LOs?

ETA: Also, he wants a guitar and lessons as his present (yes, his b-day isn't until October, but he's thoroughly thought it through already ). Does anyone have suggestions for a nice starter guitar for a 6yo? I want to get him an instrument, not a toy, but on the other hand I don't want to spend a ton since I'm assuming we'll need to start with a smaller guitar that will need replacing in a few years.

[*bejeweled*]

I know how u feel. But he'll it!

We gave DD a Hannah Montana party at Chuck E Cheese's. She still talks about it.

We got DD this child's size guitar. It is soooo beautiful.
http://www.hearthsong.com/product.asp?pcode=363

[Drummer's Wife]

We've had a Mario Bros. party (and a Hannah Montana) and Chuck E Cheese - though, not together. You could definitely bring Mario plates/cake/etc to CEC.

Guitar lessons sound awesome.

[limabean]

Originally Posted by *bejeweled*

I know how u feel. But he'll it!

We gave DD a Hannah Montana party at Chuck E Cheese's. She still talks about it.

We got DD this child's size guitar. It is soooo beautiful.
http://www.hearthsong.com/product.asp?pcode=363

That guitar looks perfect, and it's the perfect price too -- thank you so much!!

And it's good to know others have been there with the awful themed parties. I'm so dense, I always thought it was the parents' idea to throw them, but now I'll have much more sympathy for the poor mom standing there handing out token cups when we attend parties at CEC!

[One_Girl]

I had a party for my dd at a pizza place where they let the kids make their own pizza, they let us open presents and bring our own cake also. We did that two years in a row (though one year we only brought three close friends) because it was cheap and fun. I prefer the parties we throw in a home (preferably in grandma's home) because the kids actually interact with each other and have fun until it is time to go home. At the parties we have been to at Chuck E Cheeses and Pojos the kids go from machine to machine and run out of tokens quickly and they aren't as fun. There is also always someone who gets very few tokens and goes home crying, sometimes it is the birthday kid.

[*bejeweled*]

You're welcome

Originally Posted by limabean

That guitar looks perfect, and it's the perfect price too -- thank you so much!!

And it's good to know others have been there with the awful themed parties. I'm so dense, I always thought it was the parents' idea to throw them, but now I'll have much more sympathy for the poor mom standing there handing out token cups when we attend parties at CEC!

[dentmom3]

We had pirate invitations with Pokemon decorations and plates and a Mario cake! We did a joint party for the boys and they couldn't pick just one theme. It was an at-home party with a bounce house and snow cone maker! It was awesome!

[limabean]

Originally Posted by One_Girl

I prefer the parties we throw in a home (preferably in grandma's home) because the kids actually interact with each other and have fun until it is time to go home. At the parties we have been to at Chuck E Cheeses and Pojos the kids go from machine to machine and run out of tokens quickly and they aren't as fun.

That's always been my experience at CEC too -- except for the pizza/cake portion of the party, I always feel like DS and I are there by ourselves. Not much fun IMO, but it's what DS wants. Sigh.

[Hey Mama!]

Just a note on the guitar...We bought a child guitar for my oldest for Christmas. When she went to her first lesson the teacher would not let her use it because he said it was a toy. It was advertised much like the one linked was, so I had no idea and was pretty embarrassed. We ended up having to buy a 3/4 sized guitar from the music store for her to use instead. He said a lot of parents buy those child ones because of how they are advertised but they are pretty much useless to learn on.

[SophieAnn]

Originally Posted by Hey Mama!

Just a note on the guitar...We bought a child guitar for my oldest for Christmas. When she went to her first lesson the teacher would not let her use it because he said it was a toy. It was advertised much like the one linked was, so I had no idea and was pretty embarrassed. We ended up having to buy a 3/4 sized guitar from the music store for her to use instead. He said a lot of parents buy those child ones because of how they are advertised but they are pretty much useless to learn on.

Hmm. Based on that advice, maybe find the instructor first and get their advice on a child-sized guitar? You might even be able to find a used one at a music store.

[Hey Mama!]

Originally Posted by SophieAnn

Hmm. Based on that advice, maybe find the instructor first and get their advice on a child-sized guitar? You might even be able to find a used one at a music store.

Yes I wish I had done that, and my daughters guitar is used, it was $65.

Sorry op for steering your thread off topic

[limabean]

Originally Posted by Hey Mama!

Just a note on the guitar...We bought a child guitar for my oldest for Christmas. When she went to her first lesson the teacher would not let her use it because he said it was a toy. It was advertised much like the one linked was, so I had no idea and was pretty embarrassed. We ended up having to buy a 3/4 sized guitar from the music store for her to use instead. He said a lot of parents buy those child ones because of how they are advertised but they are pretty much useless to learn on.

Thanks for the advice. Do you think even the student one (which is 3/4 size) advertised in the link would be considered in the "toy" category? I was considering doing that one anyway because the site says the child one is for ages 4 and up and the student one is for ages 8 and up. DS will be 6, but he's a little big for his age so I was just going to do the student one. But maybe I'd be better off buying it at Guitar Center or something.

[leighi123]

The Heathsong one is a 'real' guitar, not a toy. Ive seen it in person and its really nice.

I LOVE heathsong stuff - its all good quaility, I have toys from there I got when I was a kid.

[Hey Mama!]

Originally Posted by limabean

Thanks for the advice. Do you think even the student one (which is 3/4 size) advertised in the link would be considered in the "toy" category? I was considering doing that one anyway because the site says the child one is for ages 4 and up and the student one is for ages 8 and up. DS will be 6, but he's a little big for his age so I was just going to do the student one. But maybe I'd be better off buying it at Guitar Center or something.

I don't know they may prefer steel strings, but it would probably be fine. The reason why he said the child size was a "toy" is because the frets are not spaced properly and is almost impossible to tune correctly. This is what we bought my daughter.

[pinksprklybarefoot]

Back on the Mario party topic - I think you could have a ton of fun with that theme. You could do little question mark boxes with treats in them as party favors, if you were at home you could have a coin/mushroom/fireflower hunt in the backyard, play musical chairs to music from the video game... the possibilities are endless. Maybe you could talk him out of the CEC part?