What to do for School aged Boy's Birthday?

[Yilatana]

What did you do for your school aged child's birthday? We've already decided not to do a big party with school friends this year, maybe for next year we will do that again. Also not the cinema or swimming. So what other things could we do for it? I can't think of anything. An indoor play area place for big and small kids with a couple of friends is one idea we talked about. Can you think of anything else? 

What did you do for your child's last birthday? That might help me get some ideas too.

[ollyoxenfree]

We've done the indoor-play places. It's convenient, especially when you are not sure about weather. We've also had parties at a roller skating rink, movie theatre, and gymnastics club. Our friends hosted a wonderful party at a skating rink once, with hot chocolate and cupcakes. Parties at the indoor pool were also popular with my kids' friends. 

We've done parties in the park with scavenger hunts or an "Amazing Race" type of activity, or a sporting event (soccer/baseball). 

When we had parties at home, we often had an organized craft (decorating photo frames and giving them a group photo taken at the party or decorating plant pots and giving them a plant to grow).

I liked to plan a 2-hour party. An hour for games/playtime, a half-hour for snacks and cake and a half-hour to open presents. With time to gather up the kids, extended good-byes, and late pick-ups, it usually dragged on to 3 hours - at which point I was done, done, done. 

[pianojazzgirl]

So far we've done all the b-day parties at home.

This past year for dd's 7th b-day we did a "make your own sundae" party where I got a couple of flavours of icecream and the kids decorated with various toppings and sauces.

For ds's b-day this year (he turned 4) I made a pinata filled with various prizes.

Besides that we always blow up lots of balloons, play lots of games, give the kids lots of free play time, do cake and presents, and that's about it.  All you need for a fun kid's party!

[4evermom]

What does your school aged child like to do? Many rec and art centers do parties... 

Paint your own pottery

Ice skating

Roller skating

Messy art party (we went to one at a community center)

T-shirt decorating (we went to one at a YMCA)

Miniature golf

Bowling

Bounce house

Swimming (we went to one at a high school)

But the kids always have a blast just being at home and playing with the toys they already have with their friends, too. I tend to have unstructured home parties with the only activity being a pinata. Or once we went to a museum with a friend. They came to our place afterward for pizza and cake.

[pianojazzgirl]

Depending on the age a small sleep-over party can be fun (and special!) too.  You could do pizza and a movie.  Craft activities.  Cake.  And give them lots of time just to "hang out".  I would consider doing one for dd's next b-day (she'll be 8).

[4Marmalade]

Originally Posted by pianojazzgirl 

Depending on the age a small sleep-over party can be fun (and special!) too.  You could do pizza and a movie.  Craft activities.  Cake.  And give them lots of time just to "hang out".  I would consider doing one for dd's next b-day (she'll be 8).

Ds1 turned 9 in November and he invited two friends for a sleepover.  We did homemade pizza and cake.  They played with ds's new train, played spies and then watched a movie before bed.  We set up our tent in the basement and when it was time for bed they went in there with sleeping bags, flashlights and a stack of books.  They had lots of fun and it was low-key enough for me to enjoy .

[transylvania_mom]

I always had ds's parties at home, since he was 4. I bake a special birthday cake, serve a snack, buy balloons. Our parties are completely free play (except for the part where they sing happy birthday and eat cake). The kids are perfectly happy to entertain themselves, play with ds's toys and have lots of fun. This year we might go sledding if it's nice outside.

[rubidoux]

I also really like unstructured at home or at the playground/park type parties.  In the past we've always done parks because we've invited tons of kids.  But I'm thinking next year (he'll be 9) we might do a slumber party, with maybe four or five kids.  If so, I'm thinking it'll mostly just be free play and fun things to eat, but maybe also have a movie ready just in case they're too wild or something.