Your childs best b-day party, and ideas for mine...

[happyus3]

This looked like the best place to post this....

What was the best birthday party you've had for your child?

Mine will be turning five soon and we are going to have a birthday party at the park. We are trying to tone down the whole party thing, not go so overboard with everything, have more traditional games, simple fun. On the same note though, I'd like something that will be really fun. So, I am looking for great party ideas, for both outside and indoors (incase of rain). We are trying to keep costs down, at least reasonable. For party bags we were going to do a small shovel and pail, with a bottle of bubbles and a sidewalk chalk, any other ideas would be great. What are great, simple park foods? Finger sandwiches, chips... anything original though?

So both ideas for a great park/back yard party, or indoor home party...

and also the greatest party you've thrown for your child..

I'd love to hear both!! And how many kids do you usually invite, and do you keep the parents there? (I ask because you then have to feed and entertain the parents, and do you only invite parents who get along?.. or am I just really overthinking this again?)

[3momkmb]

Our favs have been the camp out party and the carnival party.

Camp out party is not a camp out LOL! We just set up the tent, have a bonfire and have snacks like trail mix, s'mores and usually a weenie roast. we play flashlight tag and tell ghost stories. Favors were more trail mix, little flashlights and glo necklaces or bracelets. I made this cool camp out cake http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/spec.../cake_campout/ (minus the trees!). Couldn't do this one inside unless you have a lot of room and a fireplace.

Carnival party involved giving everyone a bunch of those tickets you buy at the fair as soon as they arrived (got them at wal~mart). They could use them to play games or buy food. I bought a bunch of stuff for prizes like pencils, little pads of paper, noise makers etc and had the duck game, knock over the can tower and ring toss for games. It was all stuff we had (except the ducks) so it wasn't expensive or anything. I had popcorn in paper bags, pizza slices and lemonade for food. I also had one of those sand art kits. The kids got to keep their Prizes from the games and the sand art for favors.

edited to add:

I usually have the parents stick around at the age. They end up joining in 9/10 times! Everyone loves s'mores!

[bu's mama]

I just had dd's 5th bday party yesterday.

This year we had it a local park - about 16 kids + their parent(s). This park has a large playground area & swings which was great. I like to have relatively unstructured parties. I had plastic visors for them to decorate when they arrived, and then we did a plaster of paris craft, which was a little crazy but the kids had fun (I think ages 6-7 would have worked better). I had it from 2-4 pm, so I didn't serve lunch but had snacks & cut up veggies plus cake. For goody bags, DD & I decorated brown paper bags...inside were a few pieces of sidewalk chalk, a chocolate bar, a fruit leather, a bouncy ball, girls had stick on earrings, boys a big bug & then tied off with a ribbon. I did have some backup games & such, but the kids just wanted to run around & play.


My favorite party so far was for dd's 3rd bday. We had it a local beach & I got the kids kites, which was also the favor (on clearance at Target...I think 1.49 each, I lucked out) & there was also a small playground & I brought a ton of sand toys. It was about 10 kids that year & they could fly kites, play, eat, whatever they felt like doing. That one I did a full lunch, but it was a lot of prep since it all had to be made & transported.

Last year was also fun...I had it at home, about 20 kids. They decorated terra cotta flower pots when they arrived with markers (specific for pots, not sealing required). Dd was fixated on egg hunts from Easter, so we did a catepillar hunt...I glued pom-poms together & stuck eyes on & everyone got a glass jar with some easter-basket grass in it. Once the pots all dried & everyone had something to eat, I had a flat of marigolds for the kids to plant in their pots. The rest of the time was free play. She did get one of those parachute things for a gift & that was a big hit.

GL

[Wilhemina]

outdoor ideas

When dd1 turned 5 we asked our high schooler neighbor to help by face painting and invited her to bring a friend, too. We offered to pay them both for their time, but they counted it as service hours for their school program (we collected donations for the local animal shelter in lieu of gifts). The kids loved both the face painting and the attention from these teenagers.

Another big hit that year, we got free empy appliance boxes from Sears, cut them a bit to shape them into dog houses and let the kids paint them. Oh it was quite messy, but so much fun. My friends are well aware that precious clothing is not to be worn to my house for any event (plus we specified it on the invite.)

At another party one of our activities included digging in the sandbox for treasure (beads and coins left over from Mardi Gras). That was big fun.

[moominmamma]

Our faves:

Bonfire & flashlight tag party. We roasted weenies and also bannock-on-a-stick for our several vegetarians who can't abide tofu dogs. I had found a dozen colour-changing LED-light ballpoint pens (dollar-store fare) on lanyards and hung them in the woods beyond the bonfire, flashing their different colours. The woods looked amazing! The kids went and "hunted" for a pen for each of them and then used them to play various versions of flashlight tag, where the different colours of LEDs designated different teams.

"Chez Birthday Kid" Restaurant. For this one numbers need to be limited -- five or six kids works well. We've found that the humour of the situation is best enjoyed by kids 8-12, though younger kids who aren't too exciteable find the whole thing fun too. Basically we create a pretend fancy restaurant in our living room, adopt fake French or British accents as maitre d' and waitress, and serve the children -- complete with wine glasses for sparkling grape juice, printed menus (two choices per meal item), music, six pieces of silverware, candle, floral centrepiece, etc, etc.. The kids get to order the grownups around. Other parents can be drafted to play other roles (live music, bus-boy, server, cook) if they're interested.

Our kids' friends tend to be children of people who are our friends, so our birthday celebrations are almost always family affairs. It works for us.

Miranda

[frogguruami]

We did Willy Wonka a few years ago and I will admit that was WAAAAAYYYYY over the top, LOL. But this year we did a science party and we built marshmallow shooters out of PVC pipe and did Mentos int he Diet Coke experiment. They were a huge hit. Pretty simple and pretty inexpensive.

[3momkmb]

Originally Posted by frogguruami

But this year we did a science party and we built marshmallow shooters out of PVC pipe and did Mentos int he Diet Coke experiment. They were a huge hit. Pretty simple and pretty inexpensive.

Oh yeah! The Mentos and Diet Coke thing is always a HUGE hit with the kids! Be warned though, someone will inevitable try it in thier mouth!

[Dakota's Mom]

We always have Dakota's birthday inthe same park we got married in. The parties, like our wedding, were potluck. This year we are inviting kids other than family for the first time. We hired a fairy who is doing a dragon hunt with the kids. She will also do facepainting and have dragon eggs for all the kids. There is also a playground in the park. After that is over we will have our usual potluck family dinner in the park. I got a lot of the dragon stuff from ebay or from Oriental Trading Company. We'll get the plates and stuff at Party City. The adults who stay for the children's party will be offered soda, juice, and a cupcake. For the family party, we provide burgers, veggie and turkey, sodas, juice, fruit, veggies, and cake.

The only problem that we are having this year is that most of the people we are inviting to the children's party eat only organic. I have to come up with organic, dye-free cupcakes. Haven't figured that one our yet.

Kathi

The only

[Dar]

Moved to The Childhood Years...

Dar

[peachpie]

Originally Posted by frogguruami

We did Willy Wonka a few years ago and I will admit that was WAAAAAYYYYY over the top, LOL. But this year we did a science party and we built marshmallow shooters out of PVC pipe and did Mentos int he Diet Coke experiment. They were a huge hit. Pretty simple and pretty inexpensive.

So creative!

dd's 4th bday is in a couple weeks and we're having it at a park. She wanted a Little Mermaid theme but I've kept it toned down... aside from the huge wonderful playground we will have bubble-making equipment (hey, there are bubbles under the sea right?) I think the highlight will be making gigantic bubbles-- we have some tips from the Ultimate Bubble Book. It's a morning party and we'll end with lunch-- chicken fingers, sandwiches, lemonade and a fruit tray.

[2 in August]

For dd's 4yo party we did a ballerina tea party. I got tulle and ribbon to make simple tutus for the girls and got suit vests at goodwill for the boys. I also got each child a fancy cup, saucer and salad/dessert plate from goodwill. They didn't match. The place setting and tutu/vest were the favors. Instead of a cake we had cupcakes with pink icing and each kid got a candle on their cupcake to blow out. Dd's candle was fancier.

Last year I had just had ds, so we did a simple playground party. Cake, lemonade, goodie bags had bubbles, fruit snacks and sidewalk chalk. The kids played on the playground and had a blast. We didn't tell dd that it was her b-day we just took her to her fav park and slowly all of her friends started showing up. She just thought it was a playdate. The look on her face when we told her it was her b-day party was priceless.

[Kira's mom]

For dd's 4th we had a messy party.I'd originally read about it in Mothering mag and we tried it 2 yrs ago (not for a bday) with about 6 kids. This was a blast.At rhe first one we painted and threw cold spaghetti She wanted to invite her entire class (everyone does this at her preschool). That plus around 5 other friends from kids yoga. Anyways we threw cold spaghetti, made slime-which was the party gift along with a $2 GCfrom Baskin Robbins, decorated cookies and played with homemade playdough. Everything was homemade/organic. The parents love to join in.It was so much fun. Kira is already saying she wants to do it again next year. Lucky for me,dh offered to clean up!!

[Kira's mom]

Originally Posted by frogguruami

We did Willy Wonka a few years ago and I will admit that was WAAAAAYYYYY over the top, LOL. But this year we did a science party and we built marshmallow shooters out of PVC pipe and did Mentos int he Diet Coke experiment. They were a huge hit. Pretty simple and pretty inexpensive.

Please tell me about the Willy Wonka party. Dd loves both versions of the movie!

[utopia760]

today i had my daughters 1st birthday and we had a ladybug theme it was so cool

[boatbaby]

We're doing a Pirate Party for DS's 3rd b-day next month. A neighbor agreed to dress up as a pirate and show up after cake to WOW the kids and pass out goodie bags.
We'll be outdoors at our marina -- so he will arrive by boat!
Goodie bags will have eye patches and compasses and I am making CD's for each kid with cute pirate music I downloaded (legally and paid for!)

[2 in August]

Originally Posted by Dakota's Mom

The only problem that we are having this year is that most of the people we are inviting to the children's party eat only organic. I have to come up with organic, dye-free cupcakes. Haven't figured that one our yet.

Kathi

The only

For my dd's 4yo tea party b-day party, I made wacky cake (vegan) and a frosting made from a container of strawberry yogurt, a block of cream cheese (could use soy for both, but I didn't) and powdered sugar to taste. Whip it all up with a mixer. It was yummy.

[Jess A]

But this year we did a science party and we built marshmallow shooters out of PVC pipe and did Mentos int he Diet Coke experiment. They were a huge hit. Pretty simple and pretty inexpensive.

I was going to stop having oldest DS's parties at home because of how crazy it is, but this has inspired me to do one more. His friends would LOVE doing science related things . . . what a great idea!

I have two favorites:
DS for 6th bday--Lego Party. Wrote about it here.

DD for 3rd: Playdoh party. Played with playdoh. Each kid took home a personalized apron and box of little playdoh from playdoh scavenger hunt (scavenger hunts for anything are great. Kids love finding things). Lots of free play. Kid friendly foods. Not as much structure as most of the 12 or so guests were under three.

[4Marmalade]

We're having dd's 2nd party at a local playground/park this weekend. We have 6 kids coming (ages 2-5) plus their parents (there's no way I could look after them myself ).

We're starting around 10:30 and I'm thinking the kids will probably just play. I will plan a small scavenger hunt if we need a game. Lunch will be picnic style (wraps, veggies, fruit kebabs and a cupcake cake). Loot bags are buckets and shovels with some bubble stuff, a ball and a small treat inside.

We haven't had any really great parties. Ds is introverted and sensitive so we tend to do really small things with only 1-2 friends and very little activity so he doesn't get overwhelmed. I mean, they're good parties but quiet...you know?? Dd is another story I think n

[amydawnsmommy]

Hope's birthday is 3 days before Christmas so we have to be creative.

What I've found works best for us is keeping things simple, having close friends and their children only (otherwise we'd have over 35 people!) and having a flexible time schedule.

I've been able to rent Hope's nursery school the past two years for only $50 and it has been so great!!!

There is no time limit (the 2 hour time limit at a party place took away the fun and stressed me out really badly at her 2nd birthday party), we can come in earlier to decorate and the toys are all there waiting to be played with.

We set up a table with food (veggies and dip, cheese and crackers, water and juice) so that people can snack as needed. Later on we order pizza (when people feel hungry) and have the cake.

This year we got a cupcake cake which was awesome! Less mess and the kids loved it!!!!!

Of course we need to leave the nursery school in the condition we found it in or better and setting up and taking down takes time but it is so much more enjoyable this way. We can decide how we want to decorate and how long we stay depending on how the kids are feeling.

This year I had Hope's teenaged babysitter come to help me with set up, decorations, etc. That really helped a lot!!! It was totally worth the $30!!!

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