B-day party, 3 yr olds, need advice

My sons will soon turn 3 and I'm trying to decide how to celebrate their birthday. This is the first year they are having anticipation about celebrating their b-day. I need some help deciding if we should have a kiddie party, and, if so, how to pull it off.

We don't have any family in the area. For the boys first b-day their grandparents came from out of state and we had a grown up party with lots of my friends from work, some neighbors etc. Mostly it was a celebration for the parents for surviving the challenges of the first year! Last year we had a very small party at home--just grandpa and one other family friend--and then we went to the county fair.

The boys go to daycare part time, so know lots of kids there. Of course, 2 and 3 year old are too young to come to a party alone. I am thinking of renting a picnic shelter at a local park and inviting kids from school along with anyone from their family who wants to attend. We could serve food and cake for kids and adults and kids could play on the playground. But, are there other organized party activities you can suggest for kids that young? Also, any food suggestions?

Or, maybe I should just send cupcakes to school on Friday, befre their Sat. b-day, and then stick with a really small (i.e. Mom and Dad and a couple family friends) party at home this year? WOuld love to hear what others have done or plan to do. Thank you!

 

My oldest will be 3 in a few days, too! I think I am more excited about his party than he is! :laughing: We are doing his party here. He LOVES those inflatable slides! I dont know if there is something similar where you live or not...but it's cool because I dont have to Pay for the adults, just the kids. (Well, I have to buy the adults food). Also, do you have a Chuck E Cheese? My kids LOVE that place. The kids have fun, the adults can talk over pizza...it's a win win situation.

Good luck deciding!

 

Oh those bouncy things look like fun!. Is Chuck E. Cheese a good option for 3 year olds? I think we have one in my town but I've never been there. I had it in my mind that it was aimed at slightly older kids. Can you tell that my twins are my first children?

Oh those bouncy things look like fun!. Is Chuck E. Cheese a good option for 3 year olds? I think we have one in my town but I've never been there. I had it in my mind that it was aimed at slightly older kids. Can you tell that my twins are my first children?

 

We've always had the boys birthday parties at the local park. When they were that age, they just wanted to run around with their friends anyway, so it was heaven for them. And it's so easy to clean up -- you just dump all the trash in the trashcan and go home! We had a pinata -- which is always a big hit with kids. You can fill it with stickers and small toys if you don't want to do candy. You can play some simple games, like follow the leader, duck-duck-goose, relay races, or just let them play.

Personally, I think Chuck E Cheese is too hectic for 3 year olds. We went to a birthday there when my boys were nearly 5 and they loved it, but didn't spend much time with their friends, just ran around playing games. Have fun!

 

In our playgroup, all of the "original" members are turning 3 & 4. Lately, everyone's been renting a jumpy castle & it's so fun! All the kids can play, jump, & get their energy out; while the parents stand around & snack.
Although, I really like the idea of a park party too.....I may have to use that when March rolls around.
Good luck & have fun,

 

QUOTE(mom2znl @ Sep 13 2007, 07:46 AM) [snapback]406019[/snapback]
Oh those bouncy things look like fun!. Is Chuck E. Cheese a good option for 3 year olds? I think we have one in my town but I've never been there. I had it in my mind that it was aimed at slightly older kids. Can you tell that my twins are my first children?


well, my 3yo (and my 16 month old twins) love Chuck E Cheese. There is lots of little rides (like whats in front of the grocery stores). So they can all go on them. At least the ones near me...the big kids area (more video games) is seperated from all the little rides. But my 3yo loves to play the video games...he just needs DH to help him because they are a little older. On the weekend it can be very busy. So if you child is shy, it might not be a good choice. But my kids are crazy social and love it.

 

For my 3 yr old, who also goes to daycare, we sent in cupcakes and did pizza at school. Then we had a small, mainly family, party for her, and she could invite 2 friends.

 

We just did my 3 yo DD's party at Pump It Up, also. I had soooo many adults comment that it was the best party they had ever been to. I think they had as much fun bouncing around as the little ones did. Ours is a new facility, really nice. I liked that it was private & you could let your kids play, and still socialize with the adults - This is NOT the case at Chuck E. Cheese.. Chuck E. Cheese is way too hectic to do anything besides chase your kids & make sure they are OK.

I, too, invited a bunch of kids for daycare - and I thought it was a nice way to get to know some of the parents better.

 

My two turned 3 the last of july. We had it at chuckie cheese for a total of ten kids. They had an absolute blast. All the kids were able to come and go as they wanted and played whatever they wanted. everything was done for us but i did bring them each their own cake instsead of the one from them. reason for that is they wanted a pirate and princess cake. but the over all party was great and i had no stress cause i didn't really have to do anything but enjoy the kids and i got to talk to family/friends with having to run after any one.

 

Thanks all. I'm going to see on Monday if it is too late to reserve a park shelter. If that doesn't work, we might opt for cake at school and family zoo outting (in another town) on their actual b-day. (ANd, a reminder to me to start planning farther ahead of time for their 4th b-day!)

 

We're going to get a bouncy castle for the backyard and since we're not in an official playgroup anymore, I might invite a 2-3 kids from their preschool. (I'll also send cupcakes or pizza to school for them). I think I'm going to have no more than 10 kids because that means at least 10 adults as well, 20+ in my house is enough! I figure they can bounce off all their energy in the bouncy house, and we'll have a pinata and bubbles and that's as technical as it's getting!

 

We did a family thing and we are part of a play group so the Friday before their birthday(another set of twins in the group actually has their bday the day after ours so we did it early so as not to have to share) we had our play date at the local fire department. The kids (and moms) loved it. They were able to check out the fire engine/trucks. Did you know it is some unwritte rule of the universe that firemen must be nice to look at?? Even the older men looked like they could have been little hotties when they were young--oh sorry I digress. :winking0009: Then we had cake and snacks afterwards.

The chuck e cheese by us has a section for smaller kids. My two want to be in the thick of the action. We took them there a couple of weeks ago and they loved it. Definatly not something I would even think of doing with out a second set of hands(eyes)

Good luck. They will love what ever you do.