Where do you have birthday parties?

I'm thinking way ahead, I'm just really unsure about what we'll do. The kids have never really had a birthday party (except for their 3rd birthday but we invited my friends and their kids really). I feel sorta bad because a lot of school kids had parties and invited the whole class this year, but it was after their birthday so we didn't do it (we had no invite before their birthday so I didn't expect any parents to do parties with all the kids).

This year they'll be in two different classrooms, so I'm looking at 28 kids or something. Even if they all can't make it, it's still too many to have at home (with a February birthday unfortunately we can't just do it in the backyard). Anyone got experience with birthdays at bouncy places, burger king etc ? (chuck-e-cheese is just NOT happening lol).

 

bowling party!!! its usually the cheapest, they break the kids up to 6 per lane and then you go over to a party room for pizza and cake!

 

We did home parties until we moved into an apartment.

The last two years- we have done age= friends invited.

So last year there were 14 kids. Each kid turned 6, they invited 6 freinds plus the two of them. It worked well. This year it will be 16 kids (at age 7).


We did a local Nature Center party (very inexpensive and fun!!) and this year the girls want to do a bounce house-type party.

Neither time we served a "meal' and it kept costs down. We planned it at a non-meal time (2-4) and offered a snack, cake/ice cream , and water/lemonade.

We do simple goodie bags with low-cost things. ( for the Nature Center we did 2 sheets of stickers, a small bubbles, a nature stamper/ink set,a few plastic animals, and a nature themed pencil : all bought bulk- it was less than $2 a bag since it all came in bulk)

Other popular options around here are:

Ice skating
bowling
Chuck E Cheese (my least favorite)
Nature Center
bounce house
swim (too risky for me!)
art (local plaster painting location)
Lego (local lego building place)
indoor play place
at home party
movie theater

The least expensive are bowling, theater, and Nature Center.


Most of the school age parties (1st grade last year) were 8-18 kids per party. I dont know how they determined who got invited for the most part (a few were all girls), but they were not whole classes!

 

We've had parties at the skating rink and at the bowling alley. The skating party was a lot of fun, but it was almost too big with too many people. The birthday kids couldn't really connect with all the kids there.

The bowling alley party was a bust, in my opinion. My husband didn't think it was too bad, but I thought it was awful. The kids were too young (6), didn't really get it and couldn't read the names on the board to know who's turn it was. Then, when they figured out whose turn it was, that kid invariably was somewhere else because they'd gotten bored waiting for their turn! However, I've read from many moms on this site that suggest bowling parties, or had them themselves, and enjoyed it.

If you were to ask my kids what their favorite parties were, they would say the ones we have at the house. My twins birthday is in January, so I understand the dilemma of having too many kids and being confined to inside. My boys were allowed to pick 3 or 4 good friends each, we had games and crafts planned, and a pinata. They had a blast. Really, most kids only play with a few friends at a time, so more than likely, your kids wouldn't have a hard time picking just a few. Even with the games I have planned, the kids usually just have fun playing with each other and the few toys we have at our house.

 

Check your local firehouse, they may rent a hall. We've done everything, pump it up (moon bounces), chuck e cheese, and laser tag. Some places charge you a flat fee but limit the kids, others charge you per kid. While you say Chuck E Cheese isn't happening, it is one of the more cost effective places. You can also try to find an indoor pool in the middle of winter and see if they are available.

 

We have ours at home, but do not invite school friends. We also do not attend any invites from school friends. Around here people people just drop off their child and use it as free babysitting. The parent running the party (if at a location) do not even know the children, or are too busy with their adult friends to watch the children.

Keep in mind that there are people like us who do not attend the party, so if you invite the whole class, plan on only 1/2 (or less) attending.

 

Well it's a co-op so all the parents know the children. From all the parties so far, I think 90% of the kids attended every time. That's why I pretty much expect a high turn out, lol.

I'm definitely leaning towards the 'invite a few friends' thing later, but my two being shy and not really having any friend yet, it will probably be easier to invite everyone this time around.

 

I would also recall that you may get *siblings*, since in our area most invites are 'family' invites from school friends- often a child will bring a parent and occasionally a sibling. With permission of course, I have never had sibs show up unexpected. Often the invites we have done have stated 'family' even though it was school friends. For us, we know the parents of the kids that are invited for the most part.


If your two are shy having 28 kids (plus them) plus adults, a party, and various siblings it may be overwhelming.

I know at 5 one of my DD would have melted down at the though of that many 'party' people- she is not shy but has some sensory concerns and barely holds it together in the organized, routined school day.
But each kiddo is different, I just wanted to give you a heads up if you have never had a BIG kid party.

In a few month, though they may not have many friends now- it is likely that they find a few kids they are drawn to in the next month or two (or a few kids they clash with). A lot can change once school has settled down into a pattern.

Also if this is the same group of peers your DC will have every year, the party you do this year will be expected each year. THough, yes, people change it up-- but if the whole class comes this year: both your kiddos, and the other kiddos will expect something similar next year.

I do hope whatever you chose is fabulous and your DC have a great time!!!

My vote would be maybe a low-key party in a park (BBQ? pinata? yard games? lots of playtime on a playground?) so it is a bit less busy with so many people. Rent a pavilion and cater out some pizza or something. Hire a local teen (s) that wants to go into education to help run it- well worth the couple bucks!

 

We've done it at a local kid-friendly restaurant, Little Gym, chocolate shop, Chuck E. Cheese, and at home. We let the kids pick as many friends as their age. There is usually an overlap of friends they want to invite, so we've kept the invites below 10 kids every year. BUT since we always make room for siblings, we'll end up with close to 20 kids. My favorite place was Little Gym: it was fun for the kids, intimate enough for adults to socialize, and very easy for us. The hardest was doing it at home (though it was lots of fun). We probably won't do it at home again, since we did it to save money and it ended up costing just as much. Our kids are already asking to do it this year at a putt putt golf.

 

We did the school pool last year but the year before we did a weekend away and the a party at home with cake and family. This year we may go to the indoor water park then do cake on their actual bday

 

We did the bounce house for their 5th birthday, but they were in the same preschool class. For their 6th birthday we took them to an indoor waterpark, instead of a party. For their 7th birthday I think we're going to have a party at the gym where they can swim and climb the rock wall, but there's no way I will invite the whole class because that is just way too many children. I think I'm going to let them invite 5 friends each from school, plus their cousins and our neighbors.

If you were inviting that many kids, a party at the bounce place would get super expensive. We have gone to bowling parties before, but I think that 5 and 6 is too young for that. They kids seem to end up bored quickly.

 

My twins have a February bday and last year they had their party at a bowling alley. They were in separate kindergarten classes...I did not invite the entire class for the party and I will not ever invite the entire class for a party, I just can't do that and don't see the point. I was totally prepared to have 2 separate parties, but they both wanted to have it at the same place, so they each invited 5 friends. So we did one party, but kept each party separate. They each had their own lane and "their" party sat at one end of the table etc. This year for their bday I am thinking about doing the party at home and having pizza etc. and letting them each have their own party one weekend. :good:


I should add the bowling party was for their 6th bday and was just fine, it was 10 pin bowling as well (we don't have a duck pin alley here). The alley had something they could roll the ball down with to make it easier, but many kids just bowled regularly. :good: Everyone had a great time. :Clap:

 

I asked my kids what their favorite birthday parties have been and they all said at home, lol. 2nd place was the YMCA parties and the local gymnastics center. The gymnastics center was super fun and not very expensive.

 

We had one at the gym center. It was pretty neat. Just not sure how I feel about stealing other parents' ideas LOL.

 

We've done bounce place and loved it. They did a great job with the kids, there was tons of space for lots of kids, and the kids had a blast. I think we had like 15 kids, and it was perfect.

Everyone here repeats parties at the same few places. I saw it as a complement. Clearly they liked our party, right?

 

Our town has a park with rental space. We have used this spot for the last 4 birthday parties (twins and single). The rental building has full kitchen and bathrooms, and there is a park, pool and fishing area. My girls love this place and it is cheap!

 

I had all of their home birthday parties up until they turned 5 last year. It was our first time with using an vendor place. The kids wanted cowboy/cowgirl theme. So, I found a horse stable at one of the forest park. The best part it was only 10 mins away that NONE of the Moms knew about it.

Home parties (mostly close friends and the Moms' group/all of our families are gone except for my FIL):
1st birthday, Minnie and Mickey Mouse
2nd birthday, Monkey See and Monkey Dos
3rd birthday, Raggedy Ann and Andy
4th birthday, Pirates

Vendors parties:
5th, Cowboy and Cowgirl at horse stable with 30 kids with hayride, painting horseshoes, petting miniature horses, and running around at the stable.

It'll be first time we are split up birthday this year! They asked for because they have been invited to many birthday parties after ours. We are the first to go and then every after friends birthday is after that.....all of them are from our play group friends and all grown up together!

J-Bowling with 16 boys (4 more thru school)
R-Nature center 'Woodland Fairy' with 18 girls (4 more thru school)

Thus, I will add 4 new friends if they do from school but its such a short time trying to get to know a new friends from Kindergarten. They start this week on Thursday, Aug 16th. I'll be mailing out those invitations next week on Monday.

Speaking of winter birthdays--We have gone on to 'Cafe Play', McDonalds, Airtastic (bouncy), GymQuest, Movie theater (I plan to do that either when they are 8 or 9 yrs old), bowling, and hate Chuckie E. Cheese (too many times!), Color Me Mine (painting parties), Boozie's B (girls' princess parties at a hair salon), Monkey Buziness, and some others cannot remember!

 

We've done birthday parties at ages three, four and five for my girls and all have been at home. We live on five acres with tons of things for kids to do and have a good house for a large group, so it was a no brainer. But if the house wasn't an option, I'd have the party at a bounce place, bowling alley, roller rink, nature center, fire house, or Little Gym/Gymboree type place. Around here people don't do parties at fast food restaurants - probably because there is only one with a climbing center, but also because so many people are vegans, avoid additives, don't allow fast food, etc. My personal favorite party we've been to was at Little Gym. All the parents had to do was bring a cake and show up. The Little Gym staff did everything else and the kids LOVED it. It was active, engaging, and fun.

 

Little Gym! That sounds awesome. I think I'll do that. Thanks for all the tips everyone!

 

We have done...

Indoor swimming party
Chuck E Cheese
Rented a vacant room and had a tea party
Bounce house place
Party at our house this year (never again)