Kid's birthday parties Grrrr related

[3DisneyBuggs]

I don't see why birthday parties have to cost hundreds of dollars. A simple pizza party will cost $12.00 per child, 10 minimum. Adults are extra and you have to order a la carte. My son will be 8 and the parents stay. We don't have a pool so an at home party will be boring.(Ds's words) I called an ice cream parlor and 10 kids cost 125 plus tax and 18% tip. Adults aren't really welcome to stay since they distract the kids.

Or I could do a Chuck E Cheese party and spend well over 200.00. A hotel in the area has pool parties but it would cost over $600.00! I feel like asking my BIL of we could have a pool party at his house. But then I would worry if one of the kids got hurt etc. I'm trying to do a budget party since we have our beach vacation the end of the month and then WDW. I think I'm going to go wth the ice cream party. My DS loves their homemade ice cream and it is July!

 

[njcarita]

I don't see why birthday parties have to cost hundreds of dollars. A simple pizza party will cost $12.00 per child, 10 minimum. Adults are extra and you have to order a la carte. My son will be 8 and the parents stay. We don't have a pool so an at home party will be boring.(Ds's words) I called an ice cream parlor and 10 kids cost 125 plus tax and 18% tip. Adults aren't really welcome to stay since they distract the kids.

Or I could do a Chuck E Cheese party and spend well over 200.00. A hotel in the area has pool parties but it would cost over $600.00! I feel like asking my BIL of we could have a pool party at his house. But then I would worry if one of the kids got hurt etc. I'm trying to do a budget party since we have our beach vacation the end of the month and then WDW. I think I'm going to go wth the ice cream party. My DS loves their homemade ice cream and it is July!

What about a miniture golf party--
In my neck of the woods it only runs about $5-6 per kid

 

[budbeerlady]

Mini golf is a good idea. Out by us they have a crazy bounce party. Its all this inflatable stuff, $7 an hour per child. Maybe have 3 or 4 kids instead of a larger group?

 

[JoiseyMom]

What about a movie party? The movies by me do that. They get popcorn and a drink and the movie, and pizza. Or you can just take 4 of his friends with him to the movies!

 

[imsayin]

I agree on the costs getting out of hand.

What about taking him & a few (maybe 4) friends out for pizza? Do it without the package. I would think a few pizzas would be a lot cheaper. Better yet, invite a few more friends and order the pizza to your house. You can play a few games too.

My DS9 prefers to have his parties at home. We have done different themes & played games centering around the themes. One good one was an army theme. The invites were themed (made on the pc), we ordered cheap goodies from Oriental Trading, including camo helmets & dog tags, we had "basic training" obstacle course set up, etc. Can you talk him into the home party? Get him in on the planning.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

This may not work as well for a boy as it does for my dd, but about the time I got tired of the traditional slumber party that she always wanted I offered her the money I would have spent on a party. She is now 13 and would much rather have the money to buy exactly what she wants instead of all the small gifts from her friends, plus she usually saves some for Disney.

 

[luvsgrumpy]

I've done bowling parties $7-8/kid which included cake, Pizza Hut pizza, generic plates etc, and one game. Also, DD5 has had her last two parties at our local park. The kids played at the playground, we had a game or two, pinata, cake and home. That only cost me the donation to the park for use of the pavilion and bathrooms, plus cake and munchies. That was by far the easiest!

Have fun!

 

[Lucky'sMom]

If you have an Uno's or a CiCi's pizza in the area, their birthday party packages are much cheaper. My 5 year old DD had her party at Uno's, it was a "make-your-own-pizza party" and only cost about $5.00 a kid including a drink. We had our own room, and played some games while we were waiting for the pizzas to bake.

I totally agree that these parties are getting out of hand. I have 3 kids and have done the expensive parties a few times. My DD (7) had a slumber party last year, but by the time I bought all of the game supplies, food and goodie bag stuff, I probably spent at least that much.

It's also getting expensive to have your kids attend other kids' parties. My kids had 8 or 9 parties between them in May. Ouch on the pocket book!

 

[summerrluvv]

Parties are really expensive here too. I did McDonalds one year for $6.95 a kid and they played in the indoor play place. That party was the cheapest we've done. CEC and Wood Kingdom were about $300 for 12-15 kids!

Last year we did an at home party and DS loved it!! His bday is in January so outside in the yard isn't an option. It was themed as a cooking party, we made english muffin pizzas and sugar cookies and they had a blast. It probably cost about $150 to buy all of the supplies and extras (I went a little overboard), but he was able to invite more people and we could be in control of the time, play party games, etc. We are going to have a Pirate party for next years bday, I've already started stocking up on Pirate themed stuff that I find cheaply.

At home parties can be REALLY fun if you plan them well. Is there something he is really into? You could gear the party around that. www.birthdaypartyideas.com has a lot of great ideas and the Dollar Tree has cute supplies for a buck!

ETA: I see the ice cream party at an outside place is an idea. Maybe you could do that at home? Get all the stuff for sundaes, and have the kids make their own in a dish that they can take home (an ice cream themed one!). Order a couple of pizzas, play some ice cream themed games and it could turn out really well! and cheap!

 

[clh2]

I was also going to suggest mini-golf or bowling. The places that do bowling parties in my neck of the woods also offer pizza or hot dogs and cake. If you did mini-golf, you could always take the kids out for pizza, and then maybe back to your house for cake?

 

[hsmamato2]

Honestly, I do outdoor stuff for the kids, and they alll have fun, over the years, it's gotten to the point where they care nothing about the themes,and they don't want organized games, they just have fun racing around the yard, squirting each other with water guns, throwing water baloons at each other, and racing on the slip and slide- and of course, a small bag full of trashy candy to take home, but all of this doesn't have to cost a lot, like less than $100 for like 25 kids... and I second the make your own sundae stuff, kids love it and don't really care if it's at home or at a parlor-
the other day at our picnic we put out various cupcakes, lots of colors of frosting,lots of plastic knives, lots of bowls of candy/toppings, and they made their own- they loved it! cost for that was maybe 8.00...for 22 kids.... this is for kids ranging from 4-14 years old...they never outgrow candy...
or, have a candy hunt in the backyard, when no ones around scatter LOTS of wrapped candy around the grass, and set them loose, they love it!
Can you tell my cheap party secret is good friends plus candy equals fun?

 

[imsayin]

like less than $100 for like 25 kids

25 kids - you're much braver than I!

 

[golden1]

I feel your pain! It is crazy to have to pay so much for a Birthday Party. My solution for my dd is to "share" her birthday with one of her friends from her playgroup. Her friend has a pool so we will have it at her house. At least this way we can split the cost of food.

 

[DiznNut]

Another great themed party that my daughter just attended, and this was for an 8 year old, was an "American Idol" theme. All guest were asked to wear their favorite costumes and the had an afternoon of karoke and dancing. Each guest was given a "contestant number" sticker to wear and their number was called out when it was time for them to sing. The cake was a simple 2-layer cake iced and had a juke box and a cd on top. My daughter absolutley loved it. The other foods were just ice cream and chips. That's all kids really want to eat anyway. The party was timed to begin right after lunch and ended before they would need dinner so this light menu worked well. And yes, each child left with a simple zip lock bag of candy. They never noticed that it wasn't a store bought/themed baggie. Good luck with whatever party you decide to do.Rmember don't stress yourself out, mostly the kids just want to play and visit.

 

[LisaNJ25]

We started renting out a section of a local park. I paid $125 this year and that included the baseball field and alcohol permit. I have plenty of tables and chairs there and a bathroom and playground.

The party this year with be for 3 of my kids.. they will be 7, 2 and 1. Since they are still young I get a lot of family members. We cook on the grill and make a big picnic out of it. For this year It will be 60-70 people.

Last year I let my 6yo invite 6 friends to Build a Bear. That ended up costing me almost $200.

This year I am going do a carnival theme.. I am going to do the bottle ring toss, knock, the cans down with the baseballs and maybe carts with balloons. I am going to give out tickets when they play each game. I will set up a prize table and that will be the stuff for their goodie bags.

If anyone sees any deals on things good for a carnival lmk.

 

[summerrluvv]

We started renting out a section of a local park. I paid $125 this year and that included the baseball field and alcohol permit. I have plenty of tables and chairs there and a bathroom and playground.

The party this year with be for 3 of my kids.. they will be 7, 2 and 1. Since they are still young I get a lot of family members. We cook on the grill and make a big picnic out of it. For this year It will be 60-70 people.

Last year I let my 6yo invite 6 friends to Build a Bear. That ended up costing me almost $200.

This year I am going do a carnival theme.. I am going to do the bottle ring toss, knock, the cans down with the baseballs and maybe carts with balloons. I am going to give out tickets when they play each game. I will set up a prize table and that will be the stuff for their goodie bags.

If anyone sees any deals on things good for a carnival lmk.

I'm not sure if you checked out Oriental Trading company yet, but they have a whole section devoted to carnivals and some PDF tip guides, etc. http://www.orientaltrading.com/appl...yId=377345&tabId=PartyPlanning&cm_re=TOP_PS_6

 

[taximomfor4]

We always offer our kids a big party (8 kids) somewhere (runs about $125 pretty much anywhere we offer)

OR

real presents (spending around $100 total).

They usually pick a party ONCE, then stick to gifts after that year. For the party, one kid did 8 guests at Chuck E Cheese, one did a home party (games, etc) and one did Build a Bear ($12 limit per kid). The youngest has not yet reached the "want a party" age.

On their actual birthday, grandma usually comes over after dinner for cake, and we sing Happy Birthday (and open presents if it;s not a Big Party year). If it is a Big Party Year, we do NOT get presents for the child. (maybe something we would have given anyway, like a new set of pj's or new viola strings.)

We don't really have the money to throw into elaborate, expensive parties. We look at a big party as costing "one night for all of us at a WDW hotel." My 8yo really, really was concerned when she needed new Irish Dance hard shoes ($100) that we could have used that money for WDW. Tells me that the kids are somewhat "getting" that we make choices on what to do with money.

Good luck planning something! I think a nice cookout with outdoor toys is just as fun. Kids make their own party, when a group of friends are together!

Beth

 

[brymolmom]

Thank goodness my kids are still young for this type of thing (they are just turned 4 and 2). I can't imagine spending more than $100 or inviting more than 10 or so kids even when the kids are older...Dh and I have large families so even if we only invite immediate family - its about 45 or so people (we have 11 siblings combined, 8 bil/sil's, 24 nieces/nephews, 3 parents, 1 grandparent). So we don't even invite all our own families to all birthday parties (only the 'big' ones - only when they turned 1 and for their Christening so far).

I'm liking some of the ideas posted here though - combining with another friend and 'splitting' the party is great. Also the 'you choose - a party or a present' - LOVE that idea!!! I hope I remember these in a few years when the kids start asking...Or if they really want a more expensive party - just keep the numbers down - only 5 friends if really expensive, 10 if moderate, etc. You guys have great ideas!

All I've ever planned on doing even when I let them invite friends is some sort of games and party bags and order a pizza. OR maybe let 2 or 3 friends sleep over for a 'movie night'.

Question for you - did any of you parents have birthday parties while growing up? I'm just wondering if i'm weird because of my upbringing - I really only had one 'friend' party - when I turned 16 and that was only like 6 or 10 friends. Other than that year - I was allowed to have a friend or two sleep over. I guess my family's never been big on birthdays.

 

[T. Lynn]

We did Chuck E Cheese last year as well so I know what you are talking about. My DD's birthday is in January, which is a bad month. Can't do anything nice outside like mini golf, pool parties, etc...

Why did I pick January??? The only thing I thought about was not being pregnant during the summer. Now I wish I could go back and change it.

 

[Leigha]

I like the American Idol theme. One year we made a CD of my daughter's favorite songs and this would be a nice party favor for this party - it was a hit!