Background - I've never had an official birthday party for my soon to be 5 year-old so I feel like this is the year. I would normally do a home party and just let the kids run around but I'll be about 2 weeks away from my due date with baby #3 so I'm thinking of doing something away from home.
Question 1: What are some places that offer birthday parties that would be good for 5 year olds? About how much do they cost? Are they fun?
Question 2: The whole gift thing makes me uncomfortable. Would it be crazy to state "No Gifts!" on the invites? Has anyone done that before or am I missing out on an opportunity for fun for my daughter and an opportunity for her to practice getting gifts from friends, how to respond, thank you notes, etc?
Pump It Up is fun and easy.
And yes, writing NO GIFTS on the invite works. We did it this year without a hassle.
I'm not sure if you have a boy or girl, but we've been to birthday parties at dance studios, usually very affordable. Micheal's does crafty birthday parties if your child is into that. Pump it up is tons of fun. Try your local health club, they usually do swimming parties.
I have done a "no gifts" party before. I said no gifts please, but if you must, a book or a puzzle will do. I rhymed it to be cute but I can't for the life of me remember it. Books and puzzles are great and cheap enough where people don't feel put out. But, I guarantee people will still bring gifts! Good luck and hopefully you won't go into labor before hand!
I f I were 2 weeks away from a delivery date, I'd want a quiet experience. (That's just me, though! If my kids get invited to one of those indoor playgrounds, I send the child along with another grownup. I can't stand those places, because they're too loud, and there's nothing for a grown-up to do.)
Local nature centers offer birthday parties. They do all the clean up and do activities with the kids. Near Osseo, try Eastman Nature Center. (Google it.) It's awesome and the kids and parents love it.
Definitely do "no gifts" if you mean it.
The other thing I've seen done is "reused gifts only" invites. It lets everyone swap out existing gently used toys and no one has to spend money on more plastic from Target.
I hear you about having an 'away from home' birthday party. I was due 3 days after my sons 4th birthday, so we also did an away from home party. My 6 yr old just attended a birthday party at Pump It Up & loved it. Also we have done his birthday party at Eagle's Nest. It's an indoor playground at the New Brighton Community Center. It was really reasonable for prices too. The other thing he really enjoyed was a bowling party.
1. Skating rink, Gymnastics studio ( we do this for our kids ages 3, 5, and 10 too), McDonalds, Burger King, anyplace with an indoor playground, a soccer or T-Ball field if weather is nice (have hubby or find a coach that will give you an hour or two for a low cost, he can just do some easy things like teaching them to kick the ball at the goals etc..like a soccer/T-Ball clinic). If you think about what they like then you can come up with lots of ideas.
2. Every single person will bring a gift so don't even bother. If you want to donate the gifts to a local charity that is giving underprivileged kids gifts then put that on the invitation and be very specific, like " we have enough toys and want to teach XXX about charity so we collecting gifts to be given to XX charity in lieu of birthday gifts". If you don't have a charity in mind call your local Chamber of Commerce or other local agencies to see where the needs are. Foster kids, low income families, sick kids in the hospitals, etc...are all good places to call about too.
As you live in MN...I would highly recommend a "Pump It Up" birthday party...they are a blast and the staff takes care of everything. Rooms full of bouncy jumpy things, and so much fun as even adults can participate. I believe they have two or three of them in the twin cities. Just google it.
Another great indoor party idea is the community center in Edina. It has a huge (3 stories I think) jungle gym, play areas...and all sorts of things for kids to do. They do great parties all the time.
Additionally...there is a small water park in Brooklyn Center/Brooklyn Park that is fun as long as you have enough adults to supervise. I can't remember the name, but it is near HWY 169/ 81 area if I remember correctly.
We have also stated "no gifts, please" and it has never been a problem...A few kids will still bring something. Another idea is to state that your child has so many wonderful things they don't need any more...but if their friends want to bring something they can bring a donation for a charity (Toys for Tots, Humane Society, Food Shelter)...allow your child to pick out the organization, and bring the items themselves...It is a great lesson to teach your child.
I agree with SammyJo - PumpItUp is fun, Edinborough Park in Edina has Adventure Peak, and we've have been to the water park (that one might be a bit active for you that close to due date).
We've been to several parties that state that any present brought will be donated to a charity, or suggest a specific donation instead of a gift.
I agree with Pump It Up for ease and fun. There is also the Children's Museum, MN Zoo, you could look for a pottery/ceramics studio as there are a few that do small group kid b-day parties. I was google searching for the name of an art studio just for kids - it's called Kid Create Studio. I've heard of it but have never been there myself as it's not close to where we live but I found this fun list on where to have a hosted birthday party...
http://minneapolis.about.com/od/familieschildren/tp/kidsb...
It includes all of the indoor parks in the Twin Cities along with other ideas.
As for 'No Gifts"? Y-E-S! is my answer. I completely agree w/the other comments already given about specifying in the invite any gifts received are to be donated to '______' charity. My SIL chose to go this route when her son was in Kindergarten and has continued this practice since (he's now 13). My nephew has never felt deprived or that he's missing out on the birthday party experience. This practice actually spurred on a trend with his classmates. The valuable lesson learned is greater than the worth of any toy.
There are always plenty of options for birthday parties. Depending on where you live, ad the temperatures, it can make a difference. Lots of times children's museums, zoos, parks, pottery painting places all allow parties. Build-a-Bear does them as well. Check around. As to your second question, yes it is appropriate to say no presents. Something that is very popular these days is donating items. You could do a can food drive and take them to a local shelter. You could do Toys for Tots or something of the sort. Then your child could still learn to write thank you notes. Thank them for coming and then for their donation, and of course say where the items went and what their purpose was. Good luck!!
Community centers and YMCAs do birthday parties. At the Y, there are options as to gym and party room or pool and party room, etc. I probably wouldn't do the pool for that age group, personally. I have boys so I always look for active birthday party options. If your daughter is crafty there are paint places and Michael's craft stores might even offer parties.
