6 Year Old Birthday Party Ideas

I totally get what you're saying!! My house isn't exactly a mansion or showplace either (I need new carpet!) but it's a comfortable home for us and I don't really care what others think. If I invite people over (and I just had a big 18th birthday party for my son) and they aren't happy with my home then that's their problem not mine. If it's clean and you have a working bathroom then that's all that's important to me!!

For my kids, we always had the parties here at our house. My daughter would have girls over and do nail polish, hair, etc. Just have them play games, have cake and ice-cream, open presents and you'll see the two hours will go by very quickly!! Can you do a pinata? Those are fun!!

Whatever you end up doing, please don't let it get to you by comparing your home with others'. Just think, half of them are probably living way above their means and so far in debt it's ridiculous!!! I know my sister-in-law is like this!! Sure she has a gigantic, beautiful home but I know for a fact she is so far in debt she and her husband will be working till they're 100 to pay it off!!! I'd rather not live like that!!

Good luck!!!

While I understand how you feel (I have felt that way), I wouldn't let that
deter you from having it at you house.

It's the easiest AND cheapest way to do it!

The girls will play w/her toys at that age & you can have a couple of
craft (I highly recommend this!!!!!!).

-Have cupcakes
-Do a craft (make jewelry, paint a canvas, paint rocks etc.).
-play dress up (you can find cheap crowns, wands etc @ the Dollar
store).
-Put on some music & have them dance
-play a game

Better to stay at home, have fun & save money.

Don't care what people think. Or if you do, throw out a new $20 welcome
mat and 2 juniper mini spiral trees in big pots fanking your front door.

We went from a 2700 sq ft home to a 700 sq ft home & had about 35 kids outside this year thankfully, last year b/c of a freak snowstorm on the day of the party (19" of the white stuff) we ended up w/about 18 8 yr olds). It's the things in life that don't matter, no child that is worth being my daughter's friend is going to notice that our house is the size of their closet & if they do, then I'd just casually ask their parent if we could rent out their house next year for the party! Brainstorm w/your daughter & think of some things she is into. Do a makeover party (go to the dollar store & pick up some barrettes, hairbands, get a little lip gloss, eyeshadow etc, pull out some of your old clothes & have a dress up party. Something simple to give as a favor would be a vanity mirror/brush set from the dollar store, just get some glitter paint (yes, from the dollar store too & have the girls write their name on it too) or maybe even stickers, they wouldn't need to dry like stickers. Then turn on some music and let them have some fun, meanwhile just serve a veggie platter, pretzels & such then send them home. Good luck.

I just had my 6y party 2 weeks ago. We had a Halloween theme. The goal is to keep it simple. Most of the party, the girls were in my daughter's room playing with dolls. We did a few games (pin the nose on the pumpkin, flying donut). I had plans for 3 - 4 games, but in the two hours I had alloted we only got the two games in.

For a December party, I would:
- Have hot chocolate and popcorn.
- Decorate sugar cookies? ( I would buy or pre-make some ahead of time that just need to be decorated)
- Make holiday decorations (beaded wreaths, clothespin reindeer, marshmellow snowmen)
- decorate glass ornaments

You could also just do a movie. Set up the living room with lots of blankets and pillows, make lots of popcorn, order some pizza, soda, hot chocolate, and pop in a favorite movie or holiday movie. You could even do the cake or cupcakes towards the beginning so the girls can eat them while watching the movie.

I am always faced with the same issue: small house, cold month, lots of kids! I am currently in the 5 year party dilemma for next month - the holiday season always drives the cost up, too.

So far one of our most successful parties for fun, low-stress and budget was our local nature center. It already has free admission so we just paid $100 (or less) to rent a room for the cake and an animal presentation. The kids walked around the indoor center on their own/with their parents, had cake that we brought with us in the room, all sat on the floor to learn about three animals the center brought in and we had a make your own owl ornament craft from oriental trading company as a filler if we needed. It was great! You might see if anything in your area does that. It was cheaper than the zoo by far and we could have as many kids and parents as we wanted.

This year I am looking into a story time thing at a local children's book shop. Not sure they will all sit still for that yet, but by 6 they should be able to. They make a craft or something to take home, too.

Good luck!

Been where you are. My home was the smallest when I lived in Nevada years past. I was embarrassed by the size as my friends' homes were dang near model estates.

I am not gonna go all "be thankful" on you.

What I would say is take your daughter on a $50 shopping spree at a far away Toys R Us or thrift store or restaurant. She will not be the wiser and you will keep your pride.

For all of the moms who may "let me have it" on this one--I am human and my current home is also small (890 Sq Ft)! I am grateful, but does get embarrassing.

Crafts, crafts, crafts. Even "non-crafty" kids can suddenly get very craft-loving when there are great things to do and the other kids are doing it. Look for ideas at the craft store -- take your daughter and let her help choose but keep the right of veto, since she may want to do things that are too messy (painting) or too complex for kids her age. Have a couple of different crafts because making a bracelet or necklace goes by very quickly.

Have them decorate their own cupcakes or even top their own pizzas if they are there over a meal time. Or have them decorate a large cookie each to take home (be prepared with packaging to get the cookies home looking good).

Have them play games. Look online for "games indoor small group kindergarten" and you will probably find a lot of ideas that are age-appropriate and space-appropriate.

Limit the numbers. If your house is small, do not feel pressured to have 10 kids! Tell your child she can have three or five others over (even numbers are good ideas at small parties or group playdates).

Limit the time. You mention two hours -- that's ideal. Schedule things out; have a small activity or something going on while kids arrive since there will always be the early one and a straggler (at my daughter's party at about this age, I had a friend giving each girl a temporary tattoo as they arrived -- used up some arrival waiting time and really distracted them!).

Don't open gifts at the party. Most kids get very quickly bored by that (or even jealous) except for the birthday child. Have your daughter thank the giver as each giver arrives, and then have your husband or another adult whisk the gifts out of sight for the duration of the party. Your daughter can open them afterward. Opening gifts sucks up a lot of time at the party that could be spent on fun!

And please don't think so much about those 500k houses. We have tons of them around us (new one built right next door, new one going up across the street too) but I know the folks who buy them will be in debt big-time. Do what makes your child happy and what you think is reasonable for your space and time and budget. The children will not know or care about how much was spent, or where they went. And you do not have to go to a pool or other place unless YOU want to do it -- don't do it because you worry about what the parents will think of your house.

Let them make bracelets and decorate cupcakes!!!