9 Year Old Birthday Party

Putt Putt in Springfield
Bowling Alley (Sproul Lanes or MacDade Bowl)
Bette's Family Fun Center
Ridley or Lansdowne YMCA
Oasis in Glen Mills

Check out your local YMCA-- they offer swim, sports and gymnastics parties and are usually more reasonable than more commercial establishments. I've had some of my childrens' parties there and they have always been a success. I'm not sure where you are located, but there is always "Party Magic" in Warminster, which is literally a huge room full of moonbounces, Briar Bush Nature Center in Abington (which does a great live animal show and nature hike for their birthday parties)or your local bowling alley. My kids loved their bowling parties. Hope these ideas help!

If you have access to a pool,have a pool party. I would then order some pizza,most boys like it. DO not worry, you are not the only one waiting til the last minute to get things done. my son is one on saturday and i am still running around trying to get everything done this week. check out shop rite for cakes. they have good options and they give a discount if you provide a birth certificate.
It sounds like you are a good step mom. take it easy.
D.

I have to agree with the one mom, chuck e cheese is sooooo dirty :-( What about limiting it to a few close friends and going to a fun restaurant?

What about the Putt Putt on Baltimore Pike behind Home Depot? Our family just went there and had a blast! It is SO reasonable! They have packages that include golfing, lunch, tokens for the inside arcade, and trophys for the kids to take home. When we were there a couple of parties were getting ready to start. I wish I could remember the exact name of it, but it was terrific and cheap!

Movie party in the back yard, if it's warm weather, with a sheet over a jungle gym. That's all my 9 yr old wanted this yr! sO, we even postponed his winter party until it was warm enough to do this. Alternatively, take the kids to the movies and then out for ice cream and cake.

Personally Chuckie Cheese gives me the creeps BUT there's Oasis out by Rte 1 & 202. They have a laser tag thing and games and stuff. Or go to a local park (the one by the Springfield Mall is good for this) and bring some games etc. There's Kehlers Gym behind Lawrence Park. Sproul Lanes does bowling parties.

Good Luck! Have fun!

You may want to give Bette's Funland a try. It's in Aston and I have heard great things about it. They do the whole piza thing and there is a seperate area for the bigger kids so that you don't have to worry about possible injury to a non-partygoer. It is primarily a place with indoor inflatable jumping things. There might even be a batting cage. They have a website if you want to check it out. if yougo to google I think if you put in Bette's and Aston, PA you should get a hit. Hope this helps.

S. W.

How about the funplex. What area do you live in or even a skating party.

Do you belong to a local pool? We belong to Lawrence Park Swim Club in Broomall, and they have a great party "package". It costs $5 for each non-member child to get in. Then, you can either bring in food, or get food from the snack bar. If you get food from the snack bar, it costs $5 per child . You can get Pizza or hot dogs, drinks (soda or juices-with free refills!) and they get a choice of water ice or ice cream!! You can bring cake or cupcakes if you want to. I had my son's 8th party there last sumer and my daughters 11th birthday there the other day! To make it even more fun, I scheduled the parties on "Float night " , so not only were they able to swim , but could bring floats to play on (from 6-8P.M.). They had a BALL!!! It was very little work for me, and was really inexpensive. It cost me around $100 for 11 kids,(of which 4 were members) and I even got extra Pizza and sodas for the few parents who stayed. I'm sure other local pools have arrangements similar to our pool. Good Luck!