Birthday Party Combined

With your kids being a little older have you thought of doing an activity with the child and just a close friend or two. My son is turning nine and instead of a big party, his dad is taking him and two friends to play laser tag and then they are going to have a sleepover. The activity could be whatever your child wants- going to a movie, bowling, etc. and then just give them a friend limit.

Swimming party - you can invite a whole class and it will cost you the rental, plus cake and treat bags (optional). A few water games w/ prizes are nice. New Lenox Park Dist. hosts them through the local high school so maybe you will have a situation like that in your home town. Also, we have a rec center in town, called ROL. They have a few locations and set up parties for kids who want to play kick ball, basketball or do sports-like parties in large gym-type rooms. Good luck.

Hi H A!
I have 3 kids with Nov, Dec & Jan birthdays. With all the holiday crazy this year we decided to do both the boys together (in Jan after the holidays when everyone is a little more free) at the local indoor pool. The boys will be able to invite all their friends, I'll be able to invite all the family and everyone will have a great time becuase you can swim in the middle of winter! We are going to do light snacks and juice because the kids will be to busy. Also cupcakes because they can be taken home. I will probably even open presents at home and send Thank You notes to make it even more about hanging out with friends. We have also done bowling but then limited to two friends becuase rental fees can get expensive.

What a boput a make your own pizza and sundae party. they can eat and play a few games, open presents and then all go home. I'm sure it will be a hit. have fun!

I don't know how expensive it is, but my 2 nephews have a b-day in January and last time they did a little party at a skate rink. Each kid invited some friends and then they just shared a cake and some punch.

My kids' birthdays are both in November and I am thinking about the same thing... I agree with making it simple: party games, musical chairs, streamers, a pinata, and one cake or cupcakes is just fine. something very cheap and simple. Perhaps making some inexpensive crafts would be fun? Homemade xmas decorations? All you need are popsicle sticks, glue and sparkles, etc., and each child could take home a personalized ornament. I don't know if your kids are boys or girls, or one of each. Perhaps they could have a paper airplane contest - learn to make them (i have seen books about this!) then see whose flies the farthest? Or make their own pita pizzas with toppings (if there are lots of kids this could be time-consuming) Other craft ideas could work too: with newspaper, cardboard, construction paper, etc. V. cheap and could keep them occupied. Good luck! And I will be reading all the responses for ideas too!

I could be way off the mark here...but a birthday is someone's very own special day! Just ask the people who have a birthday close to Christmas how they feel when people combine the holidays.

About the party - I really hate how parents have turned the birthday party in a huge extravaganza, overindulging and outdoing. What's wrong with just having people over, playing some party games, and having some cake? If other parents want to judge you because you don't have the moonbounce, the $25 giftbags for each kid, the petting zoo, the clown, the whatever, then that's their problem.

hi h.a.- though my kids aren't that old yet, my 4-year-old daughter was invited to our 9-year-old neighbor girl's party in august, and it was the cutest thing ever. they had a science theme, and did different science experiments, like they made a "bug" flashlight where the light works when you touch the antennae together. they also did a scavenger hunt with riddles as clues, and all the kids just loved it, ages 4-11. sometimes i think we all get so into all these elaborate birthday parties for kids, when all we ever did as kids were stay-at-home ones with games and cake! i'm sure the kids will have a blast. good luck!

I love the make and take ornament party idea at home - another option is gingerbread houses. We have done this anually with a couple of friends and the kids love it. If you can't afford to spend $10 each child per kit at the store you can always give them graham crackers and a can of frosting. Another option is a christmas cookie baking class at home. Your kids sound old enough to handle baking. My kids have done a birthday party cooking class at a local grocery store chain and loved it. Aldi's is a great place to get all the baking supplies for less.