Need Ideas About a Birthday Party

I would start around 3-4 (some kids have early bedtimes), do the movie/snacks (popcorn, small bags of candy or gummies, drinks), and then once the movie is over do pizza and cake. You should think about cupcakes instead of a whole cake, it saves a lot of time. I agree with a lot of the other posters, don’t let parents or guests choose the movie. Your son is the birthday boy, and they can watch what he likes. I would put what movie you plan on watching on the invitation, just so you don’t have any issues with that later on. If you run short on time, just cut out the gift opening. I know a lot of people think it’s rude to not open gifts, but personally I’ve always disliked that part of a kid’s party. I always keep track of who sent what, and then a little thank you note, and stickers for the kids. The pick-up drop off thing is tricky. You’re going to have to plan for some of the parents not being comfortable leaving their kids there alone. It’s nothing personal, but would you leave your children with someone you don’t know? I would also plan for before and after movie playtime. Even if it’s only 15 or 20 minutes, like another poster said, when school kids see each other outside of school they’re going to want to play. If you want specific party ideas, google “kids movie night party ideas.” I think it’s a really cute theme that you could do a lot with. Have fun!!!!!

1 mom found this helpful

I wouldn't give the parents any choices movie wise. I would let your son pick the movie its his birthday. Has he seen how to train your dragon? My grandson is 6 and absolutely loves it.

You could word it something like "It's a birthday Pizza Party/Movie night". Specify drop off 5 PM w/ pick up between 8 & 8:30 pm. I would take a vote on the movie from the kids once they are there (your son narrow it down two or three that he would like to watch, then let the whole group decide). Beware, that some parents may still want to stay...at that age, if I didn't know you I would not just drop off my child.

Pizza,cake and movie are all fine.6 is a good time. But, I would never just drop my 6yr old at a house I dont know. You can tell me whatever you want about being good with the kids, it's just not gonna happen. Also, just pick two movies that your son likes rated G of course and you'll be fine.
Maybe you can have any new parents in for just a few minutes to feel comfortable before they leave. Asking them to drop off only may scare a lot of poeple away. How much trouble would a pot of coffee or iced tea really be.

I would pick a movie that your son wants to watch a good movie that just came out is Toy Story 3. I loved it. How to train your dragon is also good. If it is a G movie and you specify on the invitation the parents should be fine. I wouldn't give them a choice they will never agree. Unless you want the kids to vote once they get to the party. You could have 2 choices.

I would have a game the kids could play as they arrive. Serve the pizza and start the movie. I personally would give the cake after present opening at the end of the party, but if you are worried about sugar overload you could pause the movie part way through to do presents and cake.

Popcorn is a good movie snack that could be in addition to the pizza. You can offer the kids healthy sides like carrot sticks, or apple slices etc, but I've found they mostly just eat the pizza. I do usually order bread sticks with the pizza when I have kids over.

Good luck and have fun.

As for wording for the card when my kids get an invitation I usually assume they will be dropped off and I'm not invited. Maybe state something like please pick your children up at 8pm or something like that, would indicate that they don't need to stay.

First of all-I would do it at 5 not 6. You don't want the party to be over too late. And if you want to get a movie in plus cake/presents/playtime you will need 3 hours probably.
As far as asking parents to leave...if the kids coming are over 6 they probably will leave. I stopped staying at this age. But you need to understand that if a parent wants to stay they should be able to. Some people just feel more comfortable staying if they don't know you-especially in your home. When they drop off and seem like they are staying you can tell them they don't have to stay. If you want to word it on the invite you can put it after the "time" part dropoff-5 pickup-8
Don't give the parents a movie choice-way too complicated. If your son loves dinos then maybe Land Before Time? Despicable Me/How to Train your Dragon/TS3 are all out-maybe one of them?
And don't be suprised if some of the kids don't want to watch the movie and want to play instead. When school friends get together outside of school it is so exciting for them that they often just want to run around and play together. I wouldn't try to stop this if it happens.

I think that by age 6, a drop-off party is assumed. You could specify "siblings welcome." I've heard that some people expect siblings to be invited too, but that is a totally foreign concept to me! It's your son's party for him and his friends.

Toy Story 3 just came out on video, so maybe that would be a good choice for a movie. I think a movie like that is generally unoffensive, so I wouldn't feel the need to approve it with parents. If it were something more mature, say Harry Potter or Spiderman, I would call the parents personally and ask if that's okay for their child. They can be too scary and mature for kids this age, and it's a personal choice that parents make for their kids. But like I said, a Disney animated movie is probably safe.

I think pizza, soda, and cake will be awesome. And I don't know why you're worried about sugar before bedtime. Isn't that what dessert usually is? While "sugar rush" is a common saying, it's not true. At least for most kids.

I like the idea of Parents night out and I don't think it will be a big deal to ask parents to drop off. I am sure there will be a kid or two that are parent clingy and want the parent to stay. Just be prepared for a parent or two to stick around. It just happens.

I think that a movie night does not allow them to play or interact much. What about doing a Pizza cooking party and get the dough they can roll out, then put the sauce on themselves and cheese or whatever other ingredient you provide to them. My mom did this with mine and my bothers kids ranging in age from 2 to 10 (6 total) and they all had a blast. While their pizzas were cooking she gave them all a bag with a flashlight and a list of things to find for a scavenger hunt around the house. She had them find one of each thing so the kids didn't hoard everything. The scavenger hunt stuff included stickers, pencils, whistles and decorations to decorate their bags. She turned down all the lights and the kids put on their flashlights and off they went. It was GREAT!

By this time the pizza was done and cool enough to eat. So they ate then decorated their bags then had cake. In all the night started around 5 and ended at 7.

As far as having sugar to close to bedtime. I wouldn't worry about it. It just goes with the territory. If you move everything about an hour earlier then they will have plenty of time to eat cake, amp up, and settle down before bed.

Good luck and enjoy!

Start your party at 5pm.
People never arrive on time.
Serve pizza at 5:30.
When they are done with that, you might consider "Decorate your own cupcake" instead of a cake - that takes up some time and the kids really love it. BUT - it tends to be a bit messy and sprinkles and stuff will get all over your table and floor.
Then do presents and finally the movie.
You and your son should pick the movie and put what they will see in the invitation.
Have parents arrive at 8 for pickup -- specify the pick up time on your invitation...
YMMV
LBC

I wouldn't assume people could use it as a date night, as most will probably have siblings, so I would just avoid saying anything about that.

I would also start the party earlier. I know many families that eat at 5pm. I like how ILuvmylife worded the drop off time and pick up time. I think that could give parents the idea. I'm sure there will be some who don't like this idea of dropping their child off, but also some that are ok with it.

Didn't Toy Story 3 just come out on video. I know it is cartoon-ish like, but its animated. Or How to Train your Dragon would be a good one too.

Well I would skip the movie and probably even the cake and ice cream. Whenever we have kids over for a party they are so excited to play together that they wouldn't sit for a movie and they don't even want to sit for cake and ice cream. The last part we had the boys all played with legos and cars and ate popsicles and cookies :) Plus if you open gifts they will all want to play with those too.

I think 6 might be a little too late to start the party. I would have it start at 4 or 5 if you plan on watching a movie, dinner, cake and probably some play time for the boys. I would have them eat soon after getting there then cake before starting the movie. I would buy some popcorn and chips for the boys to snack on during the movie.

I don't think it's rude at all to mentioned a drop off time (if my kids were invited to a party I actually assume it's for the person invited only). I would just say, Drop off time-4 pm, Pick up time-8 pm (whatever times you decide).

We recently watched How To Train Your Dragon, It was very good. I think the boys would love it.

I think a movie night themed party is a great idea. I think the time should be more 5-7:30 (starting at 6pm might be late). I don't think you need to ask the parents what movie to show, you pick it based on what your son likes and put it on the invitations.
I don't think you will have many problems with it being a drop off party, I have recently found that ALL the parties my 6 year old has been to in the last year have been drop offs.
Pizza and cake is enough but you might want to add some popcorn during the movie to make it more "movie theater" like.
You could really have fun with the movie theme and have the invitations shaped like a movie reel and the take home bags shaped like popcorn buckets.
As for the order of things I think you can either do one quick game when the kids first arrive or do what I do. I have the kids decorate the take home bags. I have the bags (usually a colored paper bag the size of a lunch sack) all layed out on the table along with stickers that go with my party theme and markers. I have the kids write their name on the bag and decorate how they would like. This a great thing for the kids to sit and do while waiting for everyone to arrive. Then when they are watching the movie you can collect the bags and fill them with the take home favors, sticking with your movie theme of course.
After the movie is over have pizza and cake.
Good luck with your palnning and most importantly have fun with it!!

1. I agree 5 would be better, My son is 7 and goes to bed at 7:30 we eat at 430 5, if he had to wait to 6 he would be very hungry.
2. I think you could just pick a G rated film and everyone would be ok with that.
3. I am an over protective Mom, I know it. I would not just drop my child off at someone's house I do not know. I would want to meet them, see how my child plays with your son. It is also I do not want him to misbehave and take your time away from all the others, he is not a bad kid but he is my responsability and I take that seriously. If you spacifically stated drop off I would comply but I would want to meet you, and I would give you my cell and stay near by so if there was an issue I would be there fast to handle it.

Be open and flexable to compramise and all will be a blast. Have fun mom.

I would start the party earlier. Maybe 4-7pm. Word your invitations something like this... Drop off at 4pm, pick up at 7pm. Pizza will be served. I wouldn't give parents a choice on movie. Just choose something your son likes.

If you have an activity planned... craft project, games or whatever that would be a good thing to start with. Kids can be doing it as they arrive and wait for others. Have some free play time, then pizza and cake. Put on the movie at the later end of the party.

I hosted one recently for my daughter who was turning 7. We had some craft projects and games planned and had dinner. The kids had fun doing the projects and games but also were very happy running around and playing outside as well. My party was 2 hours long and I found it wasn't quite enough time. I would make it longer next time.