"Party Planning"

Hello D.,
I totally understand you wanting your child to have a great birthday and how when inviting a class still only a few show up. On that note, I was wondering if you have a theme for the party. Like what is going to be on the cake. DOes your son like cowboys, cars, or things like that. The reason I ask is because that could tie into the games you would want to play. If it is pretty outside they could play a game of dodge ball or basketball of even baseball. My childrens birthdays are during the summer so it is a little easier I think than in coolerr weather. Or maybe you could set up a carnival theme and have dart throwing at balloons, toss across, or bobbing for apples. Just a few quick ideas. Hope it helps and good luck.

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This is what we always did for bday parties.We did not have alot of kids over because we couldnt afford to have a big party plus my boys are 51 weeks apart(52weeks in a year)that 2babies in 1 year so we would have both on the same day because we usually went to the city to do things.My boys were allowed to pick something to do..see a movie/dinner..Wave pool/dinner..play park/dinner..what ever they wanted with in reason with one special friend each.They enjoyed..we could afford it and we had a family outing.

That way your son doesnt have to worry about people coming and be stressed out on his day.Think about doing that instead of the 'big party'..good luck..
S. B

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D.-
How funny! I am actually about to plan my son's party this week who turns 7 on tomorrow. The reason I'm just planning is because his brother will be 3 on next week and I decided to do their party together again to kill two birds with one stone! If you are doing a party at home what I have done that keeps the kids very, very busy is rent a jumper for the yard if your yard is big enough. This entertains them the entire party. Also, google 7-year old party games and you will find a lot. I see some interesting things I may do this year since he's getting older. Hope this helps.

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Balloon Sandwhich

1.Begin by choosing partners and lining them up back to back at a starting line. Place a balloon (not a helium one) between their backs so that they must hold it there and not let it fall to the ground (emphasize no hands!).

2. At the sound of a whistle, the pairs must take off in this position, shuffling their way toward a finish line. If the balloon pops or drops, they must return to the starting line for a replacement.

3. The first sandwich to cross the line wins

Treasure Hunt
What I would do is get little objects and hide them for the kids to find(it can be anything) like whomever finds the red cup wins a toy water gun or whomever finds the blue glove wins a bottle of bubbles. JUST MAKE SURE YOU WILL HAVE ENOUGH PRIZES FOR EVERY KID WHO WINS CAUSE SOME ARE NOT GOOD LOSERS, SO WHOMEVER DOESN'T FIND CLUE YOU SHOULD HAVE THEM PULL A PIECE OF PAPER OUT OF A HAT OR SOMETHING THAT HAS PRIZE LISTED ON THERE OF WHAT THEYT WOULD WIN(tHIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD GAME)!!!YTou can also do old school games like simon says or red rover, freeze tag and 123 redlight, These have always still been hits at my kids parties. I am not sure what kind of budget you have or that is not an issue but goodie bags to go home with are always a good thing to make so the kids can have something to talk about when they go back to school and say how much fun they had. You can get lil cheap toys and candy from the dollar tree. Have fun and Happy Birthday to your little man!!!

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Meeting at a park with play equipment is always good. A bouncehouse is great if you can afford it. A scavenger hunt is lots of fun. What you will see at this age is lots of crazy running around. For some reason, they are active, and get crazy acting when together. Don't let them into your house, it will be trashed, been there, done that.

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If it's warm enough, boys ALWAYS enjoy a good water balloon fight, lol. Girls too for that matter. I would have sports equipment available...frisbees, footballs, basketball(especially if you have a basketball goal). With this being baseball season maybe they would enjoy some baseball...many girls enjoy some of these as well so any girls that show up will have something to choose from. They always love a pinata as well.

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I also think that it's incredibly rude and insensitive for people to not show up to a party - that has also been my experience, and that of my friends recently. I think people are just SO busy and tired, AND just way too casual about responding to invitations and actually coming - even when they RSVP that they are coming! Well, I could sound off on that for a long time, but I do have some suggestions for future parties, to avoid that problem. It seems to me that the only people who really do show up are those that you (your son in this case) are actually really involved with (and those with good manners - rarer and rarer these days). It also sounds like your son is feeling a little lonely. With those things in mind, my suggestion is that you get him involved in some extra-curricular activities - either with the school or outside of it (sports leagues, church, classes of some kind - music or art, for instance). That way he can make more friends and they are much more likely to actually show up to a party or event. Also, it does seem to help to have a more "formal" invitation. Ie - if the invitation is super-casual (like just giving a blanket invitation to the class and not sending out individual invitations), peoples' responses seem to be too. If you mail out invitations with their names on it, etc., asking for an RSVP, you are more likely to get a better response. (Many people STILL don't respond to those, but you will get a higher percentage than with a casual invitation). Most people do like to feel specifically invited and appreciate it when you go to the trouble of filling out and mailing invitations.

I hope this helps and that your son has a really great birthday! Blessings to you and your family.

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