Birthday Party Ideas for 3Yr Olds

Hi C.,

I have a child with emotional special needs and I am an educator that has work with children in inclusion at the middle school level. First, I would keep your part simple with simple 1.2.3. tasks. Second, I would practice all tasks expecially any games you plan with your child even, blowing out candles with lots clapping if necessary. Then when your daughter does any of the tasks she won't be on overload with the "new" task in front of a large group. I have some listening and folling directions interventions if your interested:) They are simple and I use them on my own daughter. Last, remember it is about your daughter having fun...she is three and won't remember much:) Don't feel you have to keep up with the "Jone's" :)

L. T.

Hope this is helpful!

I strongly recommend getting an inflatable. You don't have to plan activities as the kids will keep themselves occupied and will wear themselves out. Or you could set up a "Carnival" with games and prizes. You can order prizes from Oriental trading really cheap and have a really good time as long as you have plenty of adults to run the booths. Windy City Popcorn in New Lenox has everything you could need. I have used them often and know the owner. Hope this helps!

Good Luck!

Hi C.
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I would HIGHLY recommend Pretend Playground in Mundelein. We've done a birthday party there when my daughter turned 3 and it was a huge hit. Lots of freedom for the kids to just play, very relaxed, parents loved it. The staff there took care of everything, they had a room for pizza and cake afterwards. Goody bags were offered, etc.
Good luck!

We just had a party. We rented a moonjump for $150. The kids decorated their brown bag/goodie bag and had a pinata. Simple and fun.

Shoot! I just typed a whole message and then it erased, I think! I don't think it made it as a response, so I'll try again!

I'm not sure if your daughter likes music, but try:

www.rockitkids.com

Rock-It Kids did a great birthday party for my son when he turned 3. It was inexpensive (maybe around $120 for 12 kids). This energetic woman came to our house and led the kids in music/instrument-related songs/marching/movement for 45 minutes. It held their attention, amazingly, for all 45 mintues! We also bought inexpensive goody bags from them with cute cloth bags and small instruments inside. Overall, a great find, I thought!

I'm not sure where you live... I think they're based in the western suburbs (?)...

Anyway, hope this helps!

Hey C.-
I'm an occupational therapist who works w/ lots of kids w/ sensory issues. My advice is not to have any specific, very detailed planned activities! She's pretty young to expect to truly follow along w/ any involved activity for a long period of time. If she gets therapy, I'd suggest doing some things similar to what seems to help her in her sessions. For example, set up a station of play-doh and let the kids work to dig for treasures, make a birthday "cake" or "cookies". Have an area where the kids can splash in a kiddie pool (provide some buckets so they can do filling and dumping), drive ride-on toys or play with push toys. You'll probably need to recruit some extra parents for help. Just remember, try to make the party full of activities that work to keep her calm and aren't overwhelming. Hope that helps!

A couple of other kids and build a bear workshop ... you'll be done in an hour!

How about getting a blow up ride from some place like Ralph's Rental in Woodstock or Grand Station Rental or Ed's rental in C. Lake. All kids love those and it keeps them busy. How about a pinata, kid always like that.

S.

My now ten year old son had the same issues. I highly recommend My Gym in Orland Park. The owner, Debbie Malloy, is very knowledgable and fun. The staff is great and the kids have loved every party there. I would book the 1 1/2 hour party at 1:30pm, no pizza, just water for a break and juice boxes with cake at end. The kids are having so much fun that they do not want to stop for anything. Good luck!

I agree that a gymnastics place would be great. My son also has SPD, and we did pool parties the last 3 years (2 outside, the last inside at the "Y" combined with the indoor playground.) He requested to have his party this year at Pump it Up. There are many locations around Chicago, and there are many air-blown jumping things, and enough room for everyone so they don't bump into each other. Their weekend parties can accomodate 25 kids, and weekdays, it's a bit cheaper and is geared to 15, I think. It works well for kids with sensory-seeking SPD because the rooms are huge and there's lots of jumping and activity, but not much waiting for turns, etc. My son also has some sensory defensiveness, so having his own space and not too much music or loud noise is important for him.

Have fun!

Hi!

My 5 year old was just at a party today where they had it at their house. It was a water party so everyone wore their swimsuits and brought towels. They had the slip and slide up, a HUGE pile of sand and a wading pool, not to mention sidewalk chalk and squirt guns. The kids ALL had a blast. It's a great idea and I'm gonna steal it myself.

good luck!
M.

We had our 3yr old daughter's and 1 year old son's birthday party at Bouncetown in Oswego. It worked out great and the staff was very helpful. Good luck!

Jen

How about renting your local public swimming pool?

I just took my daughter to a 5 year olds birthday party last week to a place called Pump it up in C. Lake on Pingree road and Rakow road. My daughter is almost 2 1/2 and she loved it. Basically it is a bunch of blow ups the kids can play in, they have jumpy's, slides and opsticals. I believe that my neighbor said it is $150 for 15 kids, 2 and under are free and you get 30 minutes in the first room and 30 minutes in the second room and it is additional if you want to go in the 3rd room which is for for pizza a cake but I am not sure how much. When you are in each room it is only your party so it's a good safe place where the kids can run free.

I hope this helps.

Hi C.:

Here's a neat thought that I did with my daughter for her 2nd birthday... what about a picnic party in the local park? Its cheap and fun and anything goes! You can set up different play stations for kids to go, playdough, bean bag toss, hula hoop, etc. Instead of cake and ice cream... do cookies or such! The nice thing is most of the mess stays there and is easy clean up! You might need additional adults to help out with game stations, but all should have fun.

Hi there, I would second the Bounce Town idea. We just went to a 3 year old's birthday party there and every body had so much fun. The kids could run around and slide and play. They play in one room for 40 min then get taken into another room for another 40 min of play so they don't get bored and them they get a chance to have pizza and cake and open presents for 40 in the party room. The staff do all the set-up and clean-up for you. Maybe you can take your daughter there one afternoon to play and see if she likes it. Good luck.

You could try a gymnastics place. I had my 3 year olds' party there and it worked great. It's fun for kids of all ages and they have lots of activities. You don't have to sit and wait turns since there are so many things to do. Most places have a few instructors there to help out so you're not in charge of entertaining all the kids. It's nice for the kids to be able to run around and burn off some energy.
Good luck,
S.