Help Need Ideas!!

I've heard of some children giving or paying back to charity on their birthday. They create a drive and allow friends and family...sometimes the public to participate. They can collect gentle used socks, books, clothing, food, stuffed animals, etc. to some organization.
She might be a little bit young...but just a thought.

I just had 2 b-day parties in the last couple of months, which I thought were pretty cool. 1) at a farm: inflatables, pony rides, petting zoo, train rides, etc. And just brought picnic food to serve in their picnic area, followed by cupcakes. Everyone had a great time! Even the grownups called to tell me how much fun they'd had!
2) We had a Fancy Nancy party for the other ones 4th. we made ribbon skirts with flowers sewn on the end, and wands with 12 ribbons on them (used dowel rods cut in half, and hot glue gunned wooden dowel caps - super cheap, and really fun!). Also bought some necklaces and things at party city, and some foam crowns and foam glittery butterflies flowers, lasybugs, etc, to decorate them with. It was a lot fo fun, everyone got some craft time, and then got to eat dainty things in their outfits and flit abotu my moms garden (eleborate hllside garden) More low-key than the farm, but really fun!

O.K., so I am going to sound like a self promoting business owner right now, but I'm only pplugging because you did ask for unconventoinal ideas =) My husband and I run Beach Cities Krav Maga which is a Martial Arts facility! We do Birthday parties for our "Little Dragons" which are 3-5 year olds, and also for non members as well! It is such a great time, the kids get to come in and do a 45 minute class which consists of a basic techniques, then fun and games, obstacle courses as well as some fun lessons on self defense and being stranger smart. THen they get to use the party room for food and cake and presents and the Birthday Child gets to cut their cake with Mr. D's Samurai Sword! It's loads of fun so definitely check it out! Other fun parties we've done for our kids is the Ice Rink, Roller Rink, Pump it up inflatable parties, FV Bowl, Chuck E Cheese and Boomers! I know there's also a really cute Tea Party house somewhere in Santa Ana / Orange area i've been told about but I haven't been there myself! Good luck and have fun =)

Some fun birthday party ideas for this age group might be:

1) Color Me Mine: The kids get to paint their item, then you can have cake/cupcakes right at the store!

2) Movie Theatre: At Regal/Edwards theatres, you pay a per kid price, which includes the movie, popcorn/candy/soda in a kid sized snack tray, and a tour of the projection room. They then have an area where you can have your cake/ice cream and open presents.

Have a fun time!

We are having our daughter's Brithday at Whole Foods Market. There is no fee for using the room and they have a number of options. Kids can decorate cookies or cupcakes or make soft pretzels or pizza's. They prices range from $5-$8 per kid and they handle clean up! We attended the pretzel making party and all the kids aged 3-6 had a blast!

As your daughter will be 5 you might want to consider a party at "Pump it Up" or like business. They have about 5 different styles of inflatables in their business along with a party room where food can be served. Younger children really enjoy this as do the parents. Another idea is at your local YMCA. Ours offers birthday swim parties, martial arts and gymnastics. We actually have done the gymnastics party. We were allowed to bring our own music and have food. All three have a separate room for the food. Good Luck!

Any party where someone else cleans up is the best! Do an internet search of birthday party venues in your area. We have done Chuck E Cheese and Boomer's. Both good, but very difficult to get all the kids to sit down for food & gift opening. Local indoor pools often have birthday parties. So do some of the rec centers such as the YMCA may have gymnastic or pool themed parties. It's great when the party comes with a host/hostess who will entertain the children and let them know when it is time for cake, etc. They are usually late teen/early 20's "fun" people that the kids like listening to better than moms & dads. A lot of the museums also have birthday parties, such as the Ruben H. Fleet in San Diego (not sure where you are).

Roller rinks are always fun!

I may be a different sort of mom, but I think birthday parties have gotten WAY OUT OF CONTROL! I know I am not perfect nor have I always done it right, but I will tell you, in the last 6 years (my kids are 14 and 11) I have made some SIGNIFICANT changes in how I do birthdays.

When Rydel was 8, we did a "under the water" theme. We all wore our bathing suits, played out side in the sprinkler/pool, we had water fights, we blew bubbles and best of all...we ate sand and drank “sea water”. Yes SAND and sea water!! I made a graham crust, put butterscotch and chocolate pudding on top, bought some chocolate sea shells, hid pennies in the sand and voila, we ate sand. Total party price about $30. I DO NOT FEED LUNCH or other meal. This particular invite said: the party is from 1-4, please feed your little fishes before they come to play, sand and sea water will be served!

KEEP IT SIMPLE! SIMPLE IS EASY.

A sleep over with a few close friends, do their hair, nails and toes!
Make home made pizza - the kids will LOVE building their own creation.
Rent a movie or 2 - let them stay up late and have popcorn.
Do a craft that they could take home with them. My FAV? If you have a digital camera and colour printer) Take pictures of the party action. Print them about 2 or 3 each and let them make a scrap book page of the event. They can either take it home or leave it for the birthday girl to remember what her friends thought of her special day.

NO LOOT BAGS - no junk needed. I never understood why kids got a gift for coming to a party. When I host a party I do not send all my guests home with a "treat bag" why do we teach kids such a silly thing????
My girls are 14 and 10, we have NEVER done the “loot bag” thing. We do take pictures at the party of each guest with the birthday girl and then send them a hand written thank you IN THE MAIL addressed to them. Kids LOVE getting mail and it is a far better thank you than a bag full of candy.

NO JUNK FOOD - that is just my simple rule for everything.

NO PRESENTS - as the girls got older they of course wanted "more action" swimming, rock climbing, etc. So the invitations simply read this:
"Taylor Rae is 10 today, and she would LOVE for you to come rock climbing with her. The only present that she wants is your presence. Cost is $15 per climber." Parents have called me to tell me what a fabulous idea it was and said they are going to do this next year! Two things happen here. 1. The kids that want to come do, there are no limits on the numbers. And 2 - I could get my daughter something extra special for her day because I wasn't spending $100s on her "party". BTW - if you are thinking there might be parents out there who think this is"tacky", who cares! They don't have to send their kids then! Parties are for the kids. Trust me, parents would rather send $15 or $20 with their kid to pay for their activity for the day than try to find a present for a kid they don't even know!

Jamie, this party is not for you it is for your daughter...she doesn't care about "non-conventional" she cares about playing with her friends. Trust me.

B.
Family Success Coach

I think that was the year we had a pony party. A local man would bring ponies to your location or have it at his farm.

Singing/dancing party
Amusement park (Scandia does them here)
Scavenger hunt
Pirate party (more for boys, but it was FUN)

You can have a party at the skating,ice skating ring, bowling party, depending on where you live you can have it at a jumper place (where there is nothing but jumpers).Also maybe you have a John's Incredible Pizza in your area.I just took my 5 year old to play lazer tag yesterday and she loved it so maybe if there is some place in your area that offers that.

Many gyms, gymnastic centers or fitness studios can accommodate a private party. Paint your own pottery places are a lot of fun. Places that do a mini hair and makeup (for girls, nail polish, lip gloss, glitter powder) and photo, a karaoke session or both are popular. Aquariums and zoos often have sleepover options. If she's the kind of girl who's always wanting to help others, a party where they can make and/or serve food at a Ronald McDonald house, or make and donate a tied fleece blanket, or plant flowers at a park might make her feel great.

What about bowling? You don't even have to have a "party". Just 1 or 2 close friends. Then pizza and a sleep over?

The zoo is a great place to go for birthdays. Some even give 'behind the scenes' tours. Our local zoo is very 'user friendly' and has a few packages to choose from. When I price out what I actually spend on a party, it looks like a good deal.

How about an interactive museum such as a "Discovery" Museum. Various cities have these. They usually have a place where you can eat, or may be in a setting where a picnic could be held. You could also check out children's theater performances in your area and have a theater party.

How about Mani/pedi's for you and your daughter??

We have done a petting farm party where we had everyone come to a local petting farm and at the end have pizza and ice cream/cake. I know here in Milwaukee, we have a place where you can have tea parties for all her little friends, where they dress up in princess attire, get their hairs done, nails done, and have a tea party with juice and cupcakes. :) Or see if there are any farms in the area that have small ponies that are willing to let you and the little ones ride for a couple hours. :) Every littl girl loves to ride horses.

The Aquarium or treasure hunt.

Take them all to a movie.

Do you have some place they can make and take stuff such as plates, bowls, ceramic animals? Have them each choose to paint one and then have them fire it and they can take it home.

Mani or pedicures at a salon.

See if there is a salon that will charge by the hour instead of 'head' and have her fix the girls hair in an updo or curls then take the girls out for tea and desserts at any restaurant that has good food!

Check into the local grocery stores and see if they have some sort of cooking class the girls can take.

Look into 'traveling bus's' that offer gymnastics and they will come to you. We have one around here called the Tumble Bus!

Painted Earth in Temecula - invite a small group, I'd say no more then 8ish. My daughter and her friends really enjoyed it. We did it for her 6th Birthday.

Michaels craft store. Give them a budget and pick a craft with them. they will lead the crafte for for all the kids and help them put it all together. They get to clean up the mess. Depending on your store they may decorate the room for you. You can serve pizza, drinks, and cake. I am itching to do this for my little girls. Definately more of a "friends" bday than a "family" bday (which mine are right now). Have fun!

A mini spa party. Get a couple of your friends to pamper her and her friends and get them all super over the top dressed up and take them out to dinner or something so they can strut there stuff. Or make a fancy tea party at home.