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Message |
    
algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 4059
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 9:38 am: | 
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backyard b-day ideas? Son wants to do a treasure hunt but my concern is keeping a bunch of kids entertained for an hour or two without breaking the bank. I want to have the ice cream truck stop by -- anyone know how to contact one? What else could I do to keep them entertained (cheaply)? |
campbell29
Citizen
Username: Campbell29
Post Number: 420
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 9:49 am: |
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Last year at a summer party - we had a water balloon fight for the kids. It started out as a variation on the egg toss game and quickly degenerated into 20 soaked shrieking little girls having a great time.
You can also get equipment for yard games at Target (like croquet, badmitton) divide the kids into teams,create events for them to do, rotate them througout the events and do a "decatholon" event where each team earns points. Should keep them busy for about 2 hours. |
Kibbegirl
Citizen
Username: Kibbegirl
Post Number: 529
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 10:10 am: |
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Relay races, water gun combat, face painting and hip-hop musical chairs are always a hit with our boys. Unfortunately, they're winter babies, so we don't get to do much of this but this is what they love to do! |
Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 3032
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 11:04 am: |
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Hookers & Booze!, oh yeah, you said 7 year old.
One thing I've come to to realize, some parents suck, with their constant need to one up, or to try to please the kids to no end with parties that cost a bundle, with hired this and hired that.
Then your kid wants a party just like that, or most likely wants one that is better.
campbell29 & Kibblegirl have it right, I think most kids end up just liking having fun, even if it is something simple.
A treasure hunt sounds fun, if you have a couple of neighbors who would let you hide clues on their property, that would be cool, or perhaps renting out the room at DeHart Park for all of this.
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algebra2
Supporter
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 4061
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 11:33 am: |
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We've always done simple backyard parties -- June b-days are good for that. Last year we did a magician who was GREAT!! But that is pricey -- $300 for an hour. It was great that the kids were calm and sucked in to his show. |
fiche
Citizen
Username: Fiche
Post Number: 133
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 11:38 am: |
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Home made carnival game, like toss the ball through the hoop, clothespin drop, bean bag toss. I have done this many times and the kids all love it. I give the tickets for each win and let them trade the tickets in at the end for the goody bag treats. Really they don't wind up with any more than they would have if I just gave them the goody bags, but they love it. |
Popo
Citizen
Username: Popo
Post Number: 66
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 11:57 am: |
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Check out http://birthdaypartyideas.com/html/party_ideas.html. |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 3079
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 12:39 pm: |
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Alg, we are renting out Orchard Park (actually it isn't really renting out as other kids can still play there) for an upcoming bday. There is a big field there that would be cool for a treasure hunt. Plus the playground is there for when the treasure hunt is over. It is really cheap, like $10 an hour I think. |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 5558
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 12:39 pm: |
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sponge relays...two buckets, a big sponge, water, two lines of kids
mummy race....two or more kids per team, one roll of toilet paper per team
lifesaver relays...a box of toothpicks, a pack of lifesavers, two lines of kids
clothes races...two boxes of adult clothing, two lines of kids
balloon dart toss...a wooden board, filled and taped balloons, a few darts
ping pong toss...a board or piece of cardboard with plastic drinking cups glued on, a few pingpong balls
some variation of pin the tail on the donkey
Kiddie Fear Factor...amazing what interesting stuff you can get from an Asian market and what fun kids have trying to decide whether or not to eat it.
treasure hunts are a blast, and the kids really remember them, but they dont take up as much time as you would think when you have a pack of kids figuring out the clues together. |
Seagull
Citizen
Username: Seagull
Post Number: 89
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 12:53 pm: |
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If your son likes the treasure hunt idea, maybe make it a pirate theme.
You could also get some big cardboard boxes to make "ships" and have races with them (cutting out the bottom for their feet, they hold the box up around them) |
The Party Maniac
Citizen
Username: Brucey
Post Number: 7
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 6:54 pm: |
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My DJ Business The Party Maniac Does alot of birthday parties like this. We do any type of theme, we have all kinds of music for this age, and a whole lot of games that we play. We are also very reasonably priced.
My e-mail is partymaniac@gmail.com
You should definitly e-mail me for some ideas and prices.
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Monster©
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 3040
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 9:40 pm: |
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go to the bank and buy a roll of Sacagawea dollars for the treasure. |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 708
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 10:07 pm: |
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We had a two year birthday during the winter and an invite list based on the *PARENTS* friends. The consequence was that we had parents who brought kids of ALL ages. I went to "The Rag Shop" near Essex Green but past Pals Cabin across Eagle Rock.
You can buy anything there, but cheap. We got white T-shirts and tons of iron ons and fabric markers for the older kids to "make their own T-shirts." We got jewelry making kits, "for the girls" no matter how gender neutral you are, that's who makes jewelry. We had a "scavanger hunt" printed out that we never used. We got stickers that you could use to decorate a picture book with pictures from a digital camera with photo printer, or (old school) a Polaroid. Colored construction paper and tape, in lieu of "picture books." And we had these ridiculous gift bags (Mrs. J.B.'s idea) with a toy and a game and stickers and earmuffs (Amazing Savings) in them.
I walked out of The Rag Shop feeling like I"d over spent when it rang up to $100 plus. But compared to a magician, forget it. The party was a success, and we had left over stuff that we donated to Overlook Hospital for the sickies and we felt great!
Long story short: Serve Bloody Marys for the parents.
J.B. |
shestheone
Citizen
Username: Shestheone
Post Number: 269
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 4, 2006 - 11:15 pm: |
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monster....make...it....stop...it...hurts...my...eyes!!!!!!!!!! |
Virtual It Girl
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 4370
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, May 5, 2006 - 6:05 am: |
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Come up with a basic theme and tailor games and activities to fit. I like to have something simple for the kids to do while all the guests arrive.
Instead of the ice cream truck, let the kids make their own sundaes— get a few half gallons (or dixie cups, that's what I did for the 4 year olds). Crush up some cookies, get sprinkles and chocolate syrup and whatever else and either set it out for them to do themselves or have a helper and help them top their own sundaes. MAke supcakes or big cookies intead of cake and don't worry about cutting.
Come up with a simple craft project (or buy a kit) and have them make something to go with the theme.
If you do a scavenger hunt and a pirate theme, you can order accessrories like eye patches, bandanas or whetever they wear and even do face painting.
There are tons of ideas online that should help you. Just google it. I really think the most important thing is to have a theme. It helps make the party more cohesive. I'm not into the whole packaged thing where everything matches, but once you have a theme you can more easily go from there. |
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