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algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1751
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 9:21 am: | 
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I am having a b-day party for my son in early June at our house. Last year we just did a few kids, this year he wants a "real party". Mostly I am just going to assume the kids will run around the backyard and play, son isn't into organized games and don't want him to have to sit still. I am getting a pinata. What else? Anyone ever use The Lizard Guys? I'd like to have someone there to do something but not sure if he'd be into having to sit still for a magician or any kind of show. Balloon maker? Any great party tips? |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 470
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 9:26 am: |
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What about renting one of those big bouncy castle things.. or that ball crawl thing? (if you're planning an outdoor party be sure to have a "rain plan") |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1752
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 9:32 am: |
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I'm thinking about that. I just worry about the kids beating the hell out of each other. What's a ball crawl? The rain plan will be to have them run around inside I guess. |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 471
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 9:39 am: |
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ball crawl - one of those boxes filled with colored plastic balls - they had a big one a Chucky Cheese 20 years ago when my son was 6. As an "old mom" I would say planning a party where they "just run around" isn't a good plan. You need some kind of structure. |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1753
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:03 am: |
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I am the least structured person around. HELP.  |
eliz
Citizen
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 741
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:19 am: |
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For my daughter's 5 year old birthday we went to the Summit Arboretum and had a "Magic Carpet World Tour" by http://www.animalwonders.com
You can hire them directly and they will do at-home parties. There were kids from age 3 to age 12 at the party and they were all enthralled with the animals. They have several variations of shows but this one was very age-appropriate. |
clkelley
Citizen
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 187
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:22 am: |
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Choose a theme - some character that your son likes for example. This makes everything else fall into place. e.g. last year was a mermaid party and we did crab races, pin the crown on the mermaid, and other corny sea-themed games ...
One of the big hits of our parties has been homemade coloring books, which isn't as hard as it sounds. Disney.com has coloring pages for a lot of their characters and I just downloaded them and put them into book format, then "bound" the book together with colorful ribbon. I did this for a Tarzan party, a princess party, and a Mulan party. It was easy and an enormous success with little kids - it gives them something to do to settle down. Keep those kids busy!
Check birthdayexpress.com for some game ideas, also ideas for decorating, goodie bags, etc. Their stuff is pricey though. After looking at birthdayexpress, try orientaltrading.com for cheaper alternatives. Stuffing theme-oriented goodie bags is actually pretty fun, although generally the kids don't even notice.
PL me for some other ideas! Algebra, you know where to find me!
don't panic
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Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 201
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:22 am: |
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How about a couple of old fashioned party games like pin the tail on the donkey or musical chairs? Or, you could rent a couple of kid videos and park them in front of them with popcorn, if rains. Or you could organize a simple treasure or scavenger hunt in the yard. This works even in the rain.
One thing I learned when I was a mother of young children is to set definite times for arrival and departure. I would always tell the parents of the guests that I would bring their children home. That way, you can get them out of your house when you want to. If you wait for their parents to pick them up, you can sometimes wait a long, long time. |
clkelley
Citizen
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 188
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:24 am: |
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Lizziecat is right ... set time limits ...
Depending on the size of the crowd, also consider hiring a teenager to help you out. Last year was our biggest drop-off party yet and I would have died without my niece's help.
don't panic
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 2121
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:43 am: |
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Last year, my nephew wanted a pirate theme & a treasure hunt. So, I made up very easy clues with words and pictures ("people sit on me" with a picture of a chair & the kids ran to look under chairs in the yard for the next clue), etc. At the end was a treasure chest filled with little toys, candy, etc. My sis-in-law dumped it out in a wide circle so that all the kids could grab something.
They had fun. It engaged all the kids at once instead of having to wait turns. |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1754
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:48 am: |
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I'm thinking about the Treasure hunt -- thanks for the ideas! Greentree -- I may pick your brain about the how-to of a treasure hunt. Son isn't very good at sitting a doing crafts/coloring. I'm thinking of getting some animals there and doing a treasure hunt. Maybe musical chairs and pin-the-tail on the donkey. I'd like to get 12 or 15 kids there for the party. I'm not sure I can handle too many kids -- the idea of that gives me the heebie-jeebies! |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 2122
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 11:07 am: |
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I think 12-15 without parents invited is very brave. |
campbell29
Citizen
Username: Campbell29
Post Number: 67
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 11:14 am: |
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We had Animal Wonders come to our party for our 6 year old and it was great. She did a show called "Magic Carpet" in which the children sat on carpets and pretended to fly around the world to visit the different animals. There were about 7 animals. The children each got a turn to pet the animals and have a picture taken.
The show itself took about an hour. If you want to have a pinata, show, cake and ice cream, the party will probably last 2 hours. Trying to keep 15 5 year olds entertained for more than 2 hours will not be easy. Most parties for kids this age are 2 hours or less. |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 1024
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 11:22 am: |
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My son attended a party for a 5 yo this past summer and they had something similar to "The Lizard Guys." This guy set up a tent with tables in the backyard and on the tables were aquariums and cages with all kinds of reptiles (frogs, lizards and the like). He also had large boxes that he kept out of sight until the big show where he unveiled a large box turtle, a python, a pygmy aligator and a bunny. The kids all loved the opportunity to touch the snake and turtle. He was very entertaining although I'm sure quite a bit of the factual information went over their heads. They enjoyed it none the less and most importantly it occupied their attention for about a half hour - just enough time to set up the pizza. They then had a pinata and to top it all off they had a water slide thingy one of those wet and wild things where you run, jump and slide on it. One word of caution if you choose a slide thingy - have parents be very involved from the start. At first there was lots of chaos and kids were getting knocked over left and right. Finally a couple of us stepped up and organized the event and it became much more civilized.
Good luck. |
Wilkanoid
Citizen
Username: Cseleosida
Post Number: 130
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 12:22 pm: |
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When I still had the energy to do parties at my house (I've since become a fan of party 'outsourcing'), we did the petting zoo thing 2 years in a row. They bring farm animals and a pony and you can do pony rides.
My kids have also been to parties where they've rented a moonbounce thing -- but you have to group the kids into 2-3 groups, and call them in turn so that they don't kill each other. If you do this, an adult HAS to be at the door at all times (can't remember if the company supplied the person), and you MUST watch the door. Sometimes, kids FALL OUT if they are bouncing near the door.
Have to warn you though, with that many kids of that age, you may need a day or two to recover. Maybe you should recruit some teenagers to help out. |
ashear
Citizen
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 1086
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 10:23 am: |
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We just had a party for our 5 year old with about the same number of kids and they did just fine running around our basement so the backyard should be even easier. We did have two activities (a pinata and a batman game) but I frankly think we would have been done just as well, if not better, without them. The kids were perfectly happy playing and eating cake. That's about all my parties were when I was a kid (though with fewer guests). I frankly find this whole thing of renting lizards, moonbounces, etc for a 5 year old totally over the top, never mind "outsourcing" a party for a kid that age. We did it from 3-5 so just snacks and cake. They are just fine playing with each other, they really did not need our help to entertain them. (We told the parents they could drop off but many stayed and we had a little grownup party upstairs which was also nice.) |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1756
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 10:38 am: |
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Yup. Last year we did 5 kids with cake and running around being nuts. Son doesn't do well at organized parties -- I'm thinking about doing a pinata and a treasuer hunt in the backyard. He keeps saying he wants to invite "everybody" -- that's not going to happen! |
luv2cruise
Citizen
Username: Luv2cruise
Post Number: 170
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 10:49 am: |
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If you can handle your husband, you can handle 15 kids!
There's nothing like being on the ocean!
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Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 202
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 10:51 am: |
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We used to let each kid invite as many kids as he was years old, plus one for good luck. |
Chalmers
Citizen
Username: Chalmers
Post Number: 45
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 10:55 am: |
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I saw a nice kid's birthday party last year at Orchard Park on DeHart Street. You can get a key from the township to open the bathroom. The parents brought tablecloths, decorations and food and the kids had fun on the playground. |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1757
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 11:01 am: |
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Chalmers -- what a great idea! Hmmmm, that's a thought. |
clkelley
Citizen
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 189
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 11:09 am: |
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Two years in a row we also got a permit to have the party in Maplewood Memorial Park. It was great fun. Best part: The mess all goes in the garbage can at the park - no worry about cleaning up the house before or after.
We got the permit from the Rec Dept. - it was $10 or $20 I think.
don't panic
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sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 1034
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 11:10 am: |
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When my May daughter turned 5, thanks to a hot spell, a kiddie pool in the backyard coupled with our swingset and sandbox provided all the entertainment needed for a successful party. We just had cupcakes and juice for refreshments and opened presents at the end and that was it. Everyone had a great time. However, we also used the "age + 1" limit on number of kids. Throw in a couple of sprinklers and you can probably handle a few more. This doesn't help if it rains or turns chilly, however. |
ashear
Citizen
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 1087
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 4:39 pm: |
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By same number I meant the same number you are talking about 12-15 (I didn't count but I think that's right). |
bill671
Citizen
Username: Bill671
Post Number: 27
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 - 11:33 pm: |
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My sister in law came up with a doozie for a rain-out of the outside b-day party - An indoor "picnic at the movies"
Sheet or blanket on the floor in front of the widescreen TV with hot dogs (no condiments) juice boxes and a rented popcorn machine in the family room. Disney Movies kept the kids enthralled, when they weren't busy laughing and chatting among themselves, or playing with the adult supervised carnival style games like ring toss, bean bag toss, etc. The novelty of simplicity will probably be a thrill for them. |
Maxsdad
Citizen
Username: Maxsdad
Post Number: 48
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2004 - 4:31 pm: |
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We had a 5 year old party at DeHart Park and rented their rec room (this is about 10 years ago so don't know how much that would be now). We asked everyone to bring their bikes and had lots of different decorations for decorating their bikes. Also had a name plate for each kid to draw on/glitter and then attach to their bike. Everyone then went on a parade ride around the park, riding their bikes and making lots of noise. There was a baseball game going on that day and everyone cheered as the kids rode by. The kids loved it! Definitely the best party we ever had. Most of the parents stayed and socialized in the rec room where we had grownup snacks. Cake and ice cream finished the day. |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2643
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 27, 2004 - 3:07 pm: |
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Make your own ice cream sundae is a fun idea for a 5 year old birthday party. 3 flavors of ice cream, three topping sauces, cherries, and various additions such as chocolate bits, chopped nuts, sprinkles, bits of fruit, etc., and of course cans of whipped cream. Add a birthday cake or cup cakes and that should be plenty for an afternoon party.
I agree with the people who suggested some form of structure by which I mean having a plan in advance of what you want the kids be doing at any particular time: kids arrive, kids play in the yard, kids, eat, birthday child opens presents, etc. It is also a good idea to ask one or two of the parents you are especially close with to stay and help. |
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