This is a sponsored guest post.
Planning your child’s birthday party can be fun, stressful, or most likely a combination of the two. You want your child to have the time of their life, which can lead you to place a lot of pressure upon yourself to deliver something amazing. This pressure is often amplified when your child goes to another kid’s birthday party, and it is over the top.
Whether you are trying to outshine rival parents or looking for simple ideas to give your child a memorable time on a budget, here are some great ideas to keep in mind for your kid’s next birthday.
Entertainment Center
An entertainment center is a classic birthday party idea that comes with some more modern options. Chuck E. Cheese has been a top choice for kids’ birthday parties for decades. While it has always had challengers in different local markets, it has held strong. In recent years, though, one of the most popular venue types have been trampoline parks, which have been popping up like crazy all over the country.
Other entertainment center options include laser tag facilities, arcades, and bowling alleys. For older kids, a paintball course might be worth considering. One thing to keep in mind when throwing a child’s birthday party in one of these types of venues is that the facility may require you to purchase special event insurance. That way, they are protected in case one of the kids in your group gets injured.
Pool Party
Always a great option for a party. When working on a budget, you can have the party during a time when the pool is open to the public. If wanting a more controlled environment and you have the financial means, you can rent out a pool for the duration of the party. Of course, if you have your own party, you won’t have to spend much on the party at all.
It is a good courtesy to check with the parents of your children’s friends before going with the pool party idea so that you can make sure all of the potential guests know how to swim.
However, whether they know swimming or not, an essential thing for kids’ pool party is safety. There are many tips to provide it, such as rescue tubes, safety jackets, armbands, rings and other kinds of floats. They provide both safety and colors to the party. You can fill the pool with floats of different sizes and shapes so that anyone could have one. You can even match them to your party theme. In case you can’t find the needed size and themed float, you can opt for custom floats for swimming pools which can be of any design you want.
Craft Party
A craft party can be cost-effective and provide the kids with fun activities where they can make items that can double as party favors. The only real downside of a craft party is that it can result in a bit of a mess, especially if there is glitter involved.
Lego Party
A classic party idea that never gets old. If your kid likes Legos enough to have a Lego party, then you probably have enough at your home to keep the kids entertained for hours. A Lego party can also make it easy to decide on party favors as you can get each kid a mini Lego set.
DIY
If you are crafty, you can save a lot on things like decorations and cake. You can also feel free to enlist the help of friends and family if they have more advanced skills. These items are often quite overpriced, and creating an alternative can leave you with more money for other parts of the party.
Characters
Theme parties are a great way to take your child’s party to the next level. If you can have their favorite character show up, all the better. Hiring someone to come to your kid’s birthday party in a Spongebob Squarepants outfit might be a bit over your budget. However, renting a costume and dressing up yourself will be a bit more affordable.
Pony Rides
Hiring a pony for the day can be a great way to ensure that the other kids don’t forget about your child’s birthday party anytime soon.
Free Games
Trying to keep older kids entertained can be a difficult challenge. With younger children, on the other hand, easy entertainment is always at hand. Plan out a list of free games for the kids to play at the party, and they can stay engaged while not costing you a penny. Timeless games like ‘Duck, duck goose”, “Simon says”, “Red light, green light”, and “Hot potato” are all still quite popular and will help keep the party going and everyone having fun.
Bonus Idea: Foam Parties!
A foam party for kids is a great alternative to a pool party! At a foam party a giant foam cannon fills an area up to 6 feet deep in clean and refreshing foam. Once the area is filled some family friendly music is played, beach balls are thrown in and everyone has an epic dance party!
The crazy amounts of foam create some of the most unique photo opportunities! A foam party will definitely be one of the most interactive and talked about parties you will ever experience.
No matter what your budget is, the important thing is that your child has a good birthday party. You will quickly realize with younger kids, that the grander party ideas are likely more for you than they are for them. They can have a great time playing in the house with their friends and eating pizza and cake.
