11 Year Old Boy Party in Oak Park Area

Indoor water parks
ESPN Zone
Dave & Busters

With 3 boys, I'm all for easy birthday parties, and have even managed to get over my initial aversion to laser tag- boys love this so much it kind of felt like I was being disrespectful to object. But that said, there are lots of other possibilities in the area. Does he like to swim? If he has a summer birthday, Forest Park has a great outdoor pool with water slides. In the winter, the Concordia pool is pretty good and cheap for parties. The River Forest Community Center also does a pretty cheap party in their gym, where the kids can choose a sport or two and there is a staff person to run the sport. We've also had good experiences with bowling, camping in the backyard, movies, or just letting the kids organize their own activity, like a baseball or soccer game, whatever is their favorite, at one of the local parks. By 11, sometimes the kids seem to prefer having just a couple of their closest friends to do something a little more extravagant, like a Cubs game.

I'm not sure what your son enjoys doing, but if you do a quick google search for birthday ideas, you should get a bunch of hits back. My 11 year old cousin just celebrated his birthday and he's a big basketball fan! His parents threw him a basketball party (i.e. they had a lot of his friends who play basketball play against their fathers)! The teams had shirts to represent which team they played on. The gym they rented is connected to a Catholic church on 99th, right off of Vincennes in the Beverly area. I don't think it cost much and they had the gym for the entire day. You should contact them. They also have a room complete with a small kitchen for you to make hotdogs, nachos, etc. Everyone enjoyed themselves!!!! All the party decorations and favors were basketball themes, which is extremely easy to find. If your son isn't a basketball fan, this idea could also work for other sports (i.e. swimming, baseball, etc). Hope this helps and good luck!

Medieval Times maybe. Laser tag is dangerous and hurtful to young boys his age.

are you going to be playing laser tag too.??? I don't think him or his friends will be ready for the army after playing. He's an 11 yr old boy let him and his friends have fun. if it was your party would you let him choose your fun to do for you . As to laser tag being dangerous and hurtful I think not > I don't think these places would be open if kids got hurt.

How about Monkey Island in Melrose Park. It's a great huge area filled inflatables where the kids can jump all day long. My daughter had a party there. There is something for everyone so I was able to invite some of my friends and their younger children too. They have party rooms you can use for I think 2 hours. They order the food from a place outside the facility so it's not nasty pizza that tastes like cardboard. One problem, there is a laser tag place next door.

You could make a scavenger hunt in the neighborhood. They are old enough to go around the block, park etc. Go in teams. have check points and prize at the end. Depending on how long you make it, it could take up a lot of time.

Is there an ice skating rink close by---my son went to a broom ball party at a local rink once. They had a great time. Think anything sports related, go to the local YMCA- they usually do parties. Keep in mind, this may be one of the last birthday party you are allowed to throw for your son. Once they hit middle school (at least in my town), it becomes uncool.

Like you I am not too keen on the Laser Tag. One reason I don't think it is worth the money. Another is the last party one of my son's went to there (for a 10 or 11th bday party) one of the kids got his front tooth knocked out completely and the tooth couldn't be found in the laser room. :(

Another party suggestion is the movie theater. There are alot of movies out or coming out that interest the boys that age. We are not near Oak Park but we have had a couple of bday parties at the Kerosotes in Niles. They have many packages. You can have the party room or choose not to. We always did. At one we had hot dogs (included in the package) and drinks. We just brought a couple of bags of chips and the cake/cupcakes. They can get popcorn for the movies. And they come throughout the movies asking the kids if they need any refills for the popcorn and/or drinks. We usually get the room before the movie and then we can lock all our belongings/gifts in the party room until after the movie.