Birthday Party for My Son Who Is Turning 3!! :) - Aurora,IL

Age 3 is, in my opinion, too young for a party at "A Kid's Kitchen." I know it SAYS age 3 as the youngest age allowed, but I think you're way overestimating the attention span and patience of a group of three year olds.

3 year olds want to run, scream, climb and play. Parents want to take their kids to parties where they get worn out. So go where they can do that.

3 year old just want to run around and play. I would not do anything that requires too much following of directions. The best 3 year old parties I have seen were:
At someone's house. They made paper airplanes, threw them and ran around. They played with clay. They were just insanely happy all running around together throwing their airplanes!
At a small indoor play area...just running around, running through the tubes, jumping in the balls.
At this indoor gym (maybe a YMCA does this kind of thing). They had balls, tricycles, and other sporty things. The kids just ran around in that big open space and had a blast.
At a pool is a huge hit with the kids. But each kid needs their parent to be with them and take them in the water. It's kind of a pain for the adults, but the kids sure love it.
At a gymnastics place. Their is this big gymnastics place here that throws the best kid parties. My daughter loves going there.

I have never even heard of that place. I think the party sounds like fun. However you might want to consider that children of that age have attention spans of approximately 15 mins. Whatever you plan make it short unless you are somewhere they can move and use the energy that 3 year olds are full of. There is a reason bounce houses and trampoline places are geared to that age lol

3 year olds just want to play. They don't care about "activity" stuff. You could go to a McDonalds play place at an off time (like 1-3) and just have cake.

At three your best bet is home and simple. They just don't have the attention span for Kids Kitchen or anything like that. They just want to play and have cake and ice cream. Don't waste your money.

I don't know your area, but I do know that 95% of parties for kids under 5 are really doomed if there is too much structure and too much attention required. Kids that age don't understand birthdays (the birthday child doesn't get it, and the guests don't understand why they don't get presents and have to sit and watch someone else get everything). They don't like big groups, and barely have any experience even in preschool with a skilled teacher. Even in preschool, each "station" or activity lasts 15 minutes at most. Most kids do much much better at a small, free-play home party that lasts 90 minutes at most. Free play, small art activity (very simple and open to individual wishes - maybe sticking some feathers and goggly eyes on a piece of poster board, or foam shapes on a foam picture frame), then snack (or birthday cake/cupcakes with singing of "Happy Birthday"), then more play, then go home. You can have the birthday child open 2-3 gifts tops from 2-3 friends, and give the friends a party favor or goody bag. That's it - they're done. Anything more than that becomes so frustrating for the parent, the guests and the birthday child. They don't play games well, don't understand rules, don't like to wait in line for their turn, and so on. They certainly don't understand themes and decorations, and they don't care. If you can have them run around outside or in a large finished basement, that's a bonus.

If you really don't want it at your house, then find a restaurant that will let you give the kids whatever they want and run around - there's not much in that category except McDonald's and similar fast food places, which is a problem. Maybe you can rent out a small section of a church hall or other community place like the Y. You provide the food and clean-up, and pay a small fee for the space and the existing toys.

I'm not sure why this place you have picked out is not calling you back. Maybe they aren't in business? Maybe they just don't do parties with such a young crowd? Maybe you should save a cooking program for when your son is 6 or so?

All I know from everyone on Mamapedia is that younger kids do best in small settings with limited expectations from the grown-ups, in a short party where they don't have to stay for too long. You can have 1 or 2 friends stay with you unless you have all the parents stay, but even so, you have to make sure they don't all come with the other siblings, because that spells "chaos"!!

I think 3 is too young to get in a cooking class. I believe the youngest for A kids kitchen is 7.

Luigis lets kids make personal pizzas ###-###-####, since you only have 7, they might let you do it.

Try Panera Bread, they have kids classes~not quite as nice as A Kids, but again, the age is probably going to be a problem.

Studio 60 in Oswego has painting class parties

How about a swim party at Vaughan. Also contact the Fox Valley Park District for parties, I know they have tumble time parties. They also have some fun classes that are just for anyone to register, so maybe you can look into a class that is already on their roster

Take a look at Color me mine or Painted Penguin too

I have never heard of A Kids Kitchen. My suggestions: 1) DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville; 2) Park District-check with your local one for availability, prices, etc.

My Gym is awesome! The instructors are great with the kids and keep them engaged in fun, age appropriate activities the entire time.

Call some local pizza restaurants, or caterers, see if they have kitchens big enough to have a cooking party or the like. Rent a kitchen and add your own ideas, main course and dessert. Even a bakery with established bake shop might be open to opening their kitchen up for a party.

I think that the Whole Foods on 75th St in Naperville offers kids' cooking parties.

I cannot imagine 3 year olds being able to spend much time actually cooking. At this age they like to be active. Running, climbing etc..

I can imagine them icing and then putting candy on top of cupcakes. or cookies. Or decorating pizzas. for a few minutes,

Maybe you could make or purchase cupcakes and bowls of icing in different colors for them to decorate. Maybe have them paint aprons..

At this age, they are going to still need adult help, so make sure you have enough people there to assist. Warn parents their kids will want to wear clothing they do not mind getting icing on..

Once at a wedding I had a long coffee table that the kids used to do crafts on.. And then we had them build sundaes on it. It was a great height for this.