Birthday Party Idea

Hi T.,

I have a few ideas that might help you with your daughter's birthday party. If you're looking for something to do indoors, you can always host your own theme party at home. I had recently gone to my niece's (5 yrs old) and she had a Jungle Safari theme. My sister bought all the party supplies and favors (like animal masks, theme cups/plates, games, favors, etc...from www.orientaltradingcompany.com - at cheap prices also!)...the kids, including my 4-yr old son had a blast!

But if hosting your party is not the route you want to take, you can choose to hold your party at The Little Gym (www.thelittlegym.com) or at the Children's Discovery Museum. Also, the weather shouldn't be too bad around March to hold a bday party at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo...my son's favorite place...and according to www.yelp.com it is also a favorite for parents and kids alike.

Hope that helps you out somewhat. Good luck with the party planning!

G.

Hi T.. How about a cooking party?

I own a catering and private cooking lesson company called Blue Sage. I have been a cooking instructor for almost 10 years and have done a bunch of cooking parties for kids' birthdays. In fact, I am doing one tomorrow for a bunch of 8-year olds. They are doing pizza and cupcakes. If you are interested, we can come up with a more suitable menu for your daughter. Maybe a mother-daughter tea party?

Another idea for your daughter's birthday party---I know someone who will come to your house, dressed as any princess you want and will sing, read a book to the kids, and even do a little play with them. She came to my daughter's 4th birthday party and I am thinking of using her again this year for her 6th. She is awesome!!! Let me know if you are interested and I will give you her info.

I also noticed from your bio that you are learning to cook. If you are interested in taking lessons, please check out my website at www.bluesageexperience.com. I can also be reached through my website.

Hi T.,

I'm assuming since you mentioned Pump It Up that you're down on the peninsula. Junior Gym on B Street in San Mateo is great. Also we've been to some fun parties at Peninsula Gymnastics in San Mateo and San Mateo Gymnastics in Belmont. If you don't mind price, there's Safari Run in San Mateo - it's a great time. You can also go to Build a Bear in Hillsdale Mall..
Otherwise, if you don't mind doing it at home, they have those Travelling Bear companies (make a bear, like Build a Bear) or you could bring a face painter, balloon guy, there's a lady who brings dress up clothes to your house.
Bay Area Parent is an amazing resource as well for ideas.
I hope that helps.

There is a new place which I believe is called the Little Chef Academy (could be wrong on name). It is in Sunnyvale, on Fremont Ave, with Mary being the nearest cross street. It is in right near the popular Country Gourmet restaurant. My daughter went to a party there and really enjoyed it. Good luck!

We went to this place recently for a party....it's for kids of all ages. It's called Circuits, and it's in Alameda! They had a bouncy house, a bouncy obstacle course. Legos. Smart Cycle. The idea of the place is to keep the kids exercising...with fun things. It was really laid back, and just lots of fun. You might want to check them out! My son is 3, and he asked for 2 days to go back there. The kids that were there ranged from 3 on up to teenagers, and everyone, including the adults, had fun!

I have a few friends who have daughters your daughter's age & here are a few things they ahve done: Princess party where everyone comes dressed in princess clothes, they've also had the clothes & made it a dress-up party. A tea party where all the girls come in fancy clohtes & have little sandwiches & tea. Or if she's into being crafty, try a local pottery studio where the kids paint the pottery & then pick it up a few days later. Most studios have party packages. Also try your local park & rec as they may offer party packages using their community centers. We are members of the Berkeley Y & our older son has had 2 parties there: one in kindergym & the other in the pool. You don't have to be a member to use their facilities. And isn't here a discovery museum down your way? You could try them, too. Good luck & hope this helps.

Check out Kindermusik's website for a teacher near you. We go to classes once a week and love our teacher. Our teacher also does birthday parties--traveling to your house complete with many instruments, to perform for 45 minutes. She has performed at both of my daughter's bday parties and it is a huge hit with all ages.

I gave my daughter an old fashion birthday party for her 5th birthday. We made ice cream in ziploc baggies, pin the tail on the donkey, scoop up the cottonballs while blindfolded. You know....all the things we did as kids. It was 2 hours long.....you could end it in 1.5 hours. You don't want to start overdone parties to early in life. Where do you go from there? by the way, my daughter is now 12 years old. She still talks about that party.

Hi T. -

I understand your dilemma about needing and infoor location. We just had a party for one of our girsls amongst the rain in the Sunnyvale, CA area.

I'm not sure where you are located, but if you are in the South Bay area in California, I would recommend the Discovery museum in San jose and better yet, The Jungle. The Discovery Museum has tons of activities, but I think it's too big of a place to keep kids together. The Jungle (www.thejunglefun.com) is nice because it's smaller and has crawler, toddler and adolescent areas. You can always do a simple old-fashioned party with games at home. We just did that this past weekend and the kids loved it. They especially loved the Play-doh activity table. Each child was able to take two Play-doh containers home as a gift! Good luck!

I too am looking for ideas besides chuck e. cheese. I am visiting Jack something pizza today in roseville. I will let you know when I come back what I think. Also there are alot of idea in the parents magazine that you get free at some stores as you walk out.

My now grown son has a March birthday and on year I had it at McDonalds. Check that at. There is also bumper bowling at the bowling alley.

Good luck

Hi T.,
There are many fun alternatives to the Bounce House places. If you live in the Sacramento area, here are some ideas:
-Kidzart comes to your home and does an art project
-Olivia's dollhouse on Fair Oaks Blvd provides dress-up time, makeup, and a tea party
-Sacramento Zoo, Fairy Tale Town, Thunderland
-The Nut Tree (a bit of a drive, but the parties are fabulous!)
-Puppet Theatre comes to your house and then the kids can make puppets after as their craft
-Young Chef's Academy in Elk Grove (fun! my daugher made pizzas)
-Tim the Piano Man (plays at Pottery Barn Kids but comes to your home- they have his info)
-Tricks Gymnastics (Princess Party- darling!)
-Fancy Nancy Party at home (based on the book-if you don't have it, it is a must have for a 4 yr old girl- everything just has to be fancy)
-Libby Loo (in the mall)
-Build a Bear (in the mall)
-thestickerfairy.com comes to your home and the kids make pictures with stickers
-Burrs/Gunthers/Leatherbys Ice Cream party
I hope these ideas help!

Four year old girls are very easy to please. It depends on how many children you will invite. If you are able to have it in your home, little girls love games and crafts. Pick a theme, and then have the decorations, cake, etc. match that theme. Play maybe three simple games, like Telephone, Pin the Tail on the Donkey, or Hot Potato. Have prizes for everyone. Craft stores often have kits, like decorating simple little purses. Those purses then become the "goodie bag" that you can put candy, etc. in for the girls to take home. (until my daughter was a teen I always had all-girl parties). By the time you do all these things, open gifts and have cake and ice cream, 2-3 hours have gone by. Hope this helps.

If you are looking for fun "party favors" check out our website at www.announceitevents.com, they are "personalized" candy bars for birthdays, showers, weddings, you name it..with many designs to choose from..we can use regular size candy bars or mini's.

Good Luck!

Hi T.,

I have a party planning business called "Heaven Sent Party Planners".

I would suggest a dress up tea party with all the trimmings. You could have it at home for more comfort....and it's cheaper too.

If you need more info, please feel free to email me directly at heavensent-partyplanners.com

Thanks,
E.

Is your daughter into Dora and Diego at all? If so you can have a discover party type thing where they go in search, inside or outside your house, for things like in the episodes. Each child would receive (as part of their party favor) a pair of binoculars (made out of 2 toilet paper rolls stuck together and tied with string so they can hang from their necks. you can decorate them with stickers, or let the kids decorate them with crayons or pens or whatever before going on the hunt) You could even just print pictures of characters from the show and tape them up around your house and have that be what they are searching for! At the end, make sure you ask them what their favorite part of the hunt was, and their prizes for successfully completing it are their goody bags, and while they look at those, your daughter can be opening her own presents. (I like giving goody bags to the kids RIGHT before the birthday girl/boy opens their own presents. seems to keep the other kids occupied for a bit and not in the birthday person's face while opening.)

hope this helps!

Hi my daughter turned 4 a few months ago and I dont know what a Pump it up party is but all we did was rent a small bouncy house from California Kids Jump and had 5 friends over and they bounced the whole time except for cake time. It was easy fun and she is still talking about it. They come and set it up and take it down. Very fun, very easy. good luck.

Hi,

Two years ago I had to quit my Preschool teaching job of 14 years to stay home. I started a great "make your own stuffed animal" and Glamor Girl" workshop buisness. I travel to you! The best part is kids will have a wonderful time creating their stuff animal, as well as art projects...and your home will stay in one piece!For more info. please email me. Good Luck!

Hi T.,

You could have a make-up party. I did one for my daughter at that age, and had little boys too. They did camo make-up, or clown and the little girls did real looks. I had little stations set up, used one of those cheap door mirrors and put it sideways on a long table and had little, cheap make-up stuff, and hair too, at each station. They had a ball. Lots of baby wipes are important to have around too. They also cleaned up and then did each other. We took digital photos and had them ready for the parents when they arrived to pick the child up. The baggies consisted of cammo stuff for the boys, and $ store make-up kits and hair stuff for the girls. Fun!

V. T.

Hi T.,

I live in Martinez, and there are a bunch of indoor things to do out here. Not sure where you're at.

Our friend did her daughter's bday party at Liberty Gymnastics. The kids LOVED it. They had very structured play time on the gym floor and then cake and goodies upstairs at the end. I'm sure all the other gymnasitcs places offer something similar.

My daughter takes classes at In Motion Dance here in Martinez. They also do birthday parties. The kids have loads of fun with that too. It's the same idea, where the kids are entertained and then have cake and goodies at the end. Check out some dance studios near you.

If you are local, there is a place called Kids n Dance. They have locations in Lafayette and Oakland. They do birthday parties on location OR they will also come to your house and do a party there. They are really great. They have different themes and the kids dress up and sing and dance.

Did you consider the Sacramento Zoo ? Or fairytale town next door?....I have never held a party there but it seems to me that would be perfect for 4 year olds. Kids that age love animals & I think they do offer a package???
Hope this suggestion helps......

At that age, whatever you do, simple is best. If you live near a park or anyplace with water, you could arrange a group outing (with other parents invited- vital at that age) with either food served there or back at home afterwards (This may be naive of me; I live in California; going outside may be a joke where you live!) If the weather is inclement, one simple game I set up successfully for a kindergarten birthday was to take as many skeins of wool as I had guests, a different color for each (and by the way, you'll want to keep it to a smallish group). Before the party, I wove a big, loose, multicolored 'web' with the skeins, and then gave the ends to the children to wind up their wool- it was fun to watch. Of course the children would have to be able to roll up wool; possibly a bit much if they're on the young side of four. Other possibilities: have old shirts and newspaper for protection and set up fingerpaining with non-toxic paints Have fun!- Ruth

For my daughter's 5th birthday. She invited 3 of her cousins to come spend the day with her. We had a make over party. I took them to my hairdresser and had all their hairs done then the nail lady there did the toes and nails. after that we went and had there picture done at a photo place and had icecream at Mcdonald's. the girls had a blast and keep asking when we can do this again. It actually was very reasonable. I probably spent $200.00 for everything that is including lunch @ McDonalds and I bought all them matching shirts for the picture and that is a great memory for her.

Hi T.,

Birthdays can be both fun and stressful that is for sure. I am not a big fan of pump it up. They had some of their bounce houses at my kids end of year baseball picnic. We heard some of their employees (the ones that seem to be in charge) saying the F work and the D word. There were over 300 kids in that league there. Very frustrating.

I highly recommend these two places:

Kids Party Central
www.kidspartycentral.com
It is under new ownership now, and a local Momma owns it. They have stuff a bear animals and outfits there and they are $10 per animal, and I believe $5 per outfit. Very inexpensive. They have a ton of bounce houses, a rock wall, and even some areas for babies and toddlers specifically. It is great for all ages.

My Gym
www.my-gym.com/santarosa
This is a franchise owned by a dedicated local Mom. It is an indoor gym, and it is great for your daughters age.

Either of these are great IMHO, and both with have the kids all tuckered out by the time they go home. Lots of physical play!

If you decide to use either of these tell them T. from The Parent Pack referred you!

Enjoy it!

T.

Hi T.,
I have no idea what Pump It Up is, but if it's not like My Gym, then I add my vote for My Gym to those already posted. They do a great job with birthday parties and make it very easy on the parents. Many kids in my son's preschool class have had parties there, but they all have fun each time and do not seem to tire of it. I think the parents might, but the kids don't. Also, if there are paint your own pottery places near you, that could be fun. There are a few other types of art-themed children's places here in SF; maybe here are soem closer to you, too. Good luck and have fun! I'm sure your daughter and her friends will have fun no matter what.
K.

A dress-up tea party!

Hi T..

I have a Mama owned business in Palo Alto. It's called Opal'z. It's the soap making place. 4 is a little young for that but 3 year olds do love making soap, I just keep it simple and maybe make 2 soaps. But we can also do a spa party or a tea party. Also great for you and your older daughter. I carry natural mineral make-up and am going to start monthly teen skin care classes at the end of the month. Come check us out sometime!

I am having my daughters (turning 5 and just turned 3) party at "Little Miss Everything" it is where the girls invite their girlfirneds and have a pamper day...they dress up as princesses and get their hair and makeup done and sing kareoke on a stage....there are also places that set things up like this in your home. I thought it was a great ideas...all little girls like being princesses for the day!

There should still be snow in March - a snow park might be fun. Some charge by the car load rather than the individual and some are even free.

I was recently looking for party themes and came accross a teddy bear theme. I found some websites with cake and cupcake ideas, thought about getting some boxes for bear dens, stuffing unstuffed teddy's for fun, getting bear head balloons, and putting gummy bears and teddy grahams for gift bags.

how about a ice cream social party at your house. or my girlfriend just threw a party at habitot-it is in berkely. the kids loved it they could touch any thing in there. At first i was unsure of the place and then saw how much fun my daughter who is 18 months was having. ages at the party were from 1 to 6 years old. And they can touch every thing in there. had areas of interest for all ages. the cost was $6 for adults and $7 for kids. we were there for about 3 hours i think the kids could of kept going but the adults were done. we then went back to her house for cake and pizza, but there is a room you can use there for b-day party. good luck.

T.,
I'm not sure where you're located, but I own Jump-2-It! in Hollister, CA.
I have a "member perk" where you get 10% off any party package if you mention MamaSource when booking your party.
We're an all indoor facility - check us out at www.jump-2-it.com
Good luck with your party planning! Maybe if you post what area you live in, people will be able to help you with more specific advice?

Perhaps you could make pizza dough, flatten out some little 4 inch dough discs and have the children paint on the sauce and choose their toppings. While they are baking you could get your guitar or ukelele playing friend to entertain the kids (and keep them away from the oven door) with sing-a-long songs like Itsy Bitsy Spider and 'Put Another Candle on Your Birthday Cake' by Sheriff John.
You could also put one or two pieces of a floor puzzle into each child's goody bag, and see if they compare notes and figure out what they have. I recommend 99 cents Only Stores for said goody bags. (the 'Only' is important) A $twenty dollar shopping spree there makes you feel like a million bucks.

My son is turning 4 this month and we hired "Twistyman" to come to our house. He is a balloon artist, plays games with the kids, does magic, etc. He was highly recommended.

You could make cupcakes and have all the sprinkles, candies and let them decorate their own cupcake. Or have ice cream and all the different topping and let them make their own sundaes with adult supervision. Another idea would be a "movie" party. Put on a kid-safe DVD and have popcorn, pizza, veggie/fruit platter and watch the movie. Have a great party!!! K. San Leandro

I did a princess tea party for my 3-year old with 3 other friends. My rule of thumb is the number of friends invited equals the number of years celebrated (until they are 5, then the rules change to invite one friend to go to a theme park for the whole day). I baked a princess cake (Pampered chef has an easy recipe, using a barbie-size doll to stick into the cake). Then I bought tiaras and costume jewelry for each guest and birthday girl to wear during their tea party. We had cheese and pbj's and juice boxes and carrot sticks. My daughter still talks about it. I spent less than $75 for the whole thing. Hope this helps. Good luck on planning.