I need help...and quick. My daughter turns 8 on 3/5 and i haven't come up with a party idea. I am very pregnant and would like it fairly low maintenance! I don't have a lot of $$ to spend (really i don't have much of anything to spend), but i want to do something special for her. I feel like she hasn't gotten much of my attention lately, and i want her to know that she still means the world to me, as do each one of her b-days!! We had a painted penguin party last year and that worked out nice. I thought about the jumpy places??? No sleepovers!!! I can't handle the stress of more than 2 needy kids in my house at the moment. (plus we just moved into my in-laws old house and there are boxes upon boxes...and no room for extra bodies). I'm running outta time. I want to have the party before baby #3 (4 counting my step-daughter) comes to town! Thank you to anyone with suggestions!!!!
I second the movie idea with just a couple friends. The Jonas Brothers movie is coming out soon.
But, I wouldn't want to sit through a movie at 9 months pregnant...
Does your daughter want a party with a lot of kids or just one special one? we always let the kids choose. if its a lot of kids it was in the back yard. If one special friend we did a little more. But the one my daughter raves about was the year we went to the beauty school on 34 in oswego. the little girls got mini manicures (painted fingernails) and updo's (pretty much curly ponytails. we did makeup and made princess hats at home. then had lunch. girls went home after cake. total cost was maybe $50 for 5 little girls. she loved it and we took photos of each girl getting done up and sent them with the thank you notes. we found she had a lot more fun with smaller groups. to many kids makes for very anxious parties.
I second asking your daughter what she would like. She is at the age where she can really feel part of everything when she has some say. A pizza and matinee could be just the ticket if she wants to do a small party. If you are looking for something to invite family as well, have cake and coffee/juice at your house afterwards or somehting along those lines.
to save on costs, why don't you let your daughter pick 2 friends to go to the movies and to lunch. You can do a matinee and either find a coupon for a rest. or go to a place where kids eat free.
you could also allow her to have a home party and you and one pther adult can paint nails and toes. you can serve pizza and then they can go home. 2 hours tops.
good luck and happy birthday to your daughter.
Do you know any great teen-agers, in the neighborhood, who can help with the party planning? It sounds like indoor parties are not an option at the moment - if they are an option at your current home, here are a couple themes. The teens can help with the various stations:
- Spa day: Talk to neighbors and friends and see if you can borrow a Paraffin hand waxing, massage pad for chair, there can be a tattoo section, finger nail painting, little appetizers, play "the present game", they can still do a craft at that age. Even getting someone that is good with styling hair could be great fun. Throw a karaoke player in there and you've killed an easy three hours.
- Scavenger hunt: I made up a great list and my kids have played this a few times. Just Personal Message me if you want it.
- Sleepless sleepover/pajama party - come dressed in PJ's. Have it from 6 - 9pm on a Friday night. Make your own little pizzas, play a few fun games, maybe do a craft.
Otherwise, locate a local pizzeria in your area and have an afternoon Pizza party (no clean-up). Some places have nice little back rooms that they will allow you to use or rent for a small fee if you guarantee x-number of people. There are some good games that you can play with the kids while keeping them seated, like a good trivia game or "memory/tray game" (show the kids 20 - 30 items on a tray. They observe it for a minute - then you take the tray away and they make their list of what was on it.
At any party, you can always play the "who am I?" game. Each person has a "name" of someone on their back ) we always play "who am I - Disney Characters". You can ONLY ask three yes/no questions to each person and the first person to figure out who they are, wins. Cute game. Kids like it.
And.... last... .there is ALWAYS Bingo and Pictionary to fall back on (and... again... Karaoke, but with 8 year old girls - save it for the last 30-60 minutes of the party!)
Good luck.
Bowling, or take a few (2 or 3) friends to the movies...that's all I can think of.
Well why not bowling? I work in a bowling center and we do birthday parties all the time. How much you looking to spend? How many kids? Our cost is $13.99 per child which includes 90 minutes of bowling, shoe rental, 2 slices of cheese pizza per child, a pitcher of soda, 8 game room tokens, free game of bowling to use at a later date along with a balloon bouquet, and a gift for the birthday child. Deposit is $25 per lane (5 kids per lane) and that deposit comes off the total at the end. We supply you with everything but the cake!! I can give you 10% off your party as well. Or if you just want to try your luck and come in one day and pay regualar pricing depending on your availability to what days and times you have. Email me and we can talk for sure.
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check out http://www.familyfun.com to come up with a theme - maybe a make over party or something like that would be fun - but they have hundreds of great ideas
