With Tyler’s birthday fast approaching it’s time for me to get into final planning mode. He’s really excited about turning six and not so much concerned about having a party, which is fine with me. I have promised him $50 dollars and a trip to Toys R Us to spend it. Other than that we will probaby keep things really, really simple.
If you have an upcoming party to plan and are looking for ideas, especially those that won’t send you to the poor house, I have a few tips you may be able to use. I found them in, Miserly Moms, by Jonni McCoy.
First, birthdays should be kept as simple as possible. A homemade cake, a few close friends and a trip to the local park is a good alternative to a trip to Chuck E. Cheese. McCoy points out that what most kids want is to play with their friends and family. You can also add some simple games like bubble wands or make a home-made piñata.
Other ideas including sleeping outside in the backyard in a tent with a few close friends. You can also have a pizza party where the guests make their own pizza. If you really have to go on an outing, visit the local zoo and take the food and cake with you. For Tyler’s birthday we are probably going to visit the USS Alabama or as we called it when I was a kid, the battleship. His birthday is the Sunday after Thanksgiving so we’re doing our activity on Saturday. On Sunday, we’re having cake and ice-cream. That’s basically going to be it, along with the trip to spend his money. Oh, and we’re eating out on Saturday night.
Of course as your kids get older, they may not even want any type of party. Teens generally prefer going out with their friends, for instance. But some will still want a party. The author says that you should set a budget and let your teen know how much you plan to spend and then ask if they want the party or a trip to an amusement park or other outing with their friends. This way it’s their choice.
Here are a few more excellent blogs on birthday parties:
Birthday Parties For Kindergarteners: The Dos and Don’ts