Birthday Parties for Kids

As a new mom living in the northeast I am constantly amazed at the production and costs that have become associated with kids birthday parties. I can remember when I was young, all of my cousins, friends and I celebrated birthdays in the basement of their respective homes. Or, for my later pre-teen birthdays, we went to Howard Johnsons for a big "birthday celebration" with some friends and cousins. I think all the kids got to pick their own meal off the menu, we got birthday hats, and there was a cake. I felt like a grown up. Although today, Zack was eating out with us at Outback steakhouse when he was only a couple weeks old!

For my sons first birthday we had a few family members over to celebrate the big event, and the highlight was when Zack stuck his hand in the frog cake. Then for his second birthday we decided to have some friends over and make it an "adult" get together, with a couple of his neighborhood friends. He was excited to send out the Batman invitations and see our dining room decorated with batman party decorations.

But for three years old, I wanted to have a little more of a kids party, with several of his friends. But being that it is winter, where do you hold it? Children with birthdays in the spring or summer have it made. You can celebrate at a park, or the beach, or a lake pavilion, but in the winter you really need to be inside somewhere? But where?

I started investigating and was amazed at the costs that places were charging for hosting a party, without any real decorations, not many options in food and very little in entertainment!!! Before you know it, a "simple" birthday party for ten people or less could cost a minimum of $300. (For a child's birthday party)

I am all for celebrating -- but I would prefer my son be older to appreciate the expense of a big event.

What I ended up doing was having another gathering at my house, with six other children and ten adults. I cleared out the coffee table for the kids to have space to run around and decorated the dining room and kitchen in a Spiderman Theme. I sent invitations asking that the children come dressed in a superhero costume and they had fun running around the house playing their role. I organized a few activities that we did in the basement (to limit the mess) -- like pin the string on spiderman, and spraying silly string on pictures of villians. Then upstairs the kids pulled strings on a spiderman Pinata that splashed out chocolate candies for all of the participants.

Zack had a blast playing with his friends, being dressed up, celebrating his big day, receiving presents and doing something fun! It was a huge hit and was the perfect celebration for a three year old.

The question will be, what do we do when he turns 4, than 5, than 6.......

I guess I will address that next year!