B-day Party Planning

[sudokufan]

Last year's party for DS (turning 3 then) got cancelled when he ran a fever for 3 days before So this will be our first "real" party, meaning guests other than H and I. We don't have family in the area, so we're inviting his school class and hosting at a local bounce place. We're inviting 20 kids, the package includes 10 but we can add on people on the fly (it's a small town, low key family run type place). We're thinking 11a-1p on a Saturday, allowing an hour - 90 minutes of bouncing, food and cake, then play it by ear as to when to call it quits, although we have to clean off the table by 2. All the kids who come will get full day bounce passes, so they can stay as long as their parents want.

Sound good? We're ordering 24 cupcakes; would you do ice cream too? The venue will store it in the freezer for us. The package includes 3 pizzas and 3 pitchers of pop, and we can order more. May order hot dogs since the birthday boy doesn't like pizza. Have any Paw Patrol ideas you've done or seen at a venue? I'm thinking of making a big #4 to decorate the table with, but I have no idea where to start there; I craft, but usually sewing not painting or whatever.

[Widget123]

We've been attending a lot of 4 year old bounce house birthday parties lately. They have been really low key so I personally wouldn't worry too much about decorations other than the basics like balloons or streamers or themed paper plates. I probably wouldn't do ice cream unless it was the prepackaged ice cream cones or popsicles to avoid too much of a mess/hassle. My only other thought is 11am is an earlier start time than I am used to but I wouldn't consider it a bad thing, necessarily.

[twinmomma]

All the parties we attend at bounce house places, gymnastics, etc... no one really does much for decorations. They buy themed plates and maybe a balloon or two to put on the birthday kid's seat. I think one of the perks of having the party at a place like that is that you don't have to really do much. I'd skip ice cream - I think it'll be more trouble than it's worth. I do think you'll need more than 3 pizzas for 20 kids, so I'd get a bunch of hot dogs or add on another pizza or two once you have the final headcount.

[CoverGirl82]

You may want to consider a 10a -12p or 10:30a - 12:30p timeframe if you're going to bounce for 60-90 minutes. Both my kids did bounce-place parties for each of their last birthdays, and we did 11:30 - 1:30. The kids were asking just about every minute from around 12:15 until when we ate at 12:45 when they were going to get to eat pizza. (And of course, you want to bounce before you eat.)

I think the quantity of food you indicated sounds good. We didn't do ice cream, and nobody seemed to miss it. I think getting some hot dogs would be a good idea, especially if your DS would prefer those.

For DS's birthday, I brought sugar cookies for the kids to decorate while we waited for pizza. For DD's birthday, I brought a Valentine's day craft (her b-day is right before Valentine's day) for the kids to work on while we waited for pizza.

[mlee116]

I agree with CoverGirl82 that I'd probably move the time back a little bit, so they can bounce, then eat before they all get super hungry.

I'd skip ice cream, personally. You'll either have to scoop it out, which is annoying and messy or you'll have a ton of half eaten little cups. Yes to hot dogs, especially since the birthday boy likes them.

For decorations, I'd do a few balloons for the birthday boy's chair, some themed plates and napkins and call it good. You could probably find some cheap decorations like banners, table top decor, etc. at Walmart or something since Paw Patrol is big right now. But I'd definitely keep it simple!

Sounds like it will be a fun time. I like that your bouncy place gives an all day pass so they can stay longer if they want.

[mommyatty]

Party City has great themed table decorations. We've used those for DD's parties at Chuck E Cheese. Plus they have themed balloons, which I'm a sucker for.

[sudokufan]

Thanks for the tips guys. I really hadn't considered the mess factor on ice cream. DNW!

mlee116, I like the unlimited pass too. I think this place is really reasonably priced, but then I haven't been to any other bounce places. It's $175 for 10 kids all day bounce passes, 10 game tokens per kid, 3 pizzas and 3 pops, and then I can add kids at $10 each (and they'll get the full bounce pass and tokens too). Their "normal" price is $5 for one hour, $10 for all day for bouncing, and 5 tokens per dollar. They have 5 big bouncy inflatables set up in one room, an arcade in another and a laser tag in a third.

mommyatty, I'm a sucker for the themed balloons too, and I like living vicariously through DS. I'll check them out.

[k3am]

I wouldn't bother decorating. Take DS to the party store, let him pick out his plates and party favors, but beyond that, the beauty of doing it somewhere like a bounce place is not having to do decorations.

I wouldn't stress about the time. I've never met a 4-year old that isn't asking for food or when they're going to eat, regardless of the time.

[sudokufan]

Apr 10, 2017 9:39:16 GMT -5 k3am said:

I wouldn't bother decorating. Take DS to the party store, let him pick out his plates and party favors, but beyond that, the beauty of doing it somewhere like a bounce place is not having to do decorations.

I wouldn't stress about the time. I've never met a 4-year old that isn't asking for food or when they're going to eat, regardless of the time.

Yeah, this is my son, which is why I hadn't considered that.  I have 11-2 booked, so I could change it up, but if I time the pizzas for 12:30 that'll be about the same time these kids are used to eating at school.  I can't go any earlier because they don't officially open until 11, they're letting me in at 10:30 to decorate the table.

I really *want* to do the decorations - he appreciates them so much, and I like balloons.  I just want to do the easier side - like, something I can glue together or slap some paint on that might have a hope of looking like the pinterest picture   God, i should show you guys the TMNT cake I made this weekend.  It's really laughable, but he loves it and I enjoyed the process, even if I'm not proud of the final result.

ETA:

[k3am]

sudokufan, my birthday "thing" is cakes. I make DD's cake every year. I can't not do it, it simply has to be done.

So if decorations are your thing, go for it!

[helenahhandbasket]

I think this sounds good but if you are already having cake I'd maybe skip cupcakes and just do ice cream.

Go to Michaels for the number 4.

[sdlaura]

I agree on trying to move up the time a bit and skipping ice cream, and not worrying too much about decorations beyond what's fun for you. I would also add some fruit and maybe a veggie tray to your food options.

[sudokufan]

helenahhandbasket, I think we're doing the cupcakes instead of a cake. I'm thinking it's a handy way of portioning cake, plus, fun. Might have a little 6" cake with candles on it just so he has something to blow out but no one else has to eat his spit...he does tend towards wet.

My boss was telling me about some cute little cupcake boxes she used at a party to turn the cupcakes into party favors. I was thinking if I ordered a bunch of cupcakes and had too many no shows, presto! Leftovers=favors. I don't know, I'm wishy wasy, but we're going with the local grocery store for this part, so I don't need to decide until about a week out.

[k3am]

I'm going to preface this by saying that I hate, hate, hate, vehemently hate party favors. Everything about them, I hate. So I like the idea of being practical and using cupcakes as favors.

But I now am the mother of a kid who loves, loves, loves party favors. She would embarrass the hell out of me and make it known that cupcakes aren't party favors. (She's rude. We're working on it. She's 4, so she has a ways to go.)

[sdlaura]

Apr 10, 2017 11:33:41 GMT -5 k3am said:

I'm going to preface this by saying that I hate, hate, hate, vehemently hate party favors. Everything about them, I hate. So I like the idea of being practical and using cupcakes as favors.

But I now am the mother of a kid who loves, loves, loves party favors. She would embarrass the hell out of me and make it known that cupcakes aren't party favors. (She's rude. We're working on it. She's 4, so she has a ways to go.)

Haha, same.  We went to a 4-year-old bday party Saturday and the favor was that each kid got a Curious George book (that was the theme).  I thought it was an awesome idea.  My kids were excited about it, but DD also said "where are the treat bags?"  For DS's 3rd bday party at a gymnastics place, we gave everyone a hula hoop as a favor, and that seemed to go over pretty well.

[indyrowergirl]

Another vote for just say no to treat bags. I'd rather do a larger favor, that's still in the price range of what I would spend filling up a treat bag, but it's only one thing to deal with. Hula Hoops are a great idea! For DS2's last birthday I found some cheap super hero capes and went with those (about $4 each?).

For timing of the party, most of them around here are only for 2 hours in the place, so you have to bounce/eat/clean up and get out in a 2 hour time frame. They typically do 1-1:15 of bounce, then 45 minutes of eat/clean. It's typical to take the gifts home to be opened later. So sudokufan, for your time frame, I'd do party 11-1:30 or 11:30-1:30. Bounce for an hour or so, feed them around 12:30, and then adios!

I would skip ice cream - that's a big sticky mess. If you want to add fruit, that could be good. (The strawberries were the first of the foods to go at DS2's 4th birthday. FYI none of the kids ate sausage pizza - everyone wanted cheese or pepperoni.) I also ordered a supreme for the parents after seeing here on WP that I'm not the only parent who would like a slice at a kid party.

Have fun and don't stress! That's the beauty of doing a party outside your house - you can write a check and let it go!

[sudokufan]

Welllllll, tbh we've already ordered the treat bags. And little paw patrol medals. So they'll still get that and maybe stickers? A little bit of useless junk, but maybe not too terrible, because the cupcakes are a maybe if there's leftovers.

Oh, I was thinking about little $1 gift cards to our local Frosty ice cream place, what do ya'll think of those? If I got low turnout, I'd double them up.

[helenahhandbasket]

Ah ok! I think that's fine, but I think if you have 20 kids you need like 50 cupcakes so each kid can have one and then each parent (assuming this is a party that the parents are staying for the duration of, and that there will be at least one parent per kid.). I think you need one cup cake per mouth, lol.

[mustardseed2007]

Oriental Trading is where I get all our party "decor". Plastic, single use table clothes, themed plates and napkins, a themed balloon, and maybe a happy birthday banner.

my kid also rudely asks for goodie bags where ever we go that remotely seems like a party.

Also, just because I didn't see this mentioned, I would have juice for the kids and water also. The soda I would reserve for the adults.

[Widget123]

Apr 10, 2017 13:23:47 GMT -5 mustardseed2007 said:

Also, just because I didn't see this mentioned, I would have juice for the kids and water also. The soda I would reserve for the adults.

+1 this. I'm used to seeing juice bags or boxes.

[sudokufan]

Apr 10, 2017 13:23:47 GMT -5 mustardseed2007 said:

Oriental Trading is where I get all our party "decor". Plastic, single use table clothes, themed plates and napkins, a themed balloon, and maybe a happy birthday banner.

my kid also rudely asks for goodie bags where ever we go that remotely seems like a party.

Also, just because I didn't see this mentioned, I would have juice for the kids and water also. The soda I would reserve for the adults.

We can get a pitcher of water, but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to bring juice.  They have a "food court" - which I'm not sure when a single food stall became a "court" - where we're required to buy our food except for dessert.  I'll ask, thanks.
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