Child Birthday Parties  

I noticed that when my boys were growing up, they are 21 and 22 now. Every birthday party they were invited to had jumping tents, clowns or some other form of entertainment. I didn't want that for my kids and our birthday parties were actually thought of as more fun than the others'! We had games, contests, cheap little prizes, cake and ice cream. The balloon stomp was very popular and the kids asked for that even when they were older--stomp those things till they popped, pick up the pieces and whoever had the most pieces got to pick from a bowl of tiny wrapped presents like a couple of quarters, a whistle, etc.

Water balloons were very popular, too!

It's too bad that things have to get more and more complicated when a little time and simplicity would be a much longer-lasting memory!

Hi Teamrose
I do not understand that People make so much fuss specially when they have no money
I mean my Children used to enjoy the Ice creams Jelly's BBQ and running around, playing Games and all that a Child's Party should be
Today it seems to be more "posh" with Jumping Castles and what you have experienced I mean why spend all that money, Children will get bored after a little While

I am with you, I like the simple life. A child that young is not going to remember all that activity. I actually went to a bowling birthday party this weekend. It was simple and fun. A group of girls just hanging out and having a good time with each other. I do not even think that they even bowled that much. They hung out with each other for about 5 hours and had girl time. A simple indoor party with just the basics without the cleanup.

WOW! How interesting I'm sure that party became. Funny that this involves a 3yr old's party, because I've been racking my brain for the last few days of what to do for my soon to be 3yr old on May 8th. Well, I definitely won't be doing that for her party that's for sure. But like you, I too would like to do something low-key and low cost. Thank you for making this post.

Yeah, I think I know what you mean. I remember when our kids were younger, we were always going to parties and some had huge expensive affairs with ride on electric trikes and jumping castles in parks. Others had pony rides, pace painters hired to paint all the kids faces and whatever else you can think of. They would invite all the kids in their class as well as dozens of others just to boost the number of presents I think.

It is like everyone tries to out do each other and show their party throwing superiority! We stayed out of all that even though the kids asked for these things and just had relatively cheap parties with close friends and family.

I can't quite understand what you're talking about..

lol...cheerleading at a 3 year old's party?
I have two sons and I've been planning their birthday parties. I try to follow a theme....but one that the birthday boy likes or is interested in. I have games and food and decorations based on the theme....most of it is home-made stuff...I plan in advance and make the decorations on my own...can't afford to spend too much on that. I find that my friends end up spending more on normal party invitations and decorations than I do on my theme ones.
More than the decorations and food, I find the kids are more interested in the cake and the games. I try to get innovative with the games and keep in mind the age group and the likes and dislikes of the particular group. When my older one turned 8, we had an Olympics theme party...no fancy stuff...except for fancy names for the games they had...which were games that normal 8 year olds loved.
There have also been years when we didn't celebrate the kids' bdays with their friends and had a family outing or get together...whatever made the bday boy comfortable and happy. When my older son turned 6 and I was expecting my next child, I asked him if he really wanted a party with friends and explained I was too tired to plan a very active party....my son very sweetly said he would prefer to go out for dinner with dad, me and his lil brother/sister.
But yes, people are trying to outdo each other with the expenses....almost every birthday at the apartment complex has a bouncy castle and some very expensive return gifts. Besides candies, the return gifts (or goody bags) contain something that the kids made or received at the party....I don't get any of those cheap chinese stuff...unless it is something related to the theme or something I think the kids enjoy.
lol...I missed taking videos (though I managed pictures) of the parties.....because I was too busy being involved with the kids...and they have so much fun and enjoy themselves that no one even asks for the goody bag when they leave (most parties nowadays I find the kids are looking at what they get in the goody bag instead of enjoying their time with the birthday child...and worse, I find mothers discussing the 'goodies' like it was the most important thing at the party!)

I have only one son, everytime he had his birthday party we would think of something new.

Just like when he celebrated his 5th birthday he had a costume party of any cartoon character it was really fun his classmates had enjoyed it.

Then when he celebrated his 6th birthday we celebrate it in the beach so we have a kids beach party that's the time we have the water balloon and any other stuff suit in the beach.

When he celebrate his 7th and 8th birthday he wanted more intellectual. So we have the scientist and mathematician costume party.. sounds weird but that's what he wants.