Party Ideas

@dorannmwin (36392)
United States
September 10, 2010 2:52pm CST
It is coming up on birthday season in my family and I need some ideas. Paul is going to be turning four this year and it is the first time that we are going to be having a party for his friends. I would love to have any suggestions at all that you can offer on themes, party games and even what kinds of snacks to serve. Thank you in advance.
9 responses
• United States
10 Sep 10
I suppose it depends on your budget and abailable space. But at four it has to be really interactive so the kids feel the fun and enjoy the time. So perhaps something like chucky cheese or similar to this. But at four you have to have plenty of help as their so active and you would be all over the place watching over them. If budget is a factor, maybe perhaps something at home with a family member dressed up as a funny clown with plenty of balloon interactive fun games. Children at four basically like treat bags, prize winning games and of course cake and ice-cream. Hey if this is your route maybe I can come too.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Sep 10
Cake and ice cream is a definite must. I was hoping that we would have been able to have done his birthday party at the gymnastics gym or at Chuck E. Cheese, but finances aren't going to allow for that. So, instead we are going to be doing it at either a local park or McDonalds depending on the weather. October can be strange sometimes when it comes to the weather.
• United States
14 Sep 10
Take lots of pictures and the true gift comes later when you sit and have the fond memories.
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
10 Sep 10
Ceramic painting party?
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
10 Sep 10
a bouncer?
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Sep 10
A craft themed party might be an awesome suggestion for my daughter when her birthday comes up in December. I will definitely remember that. And for a bouncehouse, if I knew that I could use my mother's yard that would be great as well.
@cher913 (25781)
• Canada
11 Sep 10
what is he into? you if he likes cars you could play pin the headlights on the car (you can come up with any sort of variation of pin the tail on the donkey.)
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Sep 10
I really like the idea of pin the headlights on the car. I really never thought about the fact that the game could be adapted for any purpose that you could imagine.
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
10 Sep 10
The twins were four this summer and it was very simple. Cake - the girl wanted Dora and the boy superman so there was one large cake decorated each half decorated with what they wanted. There was ice cream and lots of kool aid (no sodas) Just the usual kids food and chicken barbecued wings. Party hats and whistles. Oh there was pizza too. At this age they do not need much. They spent most of their time chasing each other outside and they had a dance contest. This was the party where I was distributing the jello shots to the kids and my DIL grabbed them (and me).
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Sep 10
Oh, okay, I have to remember that I need to have jello shots at my son's birthday party. LOL. Seriously though, I really do know what you mean about keeping it simple.
@bounce58 (17380)
• Canada
11 Sep 10
When my son turned 3 last year we had his birthday at a local park. It was one of those parks that had small-kid-friendly play sets and with some covered tables too. We booked the place and just set up decorations on the covered areas. The kids didn't seem to mind that it was just a regular park, and they all had fun. The games were mostly running around. It was good for me as it wasn't really expensive!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Sep 10
That is one of the reasons that I am leaning toward doing a local park. They are free and that is the right price for me. I don't think he will really care what we do for him as long as his friends are allowed to come.
@madteaparty (2748)
• Japan
11 Sep 10
Umm, well, that depends on what your kid likes. I remember when I was a kid and I had birthday parties... For me the cake was mandatory. I really felt excited when I had to blow the candles! Also I remember liking as snacks chips, sandwiches... well, the typical Well, I'm sorry I can't give you ideas in more than food, as I don't remember whad kind of games we would do, but I hope your kid as a great birhday
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Sep 10
I don't think that there ever can be a birthday party without cake and candles. I also think that presents are very nice to have at a birthday party, but I don't always expect the guests to bring those, I'm fine if they just get what I give to them as long as they have something to open. I hope that he does have a good time, he is already counting down the days until his birthday.
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
10 Sep 10
hi dorannmwin oh my the big 4, What are some of little Paul's loves that you might use as a theme for the party, try using something that he loves, and plan the food and games and such around the theme, and keep it simple as the little ones are happy with ice cream and a wonderful cake in his choice of flavors. party favors for all the kids of course.pin the tail on the donkey and other simple kid games would be the best. maybe have a pinata that they can bash and get the small candy goodies out of it.Musical chairs is another good game for little ones too.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Sep 10
I really do want to do a pinata if the weather is going to cooperate with us. He has already decided that he wants to have a Wall-E cake and my sister has volunteered to make that for him. Then I will try to work on party favors between now and then. The party venue will be either a local park or McDonalds if the weather doesn't want to cooperate.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
10 Sep 10
When my first son turned 6 I had a Spiderman Themed party. I bought Spiderman party settings, a Spiderman cake.. a banner for the door.. and I even used black streamers to create a giant spiderweb on our ceiling, which looked pretty awesome. In the middle of the spiderweb we hung the Spiderman pinata. Then I made up some Spiderman type games.. one was bingo, which I created bingo cards with spiderman characters on them. I bought a spiderman themed "pin the tail on the donkey" game somewhere. Then there was this spiderweb type game where I used rolls of string, wound them around the house and criss crossed them over each other, and the kids and to start at one end and find their way to the other, and there'd be a prize at the end... that one didn't work out so well though. It was a lot of work so I haven't really done a party quite like it since. After that I'd just hire some entertainment, or rent a place out to do our parties at... and the last one went so bad that I refuse to do another party for kids again.. at least until I get a place big enough to have the parties at home and not spend so much money!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Sep 10
I most definitely can't afford to go all-out with their birthdays this year. However, I do want to do something that is going to be memorable for him because this is the first time that I really think he is old enough for a birthday party that he will remember.
@Lore2009 (7378)
• United States
10 Sep 10
Costume party is always fun... with a theme, like 80's or their favorite cartoon characters.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
14 Sep 10
That would be a lot of fun and that is definitely an idea that we will be using in the future. It makes it really nice that his birthday is in October, the perfect time for costume parties.