S/O birthday parties -- winter birthdays

[redheadbaker]

DS turns 10 in late November. I'd normally plan something big, turning double digits and all, but I'm worried about COVID. What would you be comfortable with if your child was invited? 

Option A) -- indoors, masks required, no food served? 
Option B) -- outdoors (but ... doing what? We're in southeastern PA, so temps could be anything from low 60s to snowing)
Option C) -- something virtual? We did a virtual Lego party last year, and while DS said it was fun, it really didn't feel like a birthday party. 

Would your comfort level change if kids under 12 are able to be vaccinated by then (rumored to be available for under 12 in October, so kids could theoretically get two doses and be past the two week period for effectiveness. 

[felicity]

I was just thinking about this for DS. He's turning 7 in late November. A lot depends on what this Delta variant does and how things look, but I'm toying with the idea of having a party for him at a local sports place that does parties. It's a huge open turf field, and I need to check on the details, but I'm pretty sure the kids in the party would be separate from anyone else there. We'd probably be inviting just kids from his class, who will be spending all day together anyway plus eating lunch together, and maybe one of his preschool friends. I wouldn't be comfortable with someplace open to the public that is also having parties if kids aren't vaccinated, and depending on how things are maybe not even if they are vaccinated. I probably wouldn't chance an outdoor party at that time of year. It can sometimes be super cold and windy where we are in VA.

[mrsGreeko]

I’m comfortable with unmasked inside events so I’m not remotely the target audience for this, but I will say that we haven’t attended any virtual birthday parties and won’t. My kids don’t like zoom/Google meet or whatever at all, it’s like crazy sensory overload and none can handle it unless it’s only a one on one thing like they’ve don’t tutoring that way and that’s fine, but virtual school was a total disaster or like the zoom we tried for family Easter which was also a disaster.

ETA: my turning 10 year old in November probably wouldn’t choose to attend a party with masks required because he can’t stand wearing a mask so he’s probably prefer outside/no masks. It’s cool that most kids don’t mind wearing masks, but holy hell my kid hates it (probably sensory considering other sensory issues he has).

[erbear]

I would not do an indoor party right now for my unvaxxed child unless it was the school crew and only the school crew (they’ve already mixed, they mask well).

Fwiw, both my kids have February birthdays. We did outdoor s’mores parties. Two families each, outside except bathrooms, drinks and food separated by family. everyone had fun - one kid lucked into a sledding party!

[cricketwife]

We were just talking about DS1’s January birthday yesterday (sparked by his brother’s recent outdoor party).  Honestly, I’m going to do just about anything to give him a party this year.  There is a cool indoor nerf gun place that I really hope will be a reasonable consideration at that point, but we will do something outdoor if we must and pray people come.  Our January could be 30’s and rain or 50s (and rain 😩) .

Could you do something like a fun day of snow tubing in the Poconos with a few friends?  You’d have to drive them masked in your car, so again, who knows if that will be reasonable.  Any outdoor ice skating rinks near you?   Buy something like this laser tag This laser tag and let them play in your yard? I do think if things are such that people don’t want indoors, everybody will be more open to hanging out outdoors when normally it might be considered a bit odd. 

Coukd you hire a local coach or PE teacher to organize some fun games at your house or a local park? 

I would not do a virtual party, personally.
   
ETA: sorry, I just saw winter in the title and missed it’s late November. That would be probably too early to count on snow tubing. 

[sandandsea]

I would be comfortable with any of the above if your overall adult vaccination rates are high (70% or more), kids already see each other in school, masks can be worn, and especially if kids can be vaxxed by then.

We are planning on indoor karting this year for the big double digits. We live in a mild climate though so they’ll likely have the big warehouse doors open. We did a drive by ice cream stand last year which was fun, outdoor, and super low risk as we handed out prepackaged ice cream treats as people drove by. But also not a real feel bday party.

[expectantsteelerfan]

We're in an area that just moved to substantial spread, so for me it would depend on how things are in Nov. A lot can change between now and then (I mean, last month we were comfortable taking the kids indoors as long as they were masked, now we are avoiding all places as much as possible again).

If things are as bad in Nov. as they are now and kids under 12 aren't able to be vaccinated yet, I'd say B or C preferred, but I'd still allow A as long as it wasn't at a big public crowded place (so if it was at a house or somewhere like a movie theater that they rent out the whole theater for the party, not at a trampoline place, etc.) and I was confident everyone would actually wear masks (most people here are not even though some places are starting to require it again).

My friend's kid did a virtual video game party where they had a private server for everyone to join a game and they chatted over google meet while playing, and my kids really enjoyed that. My friend also dropped off a personal pan pizza, cupcake, and gc for the game 'bucks' for each kid, so that helped it feel much more like an actual party.

[Susie]

I have a 6th bday coming in Nov., and I'm reserving judgment at this point. I'm hoping she can be vaxxed by then, but lots of wait and see. We also have a 2 yo who almost certainly won't be able to be vaxxed yet at that point.

It's also so impossible to know at this point what spread will look like in 3 months. Think how different the landscape is from 3 months ago.

[af1212]

Also in SEPA. Here is what we did last year for our winter bday parties -

Backyard movie. Kids all sat 6+ feet apart in chairs and we played movie on projector. Favor was a blanket to cozy up with. We served hot cocoa and indiv wrapped cupcakes. We had two parties with 4 guests each (so 5 kids at the party) on a Friday and Saturday.

Backyard play date. We did a craft, had a scavenger hunt, piñata, etc. we served pizza. Everyone sat at separate little tray tables in the back yard. Once again had two parties on consecutive days with 4 guests each.

Here are some outdoor parties that we went to over the winter -
Nerf war - each kid got a nerf gun and the host had collected a bunch of big boxes and painted them to be like stuff to hide behind

Skateboarding/roller skating - went to a parking lot and all rollerskated or skateboarded

Campfire - was sort of a campy theme with fire pit and marshmallows

[keweenawlove]

My daughter will turn 6 in December and I'm really hoping to have some sort of birthday party for her because we haven't been able yet. 3rd b-day was a week after we brought her home and 4th was in the thick of the wave last winter.

Maybe think about moving it up to late October to play better odds with the weather? I did a Halloween scavenger hunt in my backyard with some of my cousins kids. A campfire party could be an idea for borderline weather.

[jennistarr1]

while not ideal, I would go with an outdoor party. Face it, nothing is "ideal" right now. The what I don't know but something that gets the kids together for an hour. Cupcakes and goody bags to go.

It's still technically fall so are there any orchards or pumpkin places?

[ellipses84]

It’s so tough to make the right decision. I’d be comfortable with a classmate party that follows the same protocols as school (so indoor masked if that’s masked). They are in the same class all week together and those kids are exposed to their parents / siblings at home and it’s pretty much the same risk. I’d do a family party separate and a week or two earlier or later.

Some other options: Sledding / tubing even if it’s a bit of a drive, outdoor nerf / paintball / painless paintball like thing (can’t remember what it’s called) - just warn everyone to dress for the weather but you tend to stay warm when you are active.

DS1 turned 10 this year and I wasn’t ready to have a party. He had a sleepover with one friend in our pod, we gave him 10 wishes for the day, one of which was go-karting and went to our local pier with rides and activities (he played at the semi- outdoor arcade and did a gemstone mining thing). We decorated the house, bought an ice cream cake and had favor bags even though it was just the one friend. We also did an outdoor bounce place for a team party for his brother, but it was warm weather.

[abs]

DD turned 10 last year in the height of the winter surge. We still celebrated. She invited her two best friends over for a sleepover that she saw at soccer/school anyways.

We would not do a Zoom party. Ever. DD probably hates Zoom more than is rational though.

[waverly]

Aug 5, 2021 13:25:11 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

DS turns 10 in late November. I'd normally plan something big, turning double digits and all, but I'm worried about COVID. What would you be comfortable with if your child was invited? 

Option A) -- indoors, masks required, no food served? 
Option B) -- outdoors (but ... doing what? We're in southeastern PA, so temps could be anything from low 60s to snowing)
Option C) -- something virtual? We did a virtual Lego party last year, and while DS said it was fun, it really didn't feel like a birthday party. 

Would your comfort level change if kids under 12 are able to be vaccinated by then (rumored to be available for under 12 in October, so kids could theoretically get two doses and be past the two week period for effectiveness. 

I've been pretty hesitant to host actual parties.  DS had a birthday in October and I did invite 2 kids over (outside with food).

I was thinking of outdoor laser tag, but then I thought I would have to invite his sister and then his best friends sister, but then it would be all older boys, so I was waffling on that and the price.  But October can still be nice, and November usually isn't.  If it were January, I might say a sledding party.

Oh and my comfort level depends on the numbers at the time.  If numbers are low, then Option A or Option B.  

I don't know if kids will be vaccinated, so I can't make decisions based on that, yet....

[redheadbaker]

I appreciate everyone's feedback. Earlier in the summer we had talked about an indoor laser tag party, but unless you pay $$$$ it's not a separate room for the just party guests, and I wouldn't be comfortable with that right now.

We live in an apartment so we don't have a yard, per se (there's a small grassy space out front). There is an orchard place sort of nearby, not sure about an outdoor skating rink.

[sparty04]

Are haunted houses/forests etc still a thing? That might be fun for an early party in October

[boiler717]

There’s no way I’d do an indoor party in late November, even with masks and vaccines. I feel like people get pretty lax with Covid restrictions around the holidays and I would not want to be around people around thanksgiving. At most I would consider a sleepover with a really good friend in his class provided their family was vaccinated and being cautious.

[gardengal]

I would, as of this moment, be OK with a small group of masked kids already in my kid's class at school. You could consider doing science experiments or something.

I'd probably not do food--or do food outside like s'mores or hot cocoa--and give cupcakes to go as apart of the favors.

[lilac05]

Things are bound to change about a dozen times between now and then. If you had asked me this question 6 weeks ago, my answer would have been much different than it is today.

If you’re a planner and need to get something planned right now, I’d either plan something outdoor or forego a party altogether to do some fun experience type thing as a family. My boys have both been surprisingly good about that! I think I’m more sad about them not having a party than they are. We give them a little extra as far as gifts (more, smaller things, like they might get at a party) and do something fun for the day.

Last year, we did a reverse bday party…We filled a bag with birthday goodies…cupcake, plate, candle, etc, tied a balloon to the bag, and delivered it to his friends’ houses. We had a blast doing it, and it was totally different from anything else anyone was doing for a “party.”

[sillygoosegirl]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like most families are either gonna have their kids vaxxed by 6 weeks after the EUA comes out, or not until it's required. I'd probably plan the party you want, but maybe for December or January if you want > 5 weeks to plan it, in case the EUA takes longer.

My kid has a mid November birthday. Normally (before COVID) we have an outdoor part for her in October before the weather gets bad, and a fancy dinner for just family the day of her birthday. Last year we only had a party the day of with just our pod family, same precautions as we were taking any other day with them. This year, I'm really hoping she will be vaxxed by her birthday, but who knows?

[sillygoosegirl]

I also want to say, I've been to some great outdoor kid's parties in cold weather, even before COVID. Around here there are parks where you can reserve a covered pavillion near the playground where there is also a fire place where you can make a roaring wood fire. Serve hot beverages and bring enough jackets, hats, gloves, and dry socks for people to borrow if they show up unprepared...

[Velar Fricative]

November is usually not that cold. But I like cold weather lol. I’d do an outdoor party. I don’t mind masked indoor parties but food is important, IMO.

[gretchenindisguise]

I saw someone mention in a different thread that their movie theaters are still doing whole theater rentals for fairly cheap. I’d be comfortable with that and I think even my 12 yo would like it.

[jinkies]

I'd probably try to celebrate a few weeks early for better weather. My parents have an annual outdoor party the first week in November (in SEPA) and the weather is gorgeous almost every year.

I'd try for a hayride/orchard sort of experience. Or, depending on where you are, Treehouse World in West Chester is awesome-- not sure how late in the fall they will stay open.

Or just rent a park pavilion at someplace with a cool playground. We've been to a party like that-- the mom had come up with a few games, but I don't think they even played them bc the kids kept busy on the playground. You could always do a scavenger hunt or something at the park for an activity if you want.

[af1212]

Aug 6, 2021 7:09:57 GMT -5 jinkies said:

I'd probably try to celebrate a few weeks early for better weather. My parents have an annual outdoor party the first week in November (in SEPA) and the weather is gorgeous almost every year.

I'd try for a hayride/orchard sort of experience. Or, depending on where you are, Treehouse World in West Chester is awesome-- not sure how late in the fall they will stay open.

Or just rent a park pavilion at someplace with a cool playground. We've been to a party like that-- the mom had come up with a few games, but I don't think they even played them bc the kids kept busy on the playground. You could always do a scavenger hunt or something at the park for an activity if you want.

If you’re looking for a treetop course, may I suggest the one at elmwood park zoo instead of treehouse world? The owner of treehouse works is a racist asshole who posted all kinds of horrible stuff on social media after George Floyd was killed last year. When people connected his business to who he was he (through his business page) then claimed that “the former owner” is no longer involved in treehouse world although he is still the 100% owner and just took his pic off the page. There is more to it that I’m happy to share with anyone.

[jinkies]

Aug 6, 2021 7:30:15 GMT -5 af1212 said:

Aug 6, 2021 7:09:57 GMT -5 jinkies said:

I'd probably try to celebrate a few weeks early for better weather. My parents have an annual outdoor party the first week in November (in SEPA) and the weather is gorgeous almost every year.

I'd try for a hayride/orchard sort of experience. Or, depending on where you are, Treehouse World in West Chester is awesome-- not sure how late in the fall they will stay open.

Or just rent a park pavilion at someplace with a cool playground. We've been to a party like that-- the mom had come up with a few games, but I don't think they even played them bc the kids kept busy on the playground. You could always do a scavenger hunt or something at the park for an activity if you want.

If you’re looking for a treetop course, may I suggest the one at elmwood park zoo instead of treehouse world? The owner of treehouse works is a racist asshole who posted all kinds of horrible stuff on social media after George Floyd was killed last year. When people connected his business to who he was he (through his business page) then claimed that “the former owner” is no longer involved in treehouse world although he is still the 100% owner and just took his pic off the page. There is more to it that I’m happy to share with anyone.

Thanks for sharing that! We went for a scouting event-- I had no idea.

[minzy]

I’m glad I kept reading because I had initially bookmarked the treehouse page since we’re over that way periodically… yikes.

OP maybe something like outdoor games? You’ll be between the Summer and Winter Olympics but could tie those in somehow..? I just did a big outdoor summer games party. Despite all my planning of various stations, the big hit with the kids was a plastic egg throw down they devised themselves. They spontaneously formed two teams and had a total blast with that for at least an hour. 🤷🏻‍♀️