kid bday ideas

[beerlover]

I'm stressing over trying to figure out something to do for DS's 8th birthday in late August. We didn't do any friend-related things for his birthday last year since H's 40th fell around the same time and I planned a big party for that, so I want to do something this year.

I do not want to do a large birthday party like renting a venue and sending invitations and all that. That is just not our style and also it's probably too late at this point. I don't particularly want a party at our house because we do not have a finished basement or a great area for kids to play. I also prefer not to have to facilitate any activities, arts/crafts, or anything of the sort. For example, the last party we were at, the dad ran a wiffle ball game for all the kids. No thank you, that would stress me out, lol.

I was hoping to just invite a handful of kids (expecting maybe 5 to be able to come) to some kind of "activity" like going to Chuck E Cheese (DS loves arcade games), or another play place that we have, or our lake beach, minor league baseball game, or something with built-in entertainment. DS has shot down basically every idea I've given him. I feel like most children can think of SOMETHING they'd enjoy doing, so I don't really understand. Or maybe he's so privileged and gets to do so much that nothing seems special, IDK.

My last ditch idea is maybe pizza at our house, then we can walk the kids to the park down the street and play on the equipment or play bball if the courts are open, and then get ice cream somewhere (kid doesn't like cake either, lol). That should eat up about 2 hours. Is that lame? If anyone has any other ideas of small bday activities they've done, I would appreciate that.

[countthestars]

Weather permitting, could you just have a bunch of friends meet at a local playground for play and pizza, and then have an ice cream truck come?

[meowmaps]

Not lame! Most kids I know like pizza, ice cream, and running around.

My 6 year old just had a party at Sky Zone and she had a blast. The only downside was the cost. DD2 turns 3 in two weeks and we will not spend that kind of money again in such a short window of time. We’re having some friends meet us at a playground early and after an hour or so of playing we’ll give the kids cupcakes and call it a day.

[mccallister84]

What does he want to do? Sorry if I missed it in the OP.

But if what he wants to do the big expensive party place thing can the compromise be to just bring one or two friends there?

Also I would assume by 8 parents won’t stay and I don’t know that I would love the idea of changing locations with a group. If you want to have them meet at the playground I think that’s a good plan.

ETA: my daughter turns 8 in November and I asked her if she had any ideas for her party and she told me she’s done everything she wants to do and would just like to take two friends on an adventure.

[loira]

Bowling? Mini golf? Water park? Movie? Art studio?

[joy]

Yes, playground with pizza and cake is a very popular birthday here!

[waverly]

Movies? I’d probably do pizza and walk to the playground. If it’s easier than walking to the ice cream place you can do ice cream at home also.

[tacokick]

Does he want a party? If he’s shooting down ideas and doesn’t have any of his own maybe he doesn’t or maybe you could do something with just one close friend instead.

[thebreakfastclub]

I would not stress about an 8yo birthday party. If it were causing undue stress I'd just not have a party.

That being said, I'd probably not ask for too much input from my kid. I'd invite a few friends for a couple of hours at a trampoline park and consider that the party. They will really enjoy that.

[wanderingback]

At 8 if he’s shooting down all ideas then don’t have a party.
Going to the park sounds perfect so I’d ask him if he wanted to do that and if not, I wouldn’t plan anything and just do a special day as a family.

[dcn]

Park pizza and ice cream is great.

Other ideas - bowling, mini golf, laser tag, go carts, swimming, movies.

[beerlover]

Sorry I should have been more clear mccallister84 and tacokick. He DOES want to do something and is just being incredibly indecisive.

I'm mostly just stressing that I wanted a couple of weeks ahead to message parents and he's not giving me much in the way of making a plan.

He has a reason for each thing he doesn't want to do. The play place - "he got lost there once (true, for like, minutes)." Chuck E Cheese - "that mouse is creepy", etc. etc. lol. Baseball game - "I hate baseball" (he really doesn't). I'm guessing the pool/beach isn't exciting because we do that all the time. I don't see any movies coming out that he would like.

I will present the bowling, mini golf, and trampoline park ideas. If not, I think I'll just go with inviting a few kids over and doing the pizza/park/ice cream thing.

[tacokick]

Pizza in the park sounds like the move!

[hermione]

Can you bring something like Mad Science or a video game truck to the house?

[Blue Moon]

Mine is a little older (10) but she didn’t want a party this year, mostly because she couldn’t think of anything better than the epic Taylor Swift party she had last year.

Instead she’s picking 3 friends, which is all I can fit in my car, and I’m taking them all to an escape room and then to a fun 50’s themed diner for dinner/milkshakes after. She’s happy with this low-key idea.

Other similar ideas that she’s been invited to this summer are bowling, roller skating, and one parent just gave a generous gift card to Dave and Busters for the birthday child and a few friends.

[brooke77]

I would do something like Dave and Busters with a couple of his closest friends for a couple hours. Other option would be a movie and candy. Park and ice cream is also fun!

I did my DS (7) birthday last minute this year! A lot of places were booked, but I was able to find one place with availability 10 days in advance. 12 kids showed up and DS had so much fun. I’m sure whatever you decide will be great!

[tennisgal]

DD went to a party earlier this year that was at a restaurant/bakery. They had a room in back and let the kids make their own small pizzas and then baked them. They then each got 4 cupcakes to decorate and bring home.
I remember a bday party when I was a kid where we went to Dominos and made our own pizza and then I can't remember if we went back to the kids house to eat and then had cake or if it was all at dominos?

[magpie]

We did a party in the park for my son's 8th recently. It was really easy to pull off--we served pizza and cake and did a pinata. The kids had a great time and it was very low stress in terms of planning.

[beerlover]

In an interesting turn of events, he said he wanted to go bowling, so thanks to those who suggested that lol. Prices look reasonable too and they sell pizza and you can bring your own cake. Gonna call them tomorrow and see if I can get the date I want, and then start inviting!

[pinkpeony08]

We have done backyard - get out water play stuff (slip and slide, real relay race with hats that have cups on top of pouring water to next person), had the local popsicle company drop off their popsicle cart. It's super low key, everyone has a great time. Makes me wish my other kids had the option for their birthdays!

[Deleted]

Aug 5, 2024 21:22:40 GMT -5 beerlover said:

In an interesting turn of events, he said he wanted to go bowling, so thanks to those who suggested that lol. Prices look reasonable too and they sell pizza and you can bring your own cake. Gonna call them tomorrow and see if I can get the date I want, and then start inviting!

Bowling sounds super fun. Some of these places will include an arcade gift card for each attendee if you book a party, so that could be cool.

[sparty04]

I've gotten away from big parties with my older kids. Last year we did lunch out (Red Robin) and movies with 4 of DS1's friends. With DS2 we had 5 of his friends meet us at the bowling alley and we bowled a few games, threw $100 on an arcade card for them to share, and ate bowling alley pizza.

Parents especially seemed to like it when we did the transporting.