If you’re looking for party inspiration, we’ve got you covered! Say goodbye to boring parties (ditch those old party hats, already!) and try out these fabulous, fresh ideas to make your party sparkle.
A - Animal adventures. Take the adventure on the road and head to the Seneca Park Zoo, the Humane Society’s Lollypop Farm or a local farm where you can get up close and personal with your fuzzy and scaly friends. Or let the animals come to you – various groups like WOWEE and Jeff Stewart’s Reptile Theater will bring animals to your door (or a space you’ve rented) with educational and entertaining shows.
B - Get your bounce on. Let the kiddos jump for joy and run wild with this active-style party. The bonus for you is that at the end of the day they’ll be all tuckered out. Check out Jump Club, Bernie’s Bouncers, Kango Play Center, and Bounce-It-Out.
C - Carnival! Circus and carnival themes are hot right now and popping up everywhere from kids’ parties to weddings. This theme is fun for indoors or outdoors and can be done on a small or big budget – include games, popcorn, dress-up (fake mustaches and top hats are a must!) and more.
D - DIY decorations. With the help of the internet and websites like Etsy.com you can become the next Martha Stewart in a snap. Party sites and blogs such as party-wagon.com and catchmyparty.com have great tutorials featuring everything from DIY party bunting to cake creations, while sellers on Etsy offer up everything from reasonably-priced kits and party packs with every theme imaginable under the sun.
E - Yummy eats. You don’t need to go all-out with full meal service at your party to make a statement. Cool snacks can be more fun and festive than an extensive lunch. Try a snack bar, sundae stand, DIY cupcake decorating, or taco bar for inspired eats that are also budget and kid-friendly.
F - Fit and fun. You need to burn off all those cake calories, right? Plan an active party in your own backyard (organize games and activities – or make teams and host a homemade Olympics) or head out to a local gym, bowling center, dance studio, or fun center for a day of activities. Kids will enjoy the non-stop action and entertainment. Just remember to have lots of adults on hand to help corral them!
G - Go green. Looking to add a little eco-friendly vibe to your party? Send out email invitations instead of the traditional paper invites. Sites like www.evite.com let guests respond with their RSVP right away so you can keep track of who will be attending. Assist the birthday girl in sending out thank you notes via email after the party is complete.
H - Help a cause. Parties are a great way to have fun while helping out a charity or local organization. Instead of bringing gifts for the party host, guests can bring something to donate to a specified organization.
I - Indulge in ice. Winter doesn’t need to keep your party relegated to indoors. Embrace the cold with a party featuring ice skating, skiing, sledding or other outdoor winter activities. Many area rinks offer skating packages for parties.
J - Many grown-up parties come with complete bar service; shake up the kiddie party with a mocktail bar offering a selection of fresh juices and mocktails. For mocktails mix fresh juice with flavored seltzer water and garnish with fresh fruit. “Hire” a bartender (a special friend or neighbor – or dad) to do the mixing and serving.
K - Keepsakes. One of my own favorite party memories was decorating t-shirts at my 8th birthday party. Create activities that lets guests take a keepsake home to cherish – t-shirts, pillowcases, or tote bags can all be easily decorated with fabric markers. If a craft activity at the party isn’t exactly your thing, you can still easily incorporate a cherished keepsake for the birthday child: have each guest sign a pillowcase or t-shirt upon arrival or departure. It only takes a second and she’ll have a great item at the end of the day! Want to let guests get messy and express themselves while keeping your house intact? Host the party at a paint your own pottery studio like Color Me Mine.
L - Letters and numbers. Personalize your party with cut-out cookies featuring the first letter of your child’s name and his age. Other ideas include having him wear a shirt with his age, hanging a poster with his age that guests can sign, and using a selection of cupcake toppers with his age.
M - A touch of magic. Hiring a magician can bring a bit of fun (and mystery) to a party – round it out with goodie bags loaded up with magical treats and toys. For an extra twist, try a Harry Potter theme.
N - Nautical fun. Ditch the traditional pirate theme for this fresher idea. Boats, ship captains, mermaids and more can all make an appearance at a nautical-inspired festivity. This motif is perfect for conjuring the spirit of summer during the blah winter months or great for a backyard party in June.
O - Oh, goody! Goody bags don’t need to be extravagant. If you’re trying to keep your budget down, try filling them with small, useful items (especially since so many parents are hip to the de-cluttering fad) like pencils, markers and stickers. (Kids love stickers!)
P - Need amazing party inspiration? There’s nothing better than Pinterest.com. The image-filled site is loaded with content sourced from sites and blogs around the internet and perfect for browsing. (We’ll be making our own Party pin board for the month of February! Join us at Pinterest.com/GVParentMag)
Q - Get quirky. Bored to death of pirates and princesses? Try a unique theme. Take to the web or brainstorm with your child. What are his favorite subjects in school or activities? Build a party around a unique theme like science and exploring – instead of traditional dinosaurs, try an archeology party complete with guests “hunting” for treasures in the backyard or living room. Check out museums for inspiration like a solar system or outer space party hosted at RMSC’s Strasberg Planetarium. Or try out a theme like Victorian/Steampunk, woodland, or a theme related to your favorite book like Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
R - A little R&R. Not all parties need to be extravagant and wild. Some children might prefer a quiet party or a simple gathering with just a friend or two. For a quiet party consider something relaxed like a meal out and a trip to the movies or invite a friend over to watch DVD’s with a big bowl of popcorn. Make it special so it doesn’t feel like just a normal day out – dress up and put candles on the pizza. Or try a movie-themed party complete with movie awards for favorite picture, a red carpet, and a little glitz.
S - Plan a day at the spa. Whether you mix up spa treatments and do manicures at home or head to a local spa that specializes in parties, this idea is sure to be a hit with young guests and moms!
T - Time for tea. Tea parties can be fun and creative – from invitations to decorations you can go from simple and classic to wild and fun (think mad hattertea party a la Alice in Wonderland.) Throw a tea party at home or take the party on the road for an afternoon of tea and treats at a local parlor like La Tea Da!
U- Under the stars. Host a backyard camp-out complete with s’mores and backyard tents. Older kids can sleep overnight, but for younger kids make it an afternoon affair where they can have fun at “camp” during the day. Cut out stars from construction paper and hang them around the yard. Invite guests to wear the best camp attire and be ready for some wilderness adventure!
V - Video. There can be so much going on during the special day that it might be hard to capture every single special moment on camera. Designate a vidoegrapher and photographer for the event (maybe a special relative or neighbor you trust) to be in charge of capturing each smile and silly expression. Set up a “photo booth” where kids can line up to say “cheese” and share a few birthday well-wishes on film.
W - Wet and wild. While it’s winter now, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a good soaking at a party. Area hotels often offer party packages where guests can dive into the pool and have fun. Fitness centers like the YMCA also offer party packages where guests can splash away.
X - Xmas lights. You stash them in the closet for eleven months out of the year, why not make use of your twinkling lights and string them up for the festivities? It will give the party a cheerful glow and cost you nothing.
Y - Add some yum. Cake and parties go hand in hand, but if you’re looking for an alternative to the traditional birthday fare try cupcakes. Top your cupcakes with cute and colorful cupcake toppers that fit your theme. Try out a unique cupcake design or recipe like the one we’ve featured on page 13.
Z - Catch some zzzzz’s. The key to a good slumber party is in the planning. Slumber party guests are old enough that they don’t need constant attention but they’ll appreciate snacks, a selection of movies, and games that they can enjoy sans parents. Let the birthday girl (or boy) get hands-on with the planning – picking a theme, food, decorations can be a great way for your child to get involved. ?
Jillian Melnyk is the Editor for Rochester Area & Genesee Valley Parent Magazine. Contact her at Editor@GVparent.com
