Childrens Birthday Party - questions & ideas (merged)

vivaladiva

We have a local photo studio that do a makeover and photo session - seems a nice idea for girly girls. I think its Olan Mills and arn't they nationwide?

spaggy

My 13 year old wanted a bouncy castle for her birthday... it was brilliant and kept her and her friends and all the relatives amused... it was well worth the 45 pounds I spent and we had it from 10 in the morning until 9 at night

inkie

What about a session paintballing?!

Lillibet_2

Hello everyone

I'm hoping you brainy people can come up with a novel & inexpensive way fo celebrating our sons 1st brithday next month!

To be honest we, as parents, aren't really fussed about doing much, after all he isn't going to know one way or another is he?! But it seems that so many other people want to! Friends & family are asking and we are loath to dissapoint them as they ahve been so great to us in our first year as parents. It would need to be something suitable for ages 1-65, more adults than children. we simply don't have the room at home to accomodate 20-30 guests plus we are about to have a new patio laid & our garden turned into a temporary builders yard. We only had his baptism in April & don't want to repeat that by hiring a local hall again. I would say a picnic but we just can't gurantee the weather & I wouldn't know what to do if it rained or was blisteringley hot like today.

Please can anyone make any sensible suggestions?

Thanks:o

Andybez38

I would say Happy birthday son, after all he won't remember. Why waste hard earned cash on something that wont be remembered. Its only gonna be a guilt thing if you dont do anything. Save your money and get him a nice present when he can remember and make use of.

Caixta

I don't know if this will help, as it's not really along the lines of a birthday gathering, but this is something we did for my daughter's 6th birthday recently:

There was already a big family occasion in the pipeline anyway, (inlaws' Ruby Wedding) so no need for another big party.

My husband's a whiz with Windows Movie Maker so he made a compilation of video clips and photos, set to a soundtrack of an appropriate pop song. Think along the lines of Davina's "Let's have a look at your best bits" sequence for each evictee of Big Brother. He used some great moments from throughout the year and made a really cute little 3 minute movie. Our little girl was thrilled with her pop video and it makes a good keepsake of the year's highlights. We'll all enjoy re-running it in years to come - maybe on her 18th, who knows?

Cost=£0, just a couple of hilarious evenings spent compiling it, and deciding which bits to leave out.

It's also a good size to attach to an email and send out to all the relatives who have computers.

How about visiting a few of your circle and "interviewing" them about the past year? Grandparents, or whoever, may have funny observations about Baby's first few months, or even from current affairs. You could make all these into a video diary to be treasured in years to come - a real record of a momentous year for all of you. (Plus, you get to go to their houses and do it, rather than have everyone round to your place at once!) It's a way of including everyone without having a huge gathering. Or if you can't get hold of a video camera, maybe use a tape recorder.

Then keep it quietly hidden till his 18th and all have a good laugh at how he and everyone else has changed!

Baby's first birthday is particularly a celebration for the parents - you can congratulate each other on a year's work well done. Baby won't remember it, so if you've got something to show that you can all look back on one day, it may mean more than presents which will be quickly outgrown.

sheng719

thanks for all the bright ideas!!! Keep them coming....I have some plans coming up...but there might still be some good ideas out ther that you could share....

Counting_Pennies_2

I would say don't worry about the weather, I think it is likely to be a good day, especially in August. If not you can always rain check for another time, or all pop to a family friendly pub.

Arrange a date, and ask everyone to bring a picnic dish, maybe do a list for everyone to take a dish from, then get everyone to bring a rug, and take a ball, frizbee, etc and have a big family day out at the park, beach or river.

Just find a family friendly pub that will take you all just incase

First birthdays go in a flash and the little one will never remember it.

Lillibet_2

Thanks everyone, we have decided on a small picnic with Spud's godparents & 2 other couples who we are very close to, at Bushy park so if rain does get in the way it's only a mile from home & we should just about be able to squeeze that many in for a carpet picnic:D

ruthyjo

inkie wrote:

What about a session paintballing?!

My little boy recently went to an eleven year old girl's laser quest party. It was something he'd done before and always enjoys but to most of the girlie guests it was anew thing. He was astounded by the way they got stuck in and said they were much fiercer than the boys he normally plays with.

You might be surprised by how much they like this kind of "boy" thing.

p.s. I think laser quest is cheaper than paintball and definitely less painful!