Birthday party 101

[Anonymous]

hosting a birthday party for a kid turning 4. If I do a party at a park, what do I generally need to do? Do people usually bring snacks or food for the kids and parents? Do people bring a cake to the park? Do you structure the time at all or do the kids just run around? Also, my younger child is turning one two days prior. Would it be weird to just have one park party for both and invite the daycare kids and the PK class kids?

[Anonymous]

food, cake and drinks for everyone. I'd have some activities and some free play. One party is fien.

[Anonymous]

We've held multiple parties at parks. Here is what we do:

-Rent the picnic shelter and arrive early to put up some decorations.
-Provide snacks (depending on the time of day, you might want to get pizza delivered to the park for an actual meal).
-Bring cupcakes (so you don't have to cut a cake at the park) and candles and matches.
-No need for activities; the playground equipment is the entertainment! I've been to park parties where the parents play pass the parcel or something, if you really want to do something more.
-Party favors (if this is something you do).

[Anonymous]

Yes to food. What and how much depends on time of day.

Morning: bagels, muffins, fruit, apple juice, coffee (for adults). Have enough of the food for kids + adults. Cupcakes or cake.

Mid-day: order pizza. Have a veggie tray and chips. Cooler of juice boxes or capri sun. Cupcakes or cake.
(I've done variations with a crockpot of mac and cheese, or pulled pork + rolls, which were all a hit, but much more work and not really necessary IMO - kids like pizza just as much)

Afternoon: Crackers, Hawaiian rolls, sliced cheese, deli meats, fruit, chips. People can make a roll-sandwich or just snack. Cooler of juice boxes. Cupcakes or cake. (See a theme here?)
Some people like pizza even if the party is at 3pm but I'm not a huge fan. Go for it if it's easier than the snacky-lunch-ish stuff.


Activities:
Free play while they arrive. Have one structured game or activity, then snacks/cake, and more free play.
Structured activities can be egg hunts (substitute themed item of your choice instead of eggs), water balloon toss, freeze tag, kickball ... your choice.

Totally fine to group two parties into one.

[Anonymous]

I would ensure the venue is secured (book a pavilion and whatnot). I'd keep it small - a few families. Pay everyone's admission to the park in advance, if applicable.

Cake: any that doesn't melt. I've done the sheet cake from the supermarket and brownies as cake.

Food and drinks: I'd bring packaged drinks for all, adults and kids - (juice boxes, soda cans, water of course), parents and adults. For food, I like to have tons of finger foods (charcuterie, veggies, pretzels) maybe pizza, and cake.

Activities: I schedule 2 hours. It will take half an hour for everyone to trickle in, while the kids run wild in the playground. Then I'd gather everyone for food and an activity: giant bubbles (buy supplies), a simple craft a Pinata, duck duck goose type yard games, parachute, etc. Then if those don't take, send them to play some more before cake.

Then do cake, open presents if that's what you do, and time is up. Then you can let the kids disperse and play if you don't have a hard stop, or wrap up and clean up when you want to/have to.

I wouldn't have any party for the 1 yo. Because he won't remember anything. Sing to him for the 4yo's benefit but don't invite special guests.

[Anonymous]

Please don't plan a party during nap time. If it's anytime between 4-7 you need to provide dinner for parents too, pizza is fine. Don't expect the kids to play on the playground the whole time, you need at least one activity.

[Anonymous]

mini cupcakes. You’re welcome

[Anonymous]

Yes to everything already said and especially to providing snacks and drinks for parents as well as kids. You don't have to do separate "adult food" necessarily, but having a snack that both kids and adults would enjoy (pretzels, chips, water) and enough of it for all the kids and adults makes a huge difference.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely expect there to always be food at every birthday party. Food tray (pizza, sandwiches, etc), veggie tray, fruit tray. Then you need cake or cupcakes.

4 year olds love classic games like Simon Says, pin the tail on the donkey, musical chairs.

I think a good host should always have some structure to a birthday party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely expect there to always be food at every birthday party. Food tray (pizza, sandwiches, etc), veggie tray, fruit tray. Then you need cake or cupcakes.

4 year olds love classic games like Simon Says, pin the tail on the donkey, musical chairs.

I think a good host should always have some structure to a birthday party.

I, on the other hand, only expect pizza or sandwiches if the party is at a mealtime. Otherwise I only expect snacks and cake. Whatever you do, include it on the invitation so guests can plan accordingly (i.e. we will have snacks and cupcakes! Or we will serve pizza and cake!)

[Anonymous]

Thanks to everyone, this was all helpful information. I didn’t think about just having the pizza delivered to the location, great idea.

So for a follow up question - what people’s recommendations for a park location around the palisades/Georgetown area? I’m familiar with the palisades playground, but any others? I saw someone on another thread mentioned Dumbarton Oaks, but the website says they don’t do events - any insight on this?

[Anonymous]

We invite the same number of children as the birthday child is turning, so here it would be four children.

Games (at home or in the park):
Duck Duck Goose
Simon Says
Pin the Tail on the Donkey
The Hokey-Pokey
Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Bubbles
Beanbag Race in a Circle
Silly Freeze Dance
Costume Contest (costumes provided by us)
Face Painting
Birthday Party Parade

Birthday lunch: Sandwiches, cut-up fruit, vegetables and dip, crackers and cheese, cake

[Anonymous]

Every 4 year old birthday I've attended:

1. Bounce House (even if we went to a party at some kid's karate school, a bounce house appeared)
2. Box of applesauce
3. Box of goldfish or chips
4. Box of fruit snack
5. Juice boxes and water
6. Pizza (sometimes chicken nugget tray as well)
7. Cupcakes
8. Pinata

If it's cold, there might be some coffee carafes or hot chocolate. Sometimes there's a sandwich tray for adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely expect there to always be food at every birthday party. Food tray (pizza, sandwiches, etc), veggie tray, fruit tray. Then you need cake or cupcakes.

4 year olds love classic games like Simon Says, pin the tail on the donkey, musical chairs.

I think a good host should always have some structure to a birthday party.

Veggie tray? I may as well go to the grocery store, throw it in the trash along with $20. No one eats those ever

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely expect there to always be food at every birthday party. Food tray (pizza, sandwiches, etc), veggie tray, fruit tray. Then you need cake or cupcakes.

4 year olds love classic games like Simon Says, pin the tail on the donkey, musical chairs.

I think a good host should always have some structure to a birthday party.

Veggie tray? I may as well go to the grocery store, throw it in the trash along with $20. No one eats those ever

Adults do. And the last party with kids I went to (ages 2-6) devour the cucumbers, peppers, and cherry tomatoes.