Playground birthday party - do I need activities?

[Anonymous]

We have done playground parties for 4 yeare and never bring activities. We spend all our prep time worrying about the food. It's never been a problem. I have never seen the kids wandering around bored and unsure what to do.

[Anonymous]

We went to a 7 yo playground party yesterday. Donuts for the kids, no activities. They all had a blast. I’d keep it simple.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think any activities are necessary, but if you are doing favors anyway, the favors could be something playground-appropriate that you can always give out during the party if it seems that would be helpful.

[Anonymous]

I think people are confusing the park space with the playground. I don’t think you need any additional activities but the piñata and some bubbles would make it feel extra festive.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest having a few activities. We went to a five year old bday party at the playground recently and they had a face painter, slack line between two trees, spike ball, piñata, baseball bat and balls, football. At this particular party, the kids spent very little time on the playground structure and more time playing in the grass with the various activities. The face painter was a huge hit and the usual downside - waiting in line - wasn't an issue since there was so much else to do; there were only one or two kids in line at a time.

[Anonymous]

At a playground party we recently attended, the host did the birthday cake/singing early in the party, maybe 30 minutes in - I thought that was great - so people could go when they needed.

[Anonymous]

Yes, please. Something to make it different than just a regular play date at the park - especially for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went to a 7 yo playground party yesterday. Donuts for the kids, no activities. They all had a blast. I’d keep it simple.

I hope it was a no gift party.

[Anonymous]

I definitely wouldn't do structured games. But maybe like other have mentioned, bubbles, hula hoops, frisbees, balls....you can even make them serve as the party favors - just add a little tote bag for them to bring them home in. Maybe some coloring books or stickers on the picnic table for when they need a break.

It's not about cheap or lazy - it's that kids can entertain themselves at a park in a group for 2 hours!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We went to a 7 yo playground party yesterday. Donuts for the kids, no activities. They all had a blast. I’d keep it simple.

I hope it was a no gift party.

Do you go to birthday parties for the fancy activity, or do you go to celebrate the birthday child?

[Anonymous]

Trying to wrangle 5 year olds into an organized activity at a park sounds like torture, other than a piñata. They don't need an activity, the park is the activity, plus pizza and cake. You will be fine without trying to micromanage everything on a schedule.

[Anonymous]

I second the lazy millennial comment, do something

[Anonymous]

I'm so curious about who all these people are who think FIVE year olds need something to do other than play on the playground!! I get wanting extra activities if you have older kids who get bored on a little kid playground, but five year olds just want to play!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have never hosted a birthday party for kids who are playground age without having at least one or two activities. Geez, of course you do something or you look cheap and lazy. Have a game or an art activity. Step it up. Don't be like your lazy Millennial peers.

Eww.

Eww is right. I hope you're a Boomer, PP, b/c if you're a GenXer the rest of us are disowning you and your Heather-style nastiness. Also if your kids needed more than a playground and their friends to keep them happily entertained for a couple of hours, newsflash for you: you parented wrong.

OP, I'm sure the kids will have a great time just being at the playground. If you want to provide bubbles, chalk, that kind of stuff it'll undoubtedly go down well but it's not necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, no activities needed. My kids have been to multiple parties like this. The kids just want to get sugared up and play with each other.

+1
We had a pinata once, which the kids enjoyed, but otherwise, at every party like this I've been to or hosted, the kids just want to play and are generally not interested in organized activities. You might have some suggestions up your sleeve, just in case (Simon Says, freeze tag, etc.) but I doubt you'll need them.