Have your kids ever been to a boring birthday party? Have all parties been fun regardless of where?

[Anonymous]

They will be a bit wild but will have fun. We had a blast with nerf guns and large boxes. Have also played more traditional games (pin the tail, etc). Games with candy, esp piñata, are very popular. Have fun!

[Anonymous]

i think the old fashioned games may be fun for kids this age: pop the balloon (can be played where it's a relay race and you sit on the balloon in a chair or where you stomp on the balloons on the floor), throwing beanbags through a hole/into a basket, pinata, pin the tail on the donkey, musical chairs, red rover, red light, green light. If you have space for them to just run around and play freely, that's good too. And then have some backup quiet games and crafts too just in case the kids tend toward the calmer/quieter side.

Home parties are the best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I threw an "Experiments" theme b-day party for my then 7 year old DS. We invited Eric Energy people. We had some fun experiments planned, incl. one with loud noises. Little did I know one kid was terrified of noise and completely lost his shit. He was crying for nearly an hour, didn't want any food, any cake, I tried to redirect him to a quieter room with toys and books, and he was just crying non-stop. When his mom came to pick him up, he complained loudly to her her and she proceeded to scold me! that we should not scare kids like that. Other parents were ticked at her reaction. Let's just say DS is no longer friends with that boy, he felt that we catered to a cry-baby.

Oh my gosh please have a little more emphaty for that kid. Some kids are VERY sensitive to loud noises. You shouldn't encourage your son to call him a cry baby.

We did say in the invitation that some experiments might have loud noises. We tried to redirect him many times, no luck. If his mother knew he was that sensitive, she should've stayed. Instead, I spent almost the entire birthday catering to a child I barely knew.

Seriously, PP? Agree the mom sounds like a peach for being critical and not apologizing, but it's not the boy's fault. He was 7. Seven! I would be ashamed if my son called such a child a cry baby and upset that this child did not have a good time. I would have arranged for a quiet playdate with DS and the boy the following week to make sure we could turn around his bad experience with a good one. Also why didn't you call the mom to let her know what was going on? At that age if a child is crying for that long I would think it good manners to inform the parent that in case they have any strategies or wanted to come by to check in.

[Anonymous]

I actually dislike home parties with too many activities. I think simple is best. Kids who know each other well, pizza, cake, and maybe a pinata.

[Anonymous]

My children have enjoyed everything, except the cake/icing/cupcakes. They usually don't like those.

We do home birthday parties. My daughter thinks they're the best and prefers them to others. Exhausting for me, though.

[Anonymous]

All these problems are solved by having a moon bounce in your yard.

[Anonymous]

My kid has complained about a couple of boring parties, but for those DC didn't know many of the other kids there. I think the mix of kids is a big factor in whether any particular kid has a good time, when the activities are boring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All these problems are solved by having a moon bounce in your yard.

These are often the best parties. But, I will not leave my kid as often no one is supervising the kids.

[Anonymous]

If there's cake, they'll be fine.

I will say my daughter has been invited to a couple birthdays at a bowling alley and she was def bored. Mostly went to the arcade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I threw an "Experiments" theme b-day party for my then 7 year old DS. We invited Eric Energy people. We had some fun experiments planned, incl. one with loud noises. Little did I know one kid was terrified of noise and completely lost his shit. He was crying for nearly an hour, didn't want any food, any cake, I tried to redirect him to a quieter room with toys and books, and he was just crying non-stop. When his mom came to pick him up, he complained loudly to her her and she proceeded to scold me! that we should not scare kids like that. Other parents were ticked at her reaction. Let's just say DS is no longer friends with that boy, he felt that we catered to a cry-baby.

Oh my gosh please have a little more emphaty for that kid. Some kids are VERY sensitive to loud noises. You shouldn't encourage your son to call him a cry baby.

We did say in the invitation that some experiments might have loud noises. We tried to redirect him many times, no luck. If his mother knew he was that sensitive, she should've stayed. Instead, I spent almost the entire birthday catering to a child I barely knew.

Seriously, PP? Agree the mom sounds like a peach for being critical and not apologizing, but it's not the boy's fault. He was 7. Seven! I would be ashamed if my son called such a child a cry baby and upset that this child did not have a good time. I would have arranged for a quiet playdate with DS and the boy the following week to make sure we could turn around his bad experience with a good one. Also why didn't you call the mom to let her know what was going on? At that age if a child is crying for that long I would think it good manners to inform the parent that in case they have any strategies or wanted to come by to check in.

The 7yo boy obviously has some special needs. We had Eric energy for a 4yo preschool party and no one was crying. I think mom who dropped off was wrong to scold host. How rude.

My 7yo was recently scared at laser tag party in dark with monsters. He still didn't cry. I wouldn't dare scold the host. My kid has been to non scary laser tag parties previously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I threw an "Experiments" theme b-day party for my then 7 year old DS. We invited Eric Energy people. We had some fun experiments planned, incl. one with loud noises. Little did I know one kid was terrified of noise and completely lost his shit. He was crying for nearly an hour, didn't want any food, any cake, I tried to redirect him to a quieter room with toys and books, and he was just crying non-stop. When his mom came to pick him up, he complained loudly to her her and she proceeded to scold me! that we should not scare kids like that. Other parents were ticked at her reaction. Let's just say DS is no longer friends with that boy, he felt that we catered to a cry-baby.

Oh my gosh please have a little more emphaty for that kid. Some kids are VERY sensitive to loud noises. You shouldn't encourage your son to call him a cry baby.

We did say in the invitation that some experiments might have loud noises. We tried to redirect him many times, no luck. If his mother knew he was that sensitive, she should've stayed. Instead, I spent almost the entire birthday catering to a child I barely knew.

Seriously, PP? Agree the mom sounds like a peach for being critical and not apologizing, but it's not the boy's fault. He was 7. Seven! I would be ashamed if my son called such a child a cry baby and upset that this child did not have a good time. I would have arranged for a quiet playdate with DS and the boy the following week to make sure we could turn around his bad experience with a good one. Also why didn't you call the mom to let her know what was going on? At that age if a child is crying for that long I would think it good manners to inform the parent that in case they have any strategies or wanted to come by to check in.

I would not invite that kid over again. If my son asked, sure.

I have 5yo and 7yo boys. If kid cries for no reason, we do call him cry baby and usually ignore. I would not coddle 7yo over science entertainment.

[Anonymous]

"we"? You, the parent, call 5 year olds names?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are having a home party and I'm worried it may be boring for second graders. I've got some games planned but they are traditional old school leaning.

Dc has been to slumber parties in 2nd grade and loved them. I don't remember a birthday party that they didn't enjoy throughout the years whether at home or playground or anywhere else. Home and playground are more challenging for host parents cause they need to plan activities etc.

[Anonymous]

DD has loved all bday parties she's been to except one at Lucky Strikes. IMO they were all too little to understand the game (3-4 yos) and quickly bored of rolling a ball down a bumpered alley.

I plan at home parties and go all out with activities and decorations, but like a lot of the other people have said, sometimes the kids have the most fun running around with each other and playing with my kid's toys.

If you get a group of kids together who like each other (and throw some sugar into the mix, ha), they'll have fun doing just about anything!

[Anonymous]

The only party my son disliked was one that had a very specific sport theme....as in the party was playing the sport. And it was a sport he did not like. But he still liked the cake