Describe the best kids party you've been to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At a bar! No, seriously. The birthday boy's parents held it at a neighborhood bar with a decent (but not huge) dance space. Since it was from 3-5 pm on a Sunday in mid-December, and not a sports-bar type place, the owner was happy to give us the run of the place. The kids had a blast chasing the (hundreds) of cheap latex balloons around the dance floor while a mix of kids' music and '80s tunes played in the background. BBs parents bought a few pitchers to get everyone started, after that it was open bar, with snacks, etc, provided by the family. Big finish: teaching the kids how to do the Electric Slide and the Moonwalk.

Man, it was fun. All of the Moms were walking around saying, "How? How did no one ever think of this before?" First party I've ever seen where the parents had just as much fun as the kids.

That is odd....the law doesn't allow minors in bars...at all.

Not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not asking about the most low key or outrageous. Tell me about the party where your child had the most fun and/or you could see and appreciate the effort put forth by the parents.

Pool parties or jumping parties seem to be the most fun. One in preschool that the kids liked was safety themed. The parents got the give away safety things from the firehouse and police station for the goodies bags (coloring books...) Pin the hose on the firetruck. They evacuated out of a first floor window first by crawling to the window then handed out the window (with one parent handing down the child to the other parent below). There was a fire brigade that handed water balloons down the line of kids to fill buckets at the end of the line. Then the kids got to throw them at a "fire" (hula hoops). Things like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've hosted and attended several parties and here is what I've learned.

1. You must have food- it doesn't have to be much but everyone hates going to a party (especially a party at mealtimes) and there is not a grape to be found. FWIW, while I supply a full spread, food is considered chips/pretzels/veggies/pita bread. You can buy a lot of options to cover this category for less than $20.

2. Depending on age is depending on activity. 2 year olds do not need some grand craft for the parents to make. 3 year old's need SOMETHING to keep them from climbing the walls. The something can be a playground, the something can be a craft, the something can be an entertainer.

3. If you have an entertainer, make sure they are age appropriate and can accommodate your party size. Kids do not like to be the 21st person in line waiting for the one person to make them a balloon/paint their face.

4. Simple is best- simple does not mean ugly or boring, it means too many things create chaos which is not fun for the parents.

5. Take pictures before the party- as a host/hostess you will be busy doing everything else and if you didn't take a picture of the cake prior and it's important to have a picture, do it before.

6. Do not choose a cake/cupcake/dessert with red or blue frosting unless you are prepared to get it off every surface imaginable. One friend rented the community space and the kids smeared dark purple frosting on the upholstered chairs- that wasn't coming out with anything.

7. Always have bathrooms accessible. Parks without potties are not fun for anyone.

8. If you plan an activity for the kids that is potentially messy, tell the parents ahead of time. Nothing worse than Suzie showing up in a party dress for painting with non-washable paint.

9. Let the kids have fun- this should be number 1 but this was done in no particular order.

10. Bouncy castles are fun, but kids do get hurt. Nothing worse than EMS having to take a kid out on a stretcher since their knee bent the wrong way. It ruins a party for everyone. Just keep in mind the potential things that go wrong.

11. Check your invite list more than once. It's one thing to invite the class but huge parties are not as fun as the smaller ones since having to do things for 25 is much different than 8. And planning a party for 8 allows you to do activities/special things that are not possible/affordable for 25.

As for the best party we've been to, we have several to choose from. All were very thoughtful parties where the mom planned great age-appropriate activities that were easy for the kids to do and they had a great time. The kids had a great time and the parents did as well. Food was age appropriate (chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, fruit, veggies) and sippy cups. The worst party was a noon party without any food (I assured my husband not to eat since there would be food and there was not a chip to be found). You don't remember the mediocre parties but you do remember the ones without food!

Really Helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At a bar! No, seriously. The birthday boy's parents held it at a neighborhood bar with a decent (but not huge) dance space. Since it was from 3-5 pm on a Sunday in mid-December, and not a sports-bar type place, the owner was happy to give us the run of the place. The kids had a blast chasing the (hundreds) of cheap latex balloons around the dance floor while a mix of kids' music and '80s tunes played in the background. BBs parents bought a few pitchers to get everyone started, after that it was open bar, with snacks, etc, provided by the family. Big finish: teaching the kids how to do the Electric Slide and the Moonwalk.

Man, it was fun. All of the Moms were walking around saying, "How? How did no one ever think of this before?" First party I've ever seen where the parents had just as much fun as the kids.

That is odd....the law doesn't allow minors in bars...at all.

Not true.

I had this party when I was a kid in Chicago. Saturday Night Fever had just come out and it was the age of disco and so it was a disco party at a real bar. I have no idea what we ate, or if the parents drank, I remember the light up dance floor and the music.

To the McDonald's person - I don't know if they do that anymore either but when you mentioned the cake I had a flashback to a McDonald's party from when I was I kid and that cake. I don't remember if it was my birthday or not, maybe my sisters? Damn good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At a bar! No, seriously. The birthday boy's parents held it at a neighborhood bar with a decent (but not huge) dance space. Since it was from 3-5 pm on a Sunday in mid-December, and not a sports-bar type place, the owner was happy to give us the run of the place. The kids had a blast chasing the (hundreds) of cheap latex balloons around the dance floor while a mix of kids' music and '80s tunes played in the background. BBs parents bought a few pitchers to get everyone started, after that it was open bar, with snacks, etc, provided by the family. Big finish: teaching the kids how to do the Electric Slide and the Moonwalk.

Man, it was fun. All of the Moms were walking around saying, "How? How did no one ever think of this before?" First party I've ever seen where the parents had just as much fun as the kids.

That is odd....the law doesn't allow minors in bars...at all.

I think I might know this family. They took over the upstairs as a private room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At a bar! No, seriously. The birthday boy's parents held it at a neighborhood bar with a decent (but not huge) dance space. Since it was from 3-5 pm on a Sunday in mid-December, and not a sports-bar type place, the owner was happy to give us the run of the place. The kids had a blast chasing the (hundreds) of cheap latex balloons around the dance floor while a mix of kids' music and '80s tunes played in the background. BBs parents bought a few pitchers to get everyone started, after that it was open bar, with snacks, etc, provided by the family. Big finish: teaching the kids how to do the Electric Slide and the Moonwalk.

Man, it was fun. All of the Moms were walking around saying, "How? How did no one ever think of this before?" First party I've ever seen where the parents had just as much fun as the kids.

That is odd....the law doesn't allow minors in bars...at all.

Not true.

I think it is. Mt.Pleasant/Columbia. Correct?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pump It Up has a definite age limit. Kids love it between 4 and 5 and then the novelty is gone. Mock sleepover was a fun one for girls. Trip to a children's theater (transportation provided) was fun for kids. Honestly they are all generally the same...there isn't really one that was the best kids' birthday party...

If you live out there--fine. however, Pump it Up is a serious frickin' haul from N.Arl and DC. DO NOT THINK ABOUT HAVING YOUR PARTY THERE IF YOU LIVE SO FAR AWAY. We have been invited to two evening parties there --one Friday night and one Saturday night...holy cr*p is that a haul. Every single parents was bitching about the 1.5 hours of traffic. Went once for a good friend---will NEVER do it again.

If you live out there-- it is great.

Moral of story---think of places near you house. Many people of multiple kids with multiple weekend activities and can't write off an entire day for a kid party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At a bar! No, seriously. The birthday boy's parents held it at a neighborhood bar with a decent (but not huge) dance space. Since it was from 3-5 pm on a Sunday in mid-December, and not a sports-bar type place, the owner was happy to give us the run of the place. The kids had a blast chasing the (hundreds) of cheap latex balloons around the dance floor while a mix of kids' music and '80s tunes played in the background. BBs parents bought a few pitchers to get everyone started, after that it was open bar, with snacks, etc, provided by the family. Big finish: teaching the kids how to do the Electric Slide and the Moonwalk.

Man, it was fun. All of the Moms were walking around saying, "How? How did no one ever think of this before?" First party I've ever seen where the parents had just as much fun as the kids.

That is odd....the law doesn't allow minors in bars...at all.

Not true.

I think it is. Mt.Pleasant/Columbia. Correct?

I'm the Mom who posted this last night -- the party was held in the Milwaukee suburbs, before we moved here. Obviously, state laws/local ordinances will vary. It may well be that you couldn't do this in Montgomery County but you could in NOVA, for instance.

[Anonymous]

I love this post, as I'm trying to plan something for my DD's 3rd birthday. For her previous birthdays, we've just had small get togethers at our house, but we wanted to plan something different this year. We were thinking a party room at one of the Fairfax County rec centers, and letting the kids swim. Has anyone ever done this at the Mt. Vernon center in Belle Haven?

Any recs for bounce house rentals? That's something we may try to do this summer for our son's birthday.

[Anonymous]

We attended a party last spring at a petting zoo in Fairfax. The kids (ages 1-4) weren't really at an age where they interact much, but everyone had a blast. The kids got to walk around with parents, and then lunch was served in a pavilion.