Anonymous wrote:Dutch Wonderland

We did a family Hershey Park trip. Much more fun than a party IMO.

Had a party at Chuck E Cheese, got hammered, and started a 20 person brawl. Oh, and I forgot and left his sister there, and didn't realize it until the next day.

Got to love Chuck E Cheese

Dutch Wonderland

The Little Gym. I think it's Uno's has a decorate your own pizza and my niece and a few of her friends did that for 3 -- perfect as no fuss for parents. Problem with outdoors can be weather. We've done pool parties too, fun for adults but takes a lot of planning.

Anonymous wrote:How does a three year old"choose" where to go for dinner?

Is this a serious question? Unless your 3 yo cannot talk, I don't see why he or she cannot choose a restaurant. You simply ask, "Where would you like to go for your special birthday dinner," and then the child answers. My DD will be 3 in two weeks and she has already chosen where she wants to go, so I guess technically even a 2 yo can choose a restaurant.

And to answer the OP's question, we are doing a small party at home with family and a few neighborhood friends. My DD loves Robin so we are doing a superhero themed party. There'll be some games, cake, and a little time for the kids to just run around in the yard. Should be lots of fun.

Seriously PP? You say, "do you want to go to ... Or...(Name a few restaurants they have been to and like)". My kid turns 3 next week and his been had opinions about such things for at least 6 months. We don't necessarily eat where he prefers, but for his birthday we certainly would.

How does a three year old"choose" where to go for dinner?

we just went out to dinner at the place of her choice (cpk), family only, and had cake for her at home

-sahm w/ time for planning

For DD1, we had a regular playgroup so just hosted the week of her bday, extended the timing, and added pizza, cake, and balloons to the afternoon. DD2 was 2.5 months at the time so we needed something easy. They had a blast.

For DD2, we had a small party at an outside venue. Our house was going on the market the next week, pictures were being taken for the listing, etc. so we couldn't have it at home.

Putt putt

We held some tables at a spray park and invited school friends and family to join us for a couple of hours. That depends on the time of year of course, and a rain backup plan.

For my older child, we did just family and she was perfectly happy. For my younger child, who had been exposed to the idea of birthday parties already because he was the younger sibling, we invited his classmates plus my friends wo had similar-aged kids. That ended up being too many people to have at home, so we went to a gymnastics place. Everyone had a good time, but it was way more expensive than a 3yr old's party should have been.

For both kids at age 3, we just had a few of their friends (mostly those we were family friends with) over for some party games and food/cake.

Every 2 and 3 year old party we have been to in the last few months has been at My Gym.

We are considering a pumpkin patch or nature center.

Just looking for ideas. We did a family-only party for her 2nd, which she loved. (We have a lot of family). DD is in an at-home daycare, where most of the kids are younger than her so I wouldn't say they are really 'friends.' I'm game for a 'decorating cookies' or a Gymboree-type party, but DH is not. Says we can start that next year, and I'm fine with that too. We both work, so not a ton of time for planning.