My kid had his 4 year old birthday at a playground on Feb 1 this year (we started inside, but they spent far longer outside). It was hot, I know he didn't wear a coat. I think it's going to be okay to do an outdoor party.

My kid would love a wintertime outdoor party with hot chocolate. Bonus if there's snow to play in!

We will do delayed spring outdoor parties for our winter bday kids. I’m not hosting outdoors in Feb.

The Zoom parties we've attended have been painful to listen to but maybe some of the kids enjoyed them. Ours were pretty bored. Just start planning something for the summer and give your kid a chance to have a birthday like they've never had before (pool party, etc.). My twins' birthday is mid-April and we have just indefinitely postponed what we had planned until it's possible to do it again. They're six and they get it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will there be any safe way to have a party? We only do outside, masked things now. So even if indoor venues are open in January, I won’t feel comfortable. My DD has already started talking about her birthday party. I’m comfortable going to a party at a park where everyone is masked and staying separated. But we won’t be able to do that in January. Will we be able to zoom parties? Are there any safe ideas that I’m not thinking of? DD’s local family is just her and me, so a “family party” would be pretty small!

Do a park party. Play in the snow, have hot chocolate ready in thermoses. Play frisbee.

No gifts or gifts go directly in the trunk.

Anonymous wrote:Will there be any safe way to have a party? We only do outside, masked things now. So even if indoor venues are open in January, I won’t feel comfortable. My DD has already started talking about her birthday party. I’m comfortable going to a party at a park where everyone is masked and staying separated. But we won’t be able to do that in January. Will we be able to zoom parties? Are there any safe ideas that I’m not thinking of? DD’s local family is just her and me, so a “family party” would be pretty small!

Do a park party. Play in the snow, have hot chocolate ready in thermoses. Play frisbee.

Anonymous wrote:i probably would not come to an outdoor party in January - although it's possible if it's a freak warm weather day. But that doesn't sound fun (trying to eat, sit, give gifts, chat in the cold?) to me and I think my kid would whine.

We did a Zoom party that was led by an outside vendor, and it was really fun. We built legos - the instructor talked and engaged the kids and it was low stress on the family. You could hire someone to be a character, or read stories, or play games virtually.

PP, can you share the name of the Lego party vendor you used?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My January birthday kid will be turning 5 and we’re planning an outdoor party with 3 other families we bubble with. If it’s snowy, then snow games, if it’s cold, then hit chocolate and roasting marshmallows. I plan on making the invite for an hour so people don’t feel obligated to stay if it’s 30 degrees and their kids get whiny.

If you bubble with them, why are you having an outdoor party?

PP here. Good question, I meant bubble loosely I guess. Neighborhood friends that we do open air play with, but not indoor play. Yeah, if you bubble with them, then no point in an outdoor party.

Anonymous wrote:My January birthday kid will be turning 5 and we’re planning an outdoor party with 3 other families we bubble with. If it’s snowy, then snow games, if it’s cold, then hit chocolate and roasting marshmallows. I plan on making the invite for an hour so people don’t feel obligated to stay if it’s 30 degrees and their kids get whiny.

If you bubble with them, why are you having an outdoor party?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d bring my kid to an outdoor playground party in Jan. Have hot chocolate/cider. Theres a decent chance it will be 40-50degrees.

Or a blizzard.

Then you reschedule for the next weekend when it's back to 40 degrees because that's DC winters for you. Or stay home and post on DCUM that your kids are driving you insane when they've been cooped up inside all winter. But don't be surprised when we tell you to put on a coat and brave the weather. It's DC, not Alaska.

Op how about Top Golf? Bays are outdoors but heated. She’s a bit young at 4 but my kiddo loved “golfing” there at that age and adults can also enjoy. Invite 2 other kids tops so you can distance.

Anonymous wrote:I’d bring my kid to an outdoor playground party in Jan. Have hot chocolate/cider. Theres a decent chance it will be 40-50degrees.

Or a blizzard.

We live where it’s very cold (7 hours North of Minneapolis) and we do a sleigh ride /camp fire kind of party in January. It’s nice to get everyone outside in the fresh air after being cooped up in the winter and through the holidays, and everyone has a blast. I don’t know if there’s farms that offer those kinds of things near you, but it’s a suggestion.

The farm where we go has a bard where the kids can go see the animals, etc. So I suspect that will be a no go this year, but the rest of the time is really fun. We serve hot chocolate, apple cider, etc. We’ve also done an ice skating party.

Anonymous wrote:None of my summer birthdays had friend parties this year. My winter kid won’t either.

Nothing? No Zoom party or masked playground meet up? That's fine if it works for your kids, but it also isn't unreasonable for parents to want to give their kids more, especially this year when everything in their world is turned upside down.

None of my summer birthdays had friend parties this year. My winter kid won’t either.