4 Year Old Son's Birthday Ideas...

Try the old fashioned games. Keep the kids moving. It will wear them out and make for oh-so-happy parents!

Bean bag toss
Potato sack races
water ballon races
3-legged races
musical chairs
hard-boiled egg on a spoon race
pin the tail on something (or for example is the theme is 'cars'..pin the wheel on the car)

I saw a lady in the park this weekend directing these games for her 5/6 year old son's birthday.

Here's a few sites:
www.best-kids-games-online.com/outdoor-games-for-children...
www.fungameskidsplay.com/outdoorgames.htm
childparenting.about.com/cs/kidsgames/a/outdoorgames.htm

My son just turned three and we had his Birthday Party at Planet Pizza (wwwplanetpizzaplano.com)and it was great. The kids had a great time plus they do everything for you! Their is also a place called Punp It Up. (www.pumpitupparty.com) The other ideal I have is the Toy's R Us in Frisco has a party room.

For the other moms to tell you what not to do is rude. Kids at this age love bounce houses and pizza parties. But I can understand if you want something different. My daughter is turning 4 and has her party in 2 weeks. She has an opinion this year and shot down all my ideas until we found the one that works. We are having a gymnastics party where she takes tumbling. Should be fun.

Other ideas - firestation birthday party (Frisco has a station but you could call your local McKinney firestation), Fairview farms off 75, Heard Museum in Fairview - are some different ideas. Not sure how far into November your son's bday is but you could do a party at the Big orange pumpkin patch (www.bigorangepumpkinfarm.com) in McKinney/prosper (on Bill Bates Ranch). Hope this helps.

I saw Anne's response about HappyLand - but my opinion on that place is it's better for a 2 or 3 year old party. My daughter is bored with that place, as are her friends who are 4. Cute concept place though.

Good luck!

I would have to agree with the last response - it may be tiring for adults, but the kids love the bounce house parties and Chuck-E-Cheese's! I would recommend also:

Gymstar (Park and Preston in Plano): Ask for Ms. Kelli - you get to sit and watch while the instructor runs the kids around and has tons of fun athletic activities for the kids to do. It's awesome! They also serve up the cake and do the gift thing - so easy!

Party Pets - this is great to do at your house in the backyard. This soooo nice guy comes out with 30+ animals and sets everything up. Then he brings them out one-by-one and talks about the animal and (if appropriate) lets the kids pet or touch them. He was so good with the kids and always made sure the kid of honor gets to see and touch the animals. Then at the end, each kid gets their photo taken with an animal. This was truly a fun party for the kids AND the adults (we'd never seen an iquana up close and personal before!)! I can't find his number but will post it when I find it. He was referred by a friend who had just had him come out and do his kids' party...

My son is turning 4 in November as well, but last year we did a party at McDonald's. The kids get happy meals (w/toy), gift bags, ice cream and cake. They do the decorations (balloons, place mats, hats....it cost about $75-100 and it was well worth it.

Working mom of 3 boys - 3, 10, 13..

Not sure if you're interested in The Little Gym of Plano - http://www.thelittlegym.com/gym/default.aspx?gymid=93

Or My Gym (Plano) http://www.my-gym.com/03.asp?page=5&gymid=40

Or Jungle Gym (Frisco) http://www.jungym.com/

These are cute and fun parties! They have fun kid-size equipment for the kids to play on. And I know you get the whole gym for your private party alone. The kids have a blast!
Good luck!

I agree w/ the other responses. Kids love bouncehouses and it's rude for the parents to tell you what to do. My daughter is turning 4 next month & she insisted that her party be at a bouncehouse. Big Orange Pumpkin Farm is fun and would be nice in November.

Other options though are: Clubhouse for Kids, Barnyard Buddies, Planet Pizza & Cute as a Button in Plano. All Frisco firestations will accomodate a birthday party as well as the Age of Steam Railroad Museum in Dallas. There's always the Zoo too.

Here are a couple of websites that might help you out:
http://www.aroundtownkids.com/
http://www.dallasbirthdays.com/

and just a tip- book early. A lot of the bday places around town fill up fast, so for the exact date & time you want, I'd plan on booking about 2 months in advance. HTH!!!

I understand the parents feelings on having gone to chuck e cheese a million times....however, I think for them to make those comments is a little rude. By time a kids is four they usually have an opinion and if your child wants chuck e cheese he should have it because it is HIS birthday. Anyway, that being said, I am sorry I vented on you...I just think some parents forget the party is for the child not them. As far as ideas..in November it should be very nice outside. For both of my kids 4th bdays we had them at a park. For my daughters we had crafts set up at the tables and for my sons we got a petting zoo....then of course they had the playground. Good Luck.

We did Planet Pizza in Plano and my son and his friends had a blast.

A friend of mine did a small party for 5 and had a camp out (not a sleep over) for the boys. They set up tents in her backyard and a small wading pool was set up for fishing (prizes). Also, she set up a small grill on the ground that was used for roasting marshmellows and hot dogs. The boys had a blast. She read camping stories age appropriate... her party was for 5 year olds. They made some kind of art project which honestly I'm not sure what but she said the boys had a great time.

Is your son a Wiggles fan....I just found out there is a Wiggles Play Center...I believe in frisco...

You can always do a Open Gym type of Party! Metroplex Gymnastics in Allen did my 3 year b-day party and they all had so much fun.

I would do the cake & presents first and then let them play. It will be hard to corral a bunch of kids to stop "open gym" and have cake, so I did that part first and then they played.

There were 2 people to help. 1 helped me to set it all up (b-day room & decor) and 1 out on the mat/floor to supervise.

Pretty reasonable. For 15 kids it was $150.00

Gladys

PS..I would also check with your son, he is 4 and does he have an opinion?....

We went to a really fun birthday party at Owen's Spring Creek Farms in Richardson.

You can always go for the old fashioned home birthday party, with kiddie pools, slip n slide, and games at your home if you have the space for it. My son and I have been to a couple of those, and they are always really fun!

The best place for a child that age:
www.HappyLandMcKinney.com
*They are posted on the mamasource business referral page too. GREAT BIRTHDAY PARTIES - you get the whole place to yourself and they do everything!! Much cheaper than everywhere else and they include a theme of your choice and drinks and everything.
Good luck!

Adventure kids play care has party times on sundays... its a fun place.

I did the heard museum once and chick filet is fun to

soccer tots does soccer parties... check out your local rec center as well...

Good luck,
PS if you need any party favors, give me a shout. I can make any party favors for any theme event...GARUNTEED not to end up in the trash!

A.
www.celebritypartyfavors.com

Check this place out, it's something a little different...
http://grishamfarms.org/

You might try aroundtownkids.com they have some great birthday ideas listed.