Two Birthdays and End of the Year Picnic All Within Two Weeks!

L.,

Hi, My suggestion for your parties... have the parents bring goodies for the pre-school party, (you could have a sign up list) if they don't bring much don't wory. Have games and music going maybe some art activities. If the parents are invited to the party have the projects be ones they can help thier child with. If it's warm have a water balloon fight.

As for the birthday party's I would suggest combining them. I will be doing the same with my two girls who will be turning 3 and 1 next month. You could go to the dollar store for paper plates, cups, etc. Also you could have it at a time when it is not meal time that way you only have to have cake and ice cream. Hope this helps you!

N.

We also had a 6yo birthday party at the park last year, and it was GREAT! We did not even reserve but took a chance and snagged a picnic table next to the play area. We had seen on an earlier visit that they had a bbq there too, so we brought hot dogs/buns/condiments and chips and two types of salads (pasta, potato) plus cupcakes and party favors. Invited everyone, the kids ran off to play, parents supervised and ate and talked. I think we all really enjoyed it because if you weren't a "talker", you could play with your kids and not feel confined to a room or house.

The one drawback was that we had planned to use a chimney and charcoal to start the bbq. When we got there, it turns out that the bbq grill was permanently in place and couldn't be removed for the chimney. So we had to put the coals on top of the bbq and then transfer down below carefully with tongs. Something to think about beforehand...

Also, don't forget napkins, tableclothes, etc. It was not super cheap, but it beat paying $200-300 for an indoor rented space! And the kids didn't know the difference.

Something that might work is to check out the Oriental Trading Company website. They are amazing about selling things cheap, in bulk, and something everyone would enjoy. I go through them or check out my local dollar store. (I like the Dollar Tree in particular. :D) Make sure you know who is hopefully attending...via cards with an RSVP. Write down EVERYTHING. That always helped us. :D Hope this helps!

For the preschool event, can you go to a park? One with an area to ride bikes would be great - the kids can bring ride on toys and ride around...

We have had birthday parties at a farm for my son - basically, you don't have to rent a space (you can if you want to), and the cost can be limited - you can instruct the kids on how much they can "pick" from a u-pick area.

L.

My advice goes with the first two... parks. We had our son's 2nd birthday party at the park and everyone loved it. To cut back on costs, we asked guests to bring food for the party, we brought the cake and decorations

Most parks are okay with you decorating their picnic area as long as you clean it up. And if you're looking to use the "group" area or covered area you may need to reserve it first.

Check with your local county parks department for rules and such, though. Always good to ask first.

-B. M.-

our preschool takes walks every day, so it is a 'normal' event, for a party, for the parents to show up at the teacher's house and then we all walk together, with our children, to the nearest park for a picnic (plus the kids can play in the trees or on the playstructure: inherent party :) ).

3 year old party, same suggestion ;), only, if there is a special playground/park/playground waterfeature he really likes or that you have been driving past thinking "he would really like that one," invite your guests to show up there ... going to a park away from your house will feel birthday-treat special.