ALT-3 Throwing a Birthday Party
If you're starting to feel the weight of the recession on your wallet, don't fret. You are certainly not alone. The news keeps telling us about the hundreds of thousands of people who are suddenly being forced to live on a budget. If you're like most parents, the difficult part isn't the sacrifices you're making for yourself, it's trying to keep your kids happy without breaking the bank. There is no harder time than a child's birthday to try and stick to a budget. Don't start counting coins yet. There are lots of ways to have a fantastic birthday party for your youngster without putting you in the poorhouse.
This year save bundles of bucks by having your shin-dig in your house or in a local park. Many state parks have areas where families can gather. Call the park administration to find out what the rules are. Just bring your own lighter fluid and charcoal, and use the grills they have there. If they don't have one, you can pick up a cheap portable grill at your local supermarket. Kids love burgers and hot dogs!
Instead of buying an expensive cake from your local bakery, get together with the birthday boy/girl and have them help you bake their own cake. You can get loads of awesome cake ideas from magazines at the library or online. Not only will it be a fun activity, but your child will feel proud of the creation they get to share with all their friends.
Organize fun games and activities for the kids to compete in for prizes. Three-legged races, egg tosses, and tug-of-war are fun outdoor activities. Get creative with your relay races. One game that kids love is the water race. Set up a cooler full of water at the starting line. At the finish set up two big empty bowls with a bright red fill line. Separate the kids into two teams and have them line up at the start line. Give the first child a cup, and on go have them fill up the cup, empty it into the bowl at the finish and run back to hand the cup off to the next child in line. The first team to fill the bowl to the line wins!
If you're having an indoor party twister, musical chairs, and limbo are awesome party games. Kids love the balloon game too. Before the party write a series of challenges or dares on small slips of paper, and one WINNER paper. Insert them into balloons before you blow them up, and tape them to a wall or giant piece of cardboard. Have kids take turns popping the balloons and completing the dares. The child who gets the WINNER paper will win the prize.
Goody bags sound like a good idea, but at the end of the day they can turn out to be expensive, especially if you're having lots of kids. Save some cash by planning ahead. Start scouring your local Walmart or Target for inexpensive kids toys. You can often get small play-doh sets, puzzles, or nerf sets for a dollar or two. Make sure you get non gender specific toys, or evenly distribute the girls and boys toys. As you play the party games let the winners choose their prizes from the table. Have enough games, or game winners to ensure that each child gets a prize by the end of the day.
Another idea is to have the kids craft their own favors. Set up a craft table and guide the kids through making foam or paper crowns and tiaras. You can find tons of craft ideas on the web.
Have a friend who plays the guitar? Have them make an appearance for a sing-a-long. Instead of hiring a clown, make your own costume and dress up yourself, or a friend. Try to learn some magic tricks, or better yet, try to teach some to your party guests.
Remember you don't have to spend a fortune to have a blast. Kids love to run around and interact with other kids. Just keep them occupied and you'll be sure to have a memorable party without having to lose your shirt.
