Winter Birthday Party Planning Ideas

Happy New Year to everyone, first and foremost. It's 2016 and we are back and ready to bring you more random birthday party tips and pointers. Don't forget that we also offer party rentals in the Philadelphia area!

This time we are going to warm up slowly, as some of you know we like to share good information that we find in our travels on the web. This one is no exception and came from care.com. A  little generic, but still some good information as some of you moms begin the epic journey of planning your little one's birthday party.

1. Swim and Slumber Party
   Having kids sleep over at the house is fun, but even better is having a sleepover in a hotel where you don't have to clean up afterward. Reserve a suite or two at a suite-style hotel, where you can find rooms for under $100. Make it a swimming party while you're at it. It may be cold outside, but most suite-style hotels have indoor pools and meeting facilities, perfect for a winter pool party bash. Need a theme to go with it? Take our experts' suggestions and combine them to make it a luau-swim-slumber party.
2. Wonderland Party
   Keep kids entertained for hours with a Nutcracker-themed winter wonderland party. Decorate the party room with hanging snowflakes, cotton lined floors, white balloons, white mini-lights and bowls of sugar plums (candies). Make gingerbread houses by gluing together graham crackers and decorating them with different colored icings and candies. While the glue is drying on the houses, head over to the cookie decorating bar, where kids can shape cookies to cook and decorate, or just fancy up pre-made ones.
3. Lego Party
   Many craft stores offer Lego building parties, but you can do the same theme at home for a fraction of the cost. Purchase small inexpensive Lego and Bionicle kits, or set up plastic buckets of assorted Legos for kids who like to create their own masterpieces. Create a Lego party theme with Lego cut-outs, a Lego cake and play hide-the-Lego games.
4. Top Chef Party
   A party where the kids create their own meal is fun and easy, plus you can adapt this theme to accommodate kids of all ages. Make it a pizza party with already-prepared dough divided up into small balls. Set out bowls of grated cheese, sauce and assorted toppings -- then leave the rest of the work to the kids. Use extra dough for dessert pizzas topped with Nutella and ice cream. Make invitations that look like menus and give everyone their own chef hats, aprons and wooden spoons for party favors.
5. Ice Skating Party
   Why freeze outdoors when you can have fun on the ice indoors? Take the party to an indoor rink for an ice-skating lesson. Hire one of the teachers at the rink or from a skating club to teach beginners the basics and pros some new tricks. To keep costs down, Suardisuggests purchasing tickets and lessons on your own, rather than paying for a party package -- save the celebrating with the cake for home.
6. Rock Climbing Party
   Let kids climb the walls all they want at a rock climbing gym. You can usually find one in most large cities and it's a perfect party place for energetic kids. They offer a variety of climbing structures to choose from, so they're great for children of all ages. If everyone's new to the sport, then go for the party package, which typically includes instructions and all the gear to keep them vertical for hours.
7. Hockey Game Party
   If your child wants an action-packed party, take the kids out to a hockey game. Buy group tickets for a pro-level game or go for a birthday party package that's offered on the team's website. Sticking to a budget? Look for games played by local minor, junior or college teams, or check nearby rinks to see if you can catch local league games -- they're almost always free to watch and some rinks are even housed in "fun centers" with other activities inside, like laser tag, mini rides and arcade games. Or allow the kids to join in on the game by visiting your local roller or ice rink for a hockey birthday party package. Pack up sport-goody bags filled with hockey t-shirts and water bottles.
8. Theater or Puppet Party
   There are always plenty of holiday plays and puppet show performances during the winter season. Take the party goers out for a show, then afterward, hit the town for dessert or set up an ice-cream sundae bar at home. Make invitations look like a playbill and include autograph books with pens for goody bags -- they'll be useful after the show.
9. Mall Hunt and Movie Party
   Not only are shopping malls full of holiday activities during the winter, but they usually have a movie theater inside. Plan a birthday party scavenger hunt in the mall that includes lunch and one of the new winter movies.

Written by:

Adam Beal

Source: Care.com