I need some tips on throwing a very small but fun birthday party for a 10 year old boy.?

Question

My son will turn 10 years old on December the 7th. I've decided to do something smaller (then the usual Birthday party) this year. I am going to let him pick just 1 or 2 friends and take them all to a place called Play World (much like chuck-e-cheese). My question is, should I provide the quarters for the games for the other children or should their moms/dads be asked to send the money. Also, can anyone throw in some ideas to make the day a little more fun. Examples: Cake or pizza or both? Good ideas for popular gifts for a 10 year old boy? How long should the party last? Should I invite my mother, grandmother, ect., or just take myself and the kids. Also, any awsome ideas for a great grand finale? Any good ideas would be appreciated!

Answer 1

Most places like that have party packages, and include so many tokens per kid for the games. So, check into that, and then tell the parents who RSVP that if they think their child will need more than X amount of tokens, then they are welcome to send the money for them.

Most parties my kids' have gone to in places like that have had both cake and pizza, but it's really a personal preference, and also depends on the time of the party (I mean, if it's 12:30 than everyone's going to show up hungry, but if it's at 3 then everyone's already ate and cake would be fine).

Here is a link to the Top 10 Kids' Birthday Party Tips
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content5/birthday.party.html

Some ways to make the day more fun for 10 year olds would be having a scavenger hunt, or shaving ballons (since boys that age think they need to start shaving). Oriental Trading Company has great supplies, and ideas. Here is their website, already to their party section.
http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?origin=page.jsp&namespace=browse&event=catalog&categoryId=377320&tabId=PartyPlanning&BP=196&cm_mmc=Yahoo-_-birthday-_-birthday-_-birthday%20party%20idea&ovmkt=7TRJLGPU3MJMLVMM8QHIC7PU2G&OVRAW=birthday%20party%20ideas&OVKEY=birthday%20party%20idea&OVMTC=standard

And, for gift ideas, I found this website. I just did a general search for boys age 10, but this site can also go by interestes and age to help you find the right gift...
http://www.gifts.com/occasions/birthday/child-boy/1ohMr4aicp

Since the party will be someplace that will probably be loud, inviting grandparents or parents may not be a good idea, especially if they wouldn't like the extra noise. My suggestion on that would be to have another party for your family, say at home or at a restaurant. Maybe having them meet you after the Play World party for dinner would be a good idea? Or, having the Play World party early enough that everyone will eat at the restaurant and have cake there after, only inviting the older people to the dinner?

A grand finale could be a sleepover, going to the movies, or even hiring an entertainer or having the boy's hero show up (a firefighter, police officer, etc.)

Good luck and happy planning!!

I hope I've helped!

Answer 2

You might want your mom to go just so you have another adult with you. It would give you an extra set of eyes on the kids, plus someone to talk to while they are playing video games. You are already paying for the pizza so I don't think it is bad to ask them to bring their own quarters. But you might offer to give each child $5 worth of quarters and just tell them if they need more then they have to bring their own. I don't know about Play World, but Chuck-e-Cheese and lots of places like that give the kids tokens if they bring their report card, so that's something to keep in mind. If you are really brave for the grand finale you could have the kids stay over night at your house. I hope you get some good answers to this question. My son is turning 10 in 2 weeks and I'm still looking for ideas.

Answer 3

I would provide a set amount of tokens for each child and not allow extra money to be used to purchase them (since every child may not be given an allowance). This is how I've always done our Chuck E Cheese parties. Pizza and a small cake is good, the kids usually don't want to stick around to eat a whole lot. I would take re-inforcements if you have them, at the very least you would have someone to talk to. Bring someone you think would have fun there.

Answer 4

Does the place offer a small package for a party that would already include tokens for the kids. I don't think many parents would bring their kids if they have to pay anything. A present is good enough, I think.

Also, ask the boy what he wants kids are all so different. But if you wanted it to be a surprise how about a Nintendo DS or some sort of kids mp3 player. Electronics are always cool.

Grand Finale would be their goodie bags with things like candy, match box cars, whistles, things like that. A local dollar tree is a great start for fillers.

Answer 5

pizza first and then cake at the end and the other kids should bring some money just en ought for a hour of game play and for a gift if he has a game system find out some how what a new game is he likes or just one he don t have but wants and it would be good for you to invite some family

Answer 6

I don't think it is wrong to ask the other kids' parents if they can send like 5 bucks with the kid. You are already paying for however much it costs to have the party at that place. Don't have any ideas for a grand finale. Good luck with that!

Answer 7

Well I believe you should say in the invite plz have your child bring about 5 dollars of something like that and if it's possible take there money have the quaters keep them together and divide them equally between them. Don't forget to but a little bit of your money in there if thats not enough quarters
Just a thought :)

Answer 8

Try Oriental Trading - they have a bunch of fun stuff that comes in packs of 8 or 10 that is pretty inexpensive. You could also go the "Mythbusters" route and try some fun kid- type experiments. The Mentos & Diet Coke experiment is messy - but awesome for a bunch of little boys. (drop a mint Mentos into a 2 liter bottle of coke - it creates a huge fountain of soda...)

Answer 9

As far as money goes you maybe could just say that you'll provide a certain amount, 5 or 10 dollars for each kid and they parents can send more if they want. As for the finale, my mom used to always have sugar cookies or cupcakes made and then we could decorate and eat them ourselves. maybe its too girlie?? and definately messy for 10 year old boys. but still fun i would think. Maybe a "make-your-own-sunday" thing would be better