I'm having my daughter's 3rd birthday party in the park. There will be 6 boys and 3 girls there. What kind of activities should I have or is the park enough? What kind of food should I have? It's from 1-2:30. Any ideas for arts and crafts? Any ideas on finger foods? I don't want to spend a lot of money on this party.
2007-01-22 07:53:38 · 16 answers · asked by Anne-Marie H 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
The park itself is good for most of it. Have a pinata too if it is in the budget, kids love them! Small toys and candy can be bought cheaply. A piece of butcher paper taped to the table and crayons in the pinata provide a cheap and fun activity. Let them decorate their own places or do a banner for the birthday girl.
Finger foods... orange wedges, baby carrots, small cookies, salami and cream cheese roll ups if you want to do food.
Kids will probably have had lunch before hand, so you can probably get away with just cake, ice cream and milk or juice.
2007-01-22 08:00:12 · answer #1 · answered by elsa_bard 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are planning something really small I would suggest you to just rent a bounce house, they charge 90 dollars and kids can jump as much as they want until the end of the party, a big cooler full of juice boxes, a nice cake, you can have some chips, hot dogs, a small string pinata filled with candy and some small toys instead of goody bags, that will add more fun to the party, goody bags don't and it is really the same idea, for a 3 year old that will be very exciting and old the kids will have a lot of fun, you can buy some bubble bottles too, since the a park is a great place to make some bubbles, if you don't want to spend to much money on the plates, napkins etc buy just few of the theme at orientaltrading or any party store and complete the set with some more solid color ones that can be purchased at any dollar tree or dollar store in your area, you can rent a mascot costume instead of the bounce house, it all depends on how much time you are going to spend at the party, if it is only 1 1/2 hour like I understood you said then probably renting a mascot will be better and will add great pictures, the mascot can sign some autographs and take some pictures that you can later sent as a thank you card to each kid since they are only 9, check partycentral for game ideas in case you want to be the one who entertains the kids and avoid the cost of a clown or a mascot, you can send me an email and I will give you more ideas katialpz@yahoo.com
2007-01-23 14:15:36 · answer #2 · answered by Katiaveronica 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to remember next year (if it is too late to change it this year) to save some cash to have it from 2-4ish because people will have already eaten lunch and it will not yet be time for Supper but having it at 1 o'clock people are going to hold off on lunch and expect to be fed.
I would have one of those Pinata's with the strings to pull (not one to hit!) as an activity and the park will be enough other than that
You need food that can be left outside and for 3 year olds I would make PB&J sandwiches (*****Make sure none of the kids have Peanut Allergies!!!****) and have chips and get Juice boxes or something comparable (Hint: Juice boxes can be frozen)
I would not do arts and crafts at the park...Think about the wind!
2007-01-22 08:06:23 · answer #3 · answered by Kimnkicks mommy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The butcher paper and crayons is a good activity. I would also suggest making finger jello as part of the food. Any kind of finger (eat with your fingers) food is good for this age group; like fruit and/or veggies that are bite size.
I used to have a travel board with different sizes of felt cloth that I used when traveling; maybe you can make up a puzzle ahead of time and have a race to complete the puzzle as one of your games.
Drop clothes pins into coffee cans or jars, or large mouth cans, have a contest to see who can get the most in the jar.
Finger jello:
3 boxes of your favorite Jello
4 packages Knox Clear Gelatin
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 cups boiling water
1 cup cold water
Place the ingredients in order listed into 9 x 13 x 2-inch pan, mix until well dissolved and place in refrigerator until set.
2007-01-22 08:29:58 · answer #4 · answered by ajgeiger38 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as food, make it fun, but not too messy. Popular choices? Well, cake and ice cream, can't go wrong there. Also, it depends on if you are having the parents attend as well. If they are, I'd go with a bbq. Kids love hot dogs and parents love burgers. If not, I'd say little crackers and cheese cubes and halved grapes (so they don't choke) and pretty much anything bite size. Kids love fruit, so go to the grocery and go wild.
As far as activities, I would have some. Some children get bored easily and you don't want a group of whiny three year olds on your hands. I am assuming it is warm where you are, seeing as you are holding it outside, so I'll give you ideas thataway.
Buckets and sponges...kids love to get wet and sponges are easy to hold. Just make sure that their parent's know to leave a change of clothes!
Outside paint...large paper and finger paints...make sure they know to wear old clothes, an outdoor party is no place for frilly dresses, especially with paint!
Obstacle course...chairs, trees, hula hoops (you can get them at the dollar store), anything can be made into and outside obstacle course, and children love it!
Sing a Long games...download a bunch of your favourite kids action songs, and get everyone to join in. IE. head and shoulders, shake your sillies out, and i'm a little teapot.
Simon Says is popular for younger children, just never make someone sit out. They will get bored and cause mischief.
A clown...hiring a clown can be expensive, but worth it. If you don't have that kind of cash, rent a clown costume and call in a favour from a friend. They don't have to know what to do as long as they can act silly!
Most importantly, have fun yourself. It may seem like a huge stress, but if you are having fun, the kids will have fun.
Good luck!
2007-01-22 08:28:11 · answer #5 · answered by IamBatman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ever think about a burger king or mcdonalds with a play land? Thats what we are doing for our sons b day in april. You can have as many kids as you want and for $25 dollars they supply the cake and decorations. And you get two hours in the play land. I found it to be the cheapest thing we could find. But we are spending more then the 25 becuse we are buying all the kids happy meals. But that only adds on like another 30 bucks. $55 for cake decorations and food and entertainment cant beat that.
2007-01-22 08:03:42 · answer #6 · answered by coliepollie22 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Don't forget to bring some PUFFY Cheetos! My 3-year-old's friends love them and the puffy ones are not so much a choking hazard as the hard kind. Also, little PB+J sandwiches cut into quarters will go a long way and easy on the budget. Maybe top off with some cupcakes (extra frosting!) and that should do it!
2007-01-26 04:02:58 · answer #7 · answered by jjeffcott 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The park is a great idea. Serve foods your child enjoys, her freinds will enjoy them just the same.
2007-01-25 12:36:39 · answer #8 · answered by itchianna 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where are you all finding these McDonald's/Burger King's that charge $25.00? Mine charge a minimum of $75, and that's even if only 3 kids show up.
2007-01-22 11:41:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
at a park, you probably won't need a lot of activities if any at all, just let them run around playing.
For food, pizza always goes over well
2007-01-22 08:04:34 · answer #10 · answered by njyecats 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋