suggestions for a 3yr B'day party

I am tired of chucky cheeses and sport bounces....

and it is winter time ( end of dec is the b'day) .. so cant do in parks..

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Overlander

 

Not meaning to be funny, but while you may be tired of Charles Cheese, do you think the kids are tired of it? Grownups are not supposed to enjoy 3 year old birthday parties.

Other than that, this is a toughy as there are limited places suitable for 3 year olds.

The only other thing I can think of would be contacting a marital arts studio. They are always starving for money. While the 3 year olds can't fight (3 year olds and nunchucks just don't mix) they can tumble on the mats and stuff.

 

The Little Gym! We did a bday in July and it was a blast! And don't forget to get your $25 off coupon from I am Modern Magazine available at Wegmans.

 

Noodle Doodle art studio does great birthday parties. They are less expensive than moonbounce/gyms, too. We had two parties (3 year and 4 year) there and both times it was very easy. Plus the crafts can be the "goody bag" take home.

Curiosity Zone offers birthday parties.

Kids always enjoy parties at The Little Gym.

The Ashburn Volunteer Fire Department rents out their Founders Hall for parties and events. For kids' parties they usually offer a tour of the fire house and the trucks.

Doesn't the Broadlands Nature Center offer birthday parties?

Or there's always your own house...if chaos isn't a problem for you. Maybe you can have Sunny come entertain the kids.

 

We had our daughter's 3-yr old party at JW Tumbles. I thought they did a great job for that age group (the instructors who ran the party are Katie and Mike). They were organized and able to keep the kids entertained. They did parachute, zip line (Mike holds the kids and runs with them on the zip line so they don't fall), obstacle course, free play, etc.

They took charge of calling in my pizza order and also cut and served the cake. At the end of the party, they dressed up my daughter like a princess (using the parachute as a cape), and sat her on foam blocks as her 'throne' to hand out the goody-bags. My daughter and her buddies had a great time, and I'm glad that we went there.

 

I also recommend JW Tumbles. My son had his 4 year old party there, and all of the kids loved it. Even the parents, who have attended more birthday parties than they would care to, were very impressed.

 

I second the fire house. Heck...I'll give your kids the tour if you want! Its cheap, which God knows is not a bad thing these days, and the money goes right to the FD. You (well the kids) get to play around on the equipment, a FF can show them how they put on all the gear, and you get the added benefit of further exposing the kids to firefighters in full gear, so if God forbid they're in a situation where they meet a FF in an emergency, they wont be scared.

Brewer

 

I think the Fire Department idea is wonderful. I never would have thought about that one.

 

We did a party there for our son's 3rd and have attended a few. ALWAYS popular with the kids. The hall is large with tables, chairs and also has bathrooms. If I remember correctly, they have an industrial sized ice-maker too for drinks.

 

Just booked my 3 yr old's party at JW Tumbles - we've been members there since they opened and every party we've been to has been a blast for the kids. It really shows that the staff loves what they do with the kids.

 

Thanks everyone . I am going to go with sports bounce ( I dont like but kids loved it ) or noodle doodle.

 

Have you looked at Jumping Jacks over near the Ashburn Post Office?

 

Any suggestions for what to do at a birthday party at the fire station? I'm no good at planning birthday party events, but my son is really looking forward to the fire station. So besides crafts (which I have no patience for), what else is there to do for a couple hours at the fire station?

 

yes sports bounce and jumping jacks are in the same complex. Rates in sports bounce seem to be better than jumping jacks.For the same money I can bring in 5 more kids in sports bounce.
Also in Jumping jacks I have to buy only ZPIZZA which will be very expensive ( I will be buying about 15-18 pizzas).

My kids liked both places so I am going with sports bounce ...

 

You could set up some games - like toss the bean bag through the hole types of things. The lack of a preset activity is what makes me shy away from the fire station party setting. I'm just not into entertaining the kids myself.

 

set up 2 or 3 little tables, one for face painting, one for tattoos, and one for coloring. my daughter likes to facepaint and she is for hire! $10 for an hour of face painting!

you could also tape numbered construction paper to the floor and do a "prize walk" like a cake walk. instead of cake they get pencils or stickers.

you could set up a tv & vcr with a short movie

you could get someone to tell jokes/sing songs/do magic - like a drama student from BWHS

you can buy one of these and let them have at it- i had one at a bday party once and it was great http://www.celebrateexpress.com/cel...-FDB3-DD11-80A9-000423C27502&mr:referralID=NA

you can give them a bunch of little cars and trucks and they can zoom them around the room. maybe a racer set? ya- race little race cars- they can form 2 lines and take turns racing the cars (the ones you pull back and let go). the finish line can be marked off by some fire hats or something. they'll keep getting in line for that one i bet.

i have your tarp and ponchos. thank you SO MUCH for letting me borrow them!! i will bring them by sometime this week.

 

Another thing you can do is find out if any kids who are coming share a birthday close to your kids, then get together and split the cost of the event. We did that and it worked very well. Beyond a couple outside friends/relatives they invite the same people anyhow.

 

You may have Ozgood stand in front of the 3 yr. olds and pontificate on World Toilet Day. I'm sure he would be happy to wear a toilet seat around his neck and sound pompous.

::giggle::

The WTO is an NGO, I am so shocked that he has not decided to write his dissertation on that important organization.

 

Don't you think 3 years old is too young for marital arts?

::snicker::

LOL

I am killing myself today.