By Brenda Winter Hansen:
When it comes to planning a birthday party that won’t break the bank, your child’s interests should lead you in the right direction. Then, let your imagination take over for a custom fête that will be memorable for your kid and their guests for years to come. Any of the below ideas can be done simply or ramped up depending on your budget. Parties of this ilk are best managed in groups of ten or less. Here are some of our favorites:
The Pirate Party: The basics- a treasure hunt, of course! The details- fill a box/bag/sack with smaller bags of “treasure” and hide it. We made super simple cloth bags out of red and white striped fabric (paper bags would do) and got some gold coins, along with pencils, mini notebooks, etc for loot. We used a lidded plastic container that, yes, actually got buried in the front yard. With nine boys (dressed for the occasion- we supplied bandanas and eye patches), we split them in teams of three, gave each team a clue that led to two other clues. Each team’s last clue was part of one final clue (making sure the teams worked together for a common goal) that led to a map (rolled up parchment aged with dirt and burned edges) that took them to the treasure. Keep in mind, it’s easy to strip this down or make it fancy. I love pirate anything, so I actually stayed up until the wee hours writing rhyming couplets for clues. One of the best parts of this party was watching a group of boys take turns with the shovel while they were chanting, “DIG-DIG-DIG!” Bonus tip: get your hands on some music by Captain Bogg and Salty to keep the mutineers happy.
The Garden Party: I’m not talking tea party! This is perfect for the hands-on youngster who has a late winter-summer birthday, but if you’re willing to lay down some tarp in your house, it could be just what the doctor ordered in the dead of winter. The basics- planting seeds! The details- tell guests to wear clothes they can get dirty. Buy a variety of seeds (beans and peas are guaranteed to sprout), potting soil, and containers (plastic bins, goodwill finds, or even small terracotta pots & holders all work great). Kids have a great time picking their container, seeds, and sticking their hands in the dirt. If you have basic skills with the sewing machine, whip up super simple aprons made from those fabric scraps you’ve been saving. Since bringing home a container of dirt might be anti-climactic for many, we bought a flat of inexpensive annuals (think primroses or violets) for the guests to choose from when they were leaving. Kids were giving us plant updates for ages and other parents loved the “take home a plant” solution to the “goody bag of junk” problem. Variation on the theme: Make your own terrarium. Moss and glass jars, tiny plant starts, and marbles are all easy to find and use for creating a miniature world.
Other DIY party ideas:
Build something: There are inexpensive kits (birdhouses, etc) available. For younger kids, an adult can do the hammering and the kids can do the painting! For older kids, and with a bit more planning, this could become a build-a treehouse party. It’s hard to beat a party that results in a new fort and everyone goes home with a hammer!
Bake something: This is great for a smaller guest list. There will be mess! Roald Dahl’s Revolting Recipes or the Dr. Suess inspired Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook are great resources for this kind of party. Variations: a brunch birthday (pancake party!) or make-your-own-pizza party.
Field trip party: If the weather is good and other parents are willing to drive, pack up bag lunches and head out for some free entertainment. State parks, sculpture gardens, a local u-pick farm (animals are a bonus), or nature center are all great choices. If you’re adventurous, overnight camping, canoeing, might be just the ticket. Older kids? Try a campfire with cocoa or a well-timed outing to see shooting stars.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to enlist other parents for a little help and do your best to gauge your child’s interest. Above all, have fun!
We don’t always head out on a jaunt with a picnic packed. And we may not have the desire, or the funds, to eat at a sit down restaurant. When out and about on an explore that will require a meal on the road, we highly recommend that you consider Trader Joe’s (TJ’s). They have numerous locations across the States.
