Traditional children's party games enjoy a long history of fun and enjoyment, and cross generational lines. Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Musical Chairs, Bobbing for Apples and Treasure Hunts are century old favorites and can be organized and executed for under $25. Youthful birthday revelers don’t associate cost against the fun of children's party games.
Like children's party games, children's party food doesn’t need to be catered by a four star restaurant. Given the choice between Caesar Salad, Rack of Lamb and a Raspberry Soufflé, or a Hot Dog, Chips and a Chocolate Cupcake, the latter wins by acclimation every time. Equally important, the simple fare can be served to ten guests for under $25.
If you had planned to budget even $100 on your child’s birthday party, spend the rest on party favors for the guests, decorations and invitations. If you have ever attended a child’s party, then you already know children are quite easily entertained and their culinary preferences are equally simple.
Parents can add to the fun by making the event a theme party. Children love to dress in costume, so consider a “Pirate Party”, a western theme or “Star Wars” theme. It is likely that your son or daughter follows the heroic exploits of fictional characters and can participate in the theme selection process.
A child’s party does not need to place form over substance and the cost of a good time and a memorable event does not have to exceed your property tax bill. Those of us who have played musical chairs and knocked on neighbor’s doors in search of treasure know that fun is not always associated with great expense.
We recently held a birthday party for our eight year old son. We hosted eight boys for an afternoon pool party, served five pizzas, punch and a homemade birthday cake. Two of the guests remained to spend the night and we served pancakes and orange juice for breakfast. The total cost for the party was under $60, plus the expense of replacing about 400 gallons of water back into the swimming pool. Everyone had such a great time, our ten year old wants to do the same thing for his birthday.
We live in an affluent community and our boys have been to parties hosted at miniature golf courses, bowling alleys and other rented facilities geared toward youth entertainment, and of course they had a good time. The cost of that good time to the hosting parents was likely a few to several hundred dollars. The parties our boys speak most fondly of however; are the simple ones that required guests to mingle and participate in games together, rather than scatter throughout a 20,000 square foot entertainment facility. In short, the best parties have them arriving home tired, smiling and talking about the great cupcakes.