Charlotte’s birthday is this month! She is turning 5. I am so proud of her. She is just a beautiful soul from the beginning.
But we have a dilemma.
In the past we have never had a large birthday party for her. We generally do something at home, with a cake, and if family is near us, ask them over. Its always been very intimate. But since most of our years with Charlotte have been spent on military bases and she was too young to ‘get it’, I never went “all out” for a party. In fact, her 1st birthday her and I spent alone. I think her 3rd birthday we invited some neighbors over and had some cake at the house. I cant even remember the other years. Thats how little I apparently did.
I should also mention that I am the cheapest person on the planet and really have to justify before I spent any amount of money over $20.
This year is different. She is in her 2nd year of school, she has a million friends, the neighbor kids, our family is here, she has cousins local, and this girl wants a PARTY.
Cake, presents, and everyone fawning over her. Trust me, she gets it.
We would like to to have it at the gymnastics studio she is a part of. Its a great place, she has been going for years and attends camp and classes. Also, I refuse to have someone elses kids at my house that I have to entertain and I am not going to Chuck-e-cheese germy hell.
To rent out the gym for 2 hours is $315. It would include all the kids being about to play on the trampolines, jump pit, hanging ropes, and the staff to supervise and help. The cost is making me sick.
Someone tell me that isn’t overkill for a kids party and that I should do it.
~Trisha
I just booked my son’s birthday party at the Build a (Bear) Dino and for six kids it’s only $81! Not too shabby…have you thought about something like that?
That is a little steep but I am going through the same thing…I am trying to rent a gym like thing with the inflatables and they want $245 for 1 hr. I find that a little ridiculous…but I am still trying to find something being since my daughter’s birthday is in 10 days. I think our next option is bowling but I think its like $15 a head…we wont be inviting that many….
Not sure that I should comment but I have had a birthday party every year for all three kids (at different times).
Next week, Annabella turns 5 and we are going to New York City to celebrate her birthday. My sister and her daughter (her birthday is the following week) are coming as well.
This is the first time that we have done anything like this. I think that I am looking forward to it as much as my daughter is.
I say do what you want. I remember birthday parties that I had as a child. Those are wonderful memories.
We have gone big and gone small and my boys (8,6,4 almost 5) and my daughter (almost 1) have always had the first bday small. Then every year we have changed from petting zoo to only pizza with a couple of friends. They seem to remember each for different reasons. Mine that is turning 5 at the end of January asked for a treasure hunt with his friends in the back yard. I just ordered pirate “stuff” from OT and spent about $100. His will be work for me, but will probably be great. If you are spending the money for your daughter to have a great memory with you guys fantastic…you don’t seem like the mommies we have that the party is about them and not the kid.
The rule of thumb for kids birthday parties is their age plus 1, for guest number. But then again rules are meant to be broken
If you decide to let her invite all her pals I would certainly rent the gym. Just having the staff to watch them would be worth a good chunk of the fee. Since playing would be the main focus, you could probably skip the goodie bags.
We usually have parties and they cost up to $250-$300 with food and everything. So go for it!
This year we went small but long…he had a week long birthday but no big party
Much easier for me!
I’d do it. I have made all my boys birthdays big events. They ARE big events to the kids! Last year for my son’s 4th…I had 17 boys from preschool, I died a bunch of shirts green for Ninja Turtles…had black shashes out of fabric as well as purple, orange, red and blue headbands…we made greeze ooze…our own personal pizzas…had about 150 balloons in the family room for them to play with, pinata…and personalized personal-pan pizza boxes to take home their goodies in. It was a HUGE HIT and he still talks about it!
dyed…I hate typos…LOL
It seems for my kids that the first birthday is the huge one. I remember having my youngest son’s birthday party and there was over 60 people in my house.
Last year for my daughter we rented the town pool. It wasn’t a bad price 80 $ for 2 hours and that included 3 life guards and a party room. That was equipped with fridge , stove , tables ! I think after food, the pool rental and party bags we spent about 275!
Hope you figure out something
Hmm, tough one. I’m probably the only person responding so far that doesn’t have children, so it’s harder for me to judge. It does seem like a lot of money, but at her age, she’ll actually remember and enjoy it, so it may be worth it. My fear would be that every year after she would expect something similar or better and that could add up.
I really like the tea party idea that Stefanie suggested! Does she have a handful of really close girl friends that you could invite to something like that? Otherwise, if you can afford to splurge, I say go for it! I would just somehow try to make it clear that this is a very special birthday and that not every party will be as grand.
Last year was the first year we did anything huge for Blake he was five also. We had it a local toy store and they did themed parties. So much fun! We paid 270 for it. They only included the goodie bags and some games. It was one person supervising.
I wouldnt do it every year but once in awhile is ok. good luck with deciding.
That sounds reasonable. We usually spend about $400-500. Last year we had a party at a place similar to CEC and it was $16 a child. I supplied pizza and made her cake. It was well worth not having to clean up afterwards.
Can’t believe our girls are turning 5!! Where has the time gone! Haley’s is on the 3rd….OMG!
My son’s birthday is next Sunday and today I have to plan something….last minute…I know! In the past for my daughters birthdays we’ve never spent over $200 and that usually included the gifts. We had a place here that you could rent tables at that had tunnels and stuff for the kids to play in and it only cost $20, then you could buy a couple pizzas and sodas. You have to remember that you’ll also have to purchase the party favors.
I think this year we’re going to do the Dino Build A Bear for my son, depending on cost. Have you thought about only inviting the girls from her class and doing a tea party where they can dress up? Or what about a kids salon where they can get little mini makeovers? Doing just the girls will save you money. The gym sounds nice but that’s pretty pricey.
Yeah. That’s a lot. We did my daughter’s birthday at a park that had a carousel and a train. It was cheap and no clean up for me : )
thats the downside of a winter birthday. Its too cold to be outside.
I wouldn’t be able to bring myself to spend it. I would set a cap at 3 friends max and make it fun. I just couldn’t spend that much money. I mean if you do that now, then you’ll want to meet or top it every year to please her in some way and then what? Can you imagine how expensive this could get?
My little girl just turned 5 at the end of December. We only have immediate family over for cake (I make my own) and ice cream. I buy the majority of her decorations at the dollar store and a couple specialty items (dress from Etsy, character plates, etc.) I am not a big advocate of having huge parties because it sets their expectations high.
My little girl was invited this summer to a friend’s birthday party at a place called Sweet & Sassy (it’s a little girl’s spa/salon). Ever since then she has asked when can she have her party there? I gently explain to her that Mommy isn’t going to spend that kind of money on a party…..even though she doesn’t fully grasp that concept.
What about having a party at school so all her friends will be there anyway?
We are currently wondering what to do about Suzi’s 3rd, coming up in May. We stupidly went all out for her first, not intending to, but it just mushroomed on us. We invited too many people and had too much food, but luckily the grandparents brought most of it and it was fun, but just a bit large. For her second, we had cake at my in-laws and we all went to the zoo. I was pregnant and wasn’t about to clean house for a party, so it was awesome.
For her third, my father-in-law recently mentioned going to an inflatable indoor playground place, but those things cost like $200, at least! We’ve always wanted a trampoline, so we’re contemplating buying one (safety net and all) and having over 3 or 4 friends to play on it. Their parents would stay, of course. That plus the grandparents and close family would make for a happy little party, and we get something besides germs, like you said, for our $200. I am cheap too and I really can’t see spending $300 or so just for a kid’s party. We have financial goals right now that we really need to meet (such as paying off our van) and I can’t say that I would never spend that, just not right now. And you wouldn’t have to clean house/have your house messed up, so maybe it’s worth it
I set a budget and stick to it. It is outrageous what is charged, and paid, to have birthday parties for children nowadays.
With that said I do believe that at your daughter’s age it is important to give her special days to remember. I wouldn’t spend that much every year but every other year until she is 10 might be fine. That is how we did it.
i need to charge a cover at the door for all attendees. LOL
We do things complete opposite, I actually do the 1st birthday big and slowly taper down from there. But yeah, $315 is more than we’d spend. I about had a stroke when we did our son’s at an indoor place similar to Chuck E Cheese and it was $12 a head….everyone showed up and some that weren’t even invited.
i was thinking opposite cause the younger she is, the more she doesnt care…as she ages she can participate more? Thats what I told myself.
I pay close to $200 for a party at home (all the little things add up), so $315 is good for that with all those kids. Are they supplying cake or snacks? If I could afford, it I would do it.
it includes drinks, but we would need to pay for the cake, etc. They can do it but its an upcharge that isnt worth it.
I know where your coming from. Its expensive for me because my sons birthday is in Nov and both of my girls birthdays are in December. My son had his bday out this year and my girls just had theirs at the house.