The harried mom may need to host an easy, ready-made party due to time and energy. One of the quickest ways is to let someone else provide the party. Many fast food places, pizza parlors, skating rinks and others provide birthday parties.
Most of you know who does what in your area when it comes to planning birthday parties. Many places will offer a standard menu, a cake, some decorations, hats, and entertainment and clean up.
The basic party package may not always provide all you wish for. Look at the cost and convenience of what the host facility does provide. If the value is there and it is a time saver and stress reliever, use what they offer. You may always add your own touches. Find out if you are allowed to bring your own cake, additional activity or entertainment ideas, special favors, or goodie bags.
You could always extend this party by adding another element to it such as a sleep over, a movie, or a round of miniature golf. Try combining two parties as well, maybe exchanging a cake at each party for another refreshment. Some places will gladly work with you on substitutions, additions, or deletions where others will be more rigid. If you want the fun to go on and on, contact a few places that offer child's birthday parties and see what you can arrange. If they are cooperative and let you 'customize' to a degree, you can plan a really fun day with little effort. Please be reasonable about your expectations with these kinds of places since they are not 'party planners' as such and can only offer so many options.
As usual, keep in your mind the ages and interests of your party guest. If all the kids hate the main event, you may want to change to something else. The birthday child should have the party they want, but be sure to explain that if their guests do not have fun, it will not be a good party for anyone. Children want their own way and it may be a good lesson to teach them to choose between an activity they wish to do alone, and a party with friends. If your child is adamant about wanting to do a specific activity for their birthday celebration, you may wish to make their party one that starts after the activity, like a sleep over or even on another day.
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