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  • Please help with opinions/advice: dd will be five next month. We have never had a "real" party for her. Is it worth paying to have the party at a specific place (zoo, farm, etc.)? Or does it make sense to have an unstructured party at home (maybe with play/craft stations)? What do you think as the host and as the guest? Thanks for those who have BTDT.

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    07.22.08, 09:52 AM [ Flag ]

    • Much prefer a home party and there are lots of cool things to do at that age. But of course it is a lot more work for you.

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      07.22.08, 09:53 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

      • Could you elaborate? What activities? Why do you prefer it (as a guest or host)? If we had a home party we would still have to rent a place out because are in the middle of renovating bathrooms, but it might be worth it.

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        07.22.08, 09:57 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

        • So a home party isn't even an option for you.

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          07.22.08, 10:06 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

          • Not "at home," but we might be able to rent a party room in our co-op. I think the party room is smallish though, so the parents might be on top of one another.

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            07.22.08, 10:10 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

    • What do you think she would like?

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      07.22.08, 10:00 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

      • I asked her if she would like to have a party and she said yes. Before that she hadn't even mentioned anything (maybe because we haven't had a party where she invites friends before). I think she would like anything. But if we did something unstructured dd would probably just end up playing with her bf and the other friends would be ignored (by dd and her bf).

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        07.22.08, 10:08 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

    • We have the space so we've done both and it really just depends on how much you want to be bothered. I've noticed with the at home parties a lot of times both parents will come even if it's only with one child, so that means more mouths to feed.

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      07.22.08, 10:07 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

      • ^^^We've also done a party at the Prospect Park Zoo. Lots of fun and good if you don't really know the parents of dd's friends. They can drop off or hang around the zoo. The kids did a craft, got to touch some live animals, had free play and did refreshments. The zoo provide everything including the goody bag. All I brought were the refreshments.

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        07.22.08, 10:11 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

        • Yeah, that is cool. I also thought about Puppetworks, but we are in Queens. Dh thinks Brooklyn is too far for ppl. Pretty sure Queens Zoo doesn't allow/host parties. However, we were thinking about the Queens Farm Museum, though we would provide everything and they would be in charge of the activities.

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          07.22.08, 10:14 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

      • Three things I am worried about re an "at home" party: 1. coming up with activities/play areas for the kids 2. the parents being crowded in one corner 3. people lingering at the end (I am a lingerer myself).

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        07.22.08, 10:12 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

        • 1) tons of ideas online 2) parents can take care of themselves 3) standard party-break up protocol applies

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          07.22.08, 10:13 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

        • Or, I had my childless clown of a brother come in a lead the kids in old-fashion games like simon sez, freeze-dance, pin the crown on princess.

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          07.22.08, 10:17 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

          • Yeah, Our family is on west coast, so everything is on us

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            07.22.08, 10:18 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

            • Hire someone, or ask a friend. Just make sure they really like kids.

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              07.22.08, 10:21 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

              • Yeah, if I have to hire someone then I should just have it someplace cos it will cost about the same. Most friends are teachers, and while they like kids doubt they want to entertain a bunch on the weekend!

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                07.22.08, 10:26 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

        • The way to avoid lingerers is to break out the goody bags. The kids will be running to the door so they can get their loot.

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          07.22.08, 10:19 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

    • OP here: So which do you prefer as a guest: a structured party at a place or an unstructuerd part "at home"?

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      07.22.08, 10:25 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

      • I like any party that serves alcohol.

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        07.22.08, 10:28 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]

        • Yeah! If we had space to have a BBQ (or had planned enough in advance to get a Parks permit) we would have gone this route. We are from CA--it is in our blood.

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          07.22.08, 10:31 AM [ Flag | link to this post ]
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