Birthday Party Ideas for a 5 Year Old Boy

Hi M.,

Without a doubt, the best b'day party I threw for my son was at the local pizza parolor. I live in a small, one-horse town and this pizza parlor is the "hang out" spot. We ordered a bunch of pizzas, got a couple rolls of quarters for the video games and the kids (and parents) had a blast.

Good luck!

I would go to Rumors, or Dave and Busters, Hard Rock, Planet Hollywood or Chuckey Cheese's. It ranges from $10-15 per person.

5 year olds will be happy with so little, so don't try to make this too big of a deal. I usually have my parties at the park with a playground, bring some finger foods (have the party from 2-4 so you don't have to feed them a meal) and cupcakes and a pinata. Make an activity out of decorating paper bags to use for the pinata stuff. Another idea is to have it at McDonalds - my brother did this for his son. I think they had 8 kids and it cost them $50 or some other small amount. The kids all had a blast at the playplace tube-climby-thing. They got to eat their happy meals, play a few little McDonalds games and eat cake. No cleaning up, no preparing food, no decorating needed! Have a fun party!

Hi M.,
An indoor play and party place would be a great place. The Playroom in Reno is such a place. You just bring the food or they can order pizza for you and they do the rest! They decorate and coordinate all the details for you. They even serve the food and cake to your guests. Your son will have a blast and you will be able to relax and enjoy your guests. For more info go to www.theplayroominfo.com

Sand dunes.....for a couple of hours. Wear them out. Play sack races, and balancing marshmallows on a spoon, passing balloons between knees, pin the tail on the whale.....all free and fun! Take granola bars and juice drinks...easy! Come home for a cake, or take the cupcakes with you. Make a giant sand castle - a birthday cake! Free and Fun!

We've also done many birthday parties at the movies. Take about 6 kids, then come home for cake and presents. Affordable and fun. Great movies come out in December! If so many parents and kids are coming for the whole day then they'll help drive. Maybe take some to the movies, and have everyone over for cake after....

Have fun and good luck!

Hi M.!! 5 yr olds are all about running around and showing their "talents" with their peers. I usually do themed parties where all the kids (adults if they'd like to) dress up or bring a toy related to the theme and it pretty much goes off from there. Great for a limited budget and space. Most of all, it's very memorable because it's interactive and gives the kids importance since they are a part of it. Plan it during snack time in the afternoon so that you can simply serve snack food rather than a big lunch or dinner.

Also, another idea is the indoor jumper party where you rent a roomful of jumpers for a set time and then move it to a party room where you can serve pizza and/or ice cream!

It'll run you about 300 bux, but no preparation or clean up. I say, it's worth the buck! If you're really on a budget, the first idea is good as long as you don't mind the clean up.

Enjoy!!! By the way, if you or anyone you know is looking for a way to make supplement income, contact me!

M.

Hi M.,

Check this site out. They have one in Long Beach.

http://www.my-gym.com/03.asp?page=5&gymid=159

Hi M.,
You don't say where you live, but if you are here in the LA Area, there are a lot of options but some are pretty expensive. If you have a lot of people and a small budget, maybe you can reserve a place in your local park and rent a jumper (or 2) for the day. The jumpers are relatively inexpensive and the park will have room for all the guests.

Some of the "theme" places are nice but they charge several hundred dollars for parties and they don't always include the food or cake.

Hope this helps.

have you looked into an indoor bounce house place. i see your in long beach so your a little far from where i am at. but where i live they have this place called party animals and they have bounce house equipment indoors and its very clean and they have party packages too. im sure you can probably bring your own food and make it into a potluck or something but they do have healthy meals for kids and of cource pizza and other things. my husband and i want to have my daughters 2nd birthday there because its indoors and more secure then a park (also her bday is in march and it was 40 degrees last year lol). i hope this helps. good luck!

I have 6 and 3 year old boys. They also have December birthdays. This year we are having the party at the bowling alley. It is $16.99 per child and comes with 2 hours of bowling, pizza and they also give you invitations, thank you cards and goodie bags (but you have to fill them). The birthday boy also gets a special bowling pin. In previous years, we have had parties at The Jump Around in Canoga Park, Under the Sea in Northridge and My Gym in Northridge. Parties at the Park are also good, but could be too cold in December. Good Luck!

We had a mad scientist party for my son-boys and girls loved it. We did the really messy activites outside. We made flubber, volcanoes, instant snow,and homemade bubbles as well as magnet activites and mixing your own potion (drinks). I bought white dress shirts from goodwill for labcoats, cut out black foam bowties and wrote Professor Johnny, Sally, etc. on the pocket. We had it mid-afternoon to cut on food expense. there are tons of ideas on the web if you google it.

That is allot but it can work I like to have partys for my son at "chuckie Cheese" Boommers look for places such as these that you can have a big party that charge a gruop fee and they provid the trimmings the cake,bolloons, tokens for games ECT,ECT and better yet they clean up the mess,
Good luck.
And HAPPY BIRTHDAY
www.thewhycircle.com/lgil2009

We once had a birthday party for my step grandson that was a jungle theme. You can get lots of neat stuff from Oriental Trading Company online (cheap, too). One of the things we did was a "gorilla hunt". We put clues all over the place leading from one place to another (they were written on printed out banana graphics, if you don't have a graphics program look for some in coloring books and xerox them). An older child can read the clues. Keep them simple but fun, like "the gorilla needed to wash his face and brush his teeth" and "he went to watch his favorite video", etc. All the little ones go from place to place. In the meantime some fun loving adult is hiding out where the last clue leads with a funny gorilla mask ready to surprise the gorilla hunters with a well placed gorilla growl! Have the video camera ready, especially for finding the gorilla!

Needless to say, finger food is the best!

I have a large family too and we usually end up with somewhere around 30 people at my son's parties. We usually keep it cheap by doing it at a park (for space and getting a few tables near the playground saves on renting bouncers or entertainment) if we do food we do cheap eats, hot dogs and chips with lemonaide, ice tea and water. My son's birthday is in june so this is easier for us. Depending on the weather it could work for you. Or have it at an odd hour so you don't have to feed everyone. We have had his party at 2pm with just a fruit and veggie try to snack on and cake, and drinks. As for decorations, we keep it simple with balloons and streamers, usually from the dollar store, then a few "theme" decorations. I always get complimented on how simple chic his parties are.

Another fun thing is to invite just his closest friends over for a sleep over, order pizza, rent a couple of movies and have a little cake.

We just did a bowling party for my daughter. It's easy b/c it's not at home and the bowling alley will take care of everything and it's not too expensive! Good luck.

Hi M.:
I have two boys and I have tried many different ideas, here is one of my favorites because everyone enjoyed it the most!!! You may want to check out if there is a Childrens Discovery Museum near you, here in Las Vegas they have one of the best birthday deals ever. Their basic deal includes admission to the museum for all your guest (including parents), cake, decorations in your choice of colors, party room, set up and after party clean up, t-shirt for birthday child and invitations!!! They ahve special activities add ons, we did "green slime" but usually the museum has schedules activities already set for the day. I also took the ivitations they provided to personalized them with some cool green paper cut out like slime to embellish the invite but the basic card is enough. You can add your own food and bring the coolers with drinks. They don't charge additional fees for the accompanying adults. And if you have a membership to the museum they will give you a discount.
I have also heard that there is a free dinasour park in Long beach yo may want to consider for your party. they you can look into an Indiana Jones theme or Diego the explorer (Dora's coutnerpart). We also did a pirate themed party that was alot of fun!!!
A good source of info for ideas, free invites and suggestions is this website:
http://www.coolest-kid-birthday-parties.com/kids-birthday...
For the pirate theme party I was able to get everything I needed including really cool invitations for free!!!
Good luck!!!
E.

My cousin had her boy's party at a litle petting zoo farm. It was really cute and all the kids got grains to feed the animals and loved the pony rides. that was earlier this month, I don't know about having an outdoor party when we're coming into winter, but depending on when your party is outdoors is always nice.

We just had a party for our little girl and it always does get expensive. I have always fed everyone because I have them at the party at noon. But I always feel if you have the party between the "normal" meal times, you can get away with out feeding people. They should assume they will not eat. You can also put on the invitation, "Please join us for cake and ice cream" and then they will know there is no food served and they should eat prior to coming. Then you can spend that money on games and entertainment.

Have fun.
C.

How about holding it at a local park?

Hi M.,

I would really recommend having the party at a park with some playground equipment. I've done this for my daughters parties, and it works really well. Some parks even have gazebo areas you can rent or you can just go early and hold space.

Good luck

You might check out your local gymnastics center. Many of them offer birthday party deals where they provide a couple of "instructors" who lead the kids through a warm up and many gynmastics activities. I did this for all my kids when they turned 5, it was a great "active" party, I didn't have to do a thing except provide cake and refreshments in the party room, and all the 5-year old guests were worn out when they went home! All the adult guests could watch and take photos, it worked out really well.
I don't remember what it costs, but when you add up all the supplies for games, time, and things you would have to put together for a park party, it might be worth the money to just be able to relax and enjoy your sons' birthday!

M., you've received a lot of good ideas and I really don't have anything more to add. The park is always fun for the kids and they'll love it. The beach is an excellent idea too but both are kind of risky in December. 14 kids and 14 adults is a lot. Maybe one of the adults coming has a bigger space at their home. You should definitely ask one of your family members whom space is not so limited if you could do it at their place. Offer to come early and set up and of course to clean up. Just tell them that you're thinking your space may not be big enough for everyone. I'm sure someone will let you do it. If not then to the park or beach you go. The kids will have fun being outside. If it's mostly family coming to the party, tell them you'll supply hotdogs and hamburgers for the party and ask everyone to bring a side dish. For non-family members just ask them to come. Good luck and have fun.

M.,

Hello! There are tons of ideas you can find on the internet, but the websites I use the most are: www.familyfun.com,birthdaypartyideas.com and coolkidparties.com. There are so many options and on the birthday party ideas they have tons of ideas listed with details given. Thank you,T.

Not sure where you live; however, we just had a party for our 5 year old at "pump it up." It was great because all the adults were playing too. You can go to pumpitupparty.com and see if they have a place near you. The cost is about $350 but includes almost everything you need (you need to buy the cake). I think you can have up to 20 kids (adults were free). Another idea that is a little cheaper would be to check out Chuck E. Cheeses. My kids love going there to play the games and I know they have party packages. Finally you can always do a park party. If it is mostly family coming you can do a potluck for food, and the kids will have the playground to run around and play. You may want to bring a fun game, (twister?) or even some kites for extra fun. Hope this helps! Happy Birthday.

You already have lots of great advice, so I have little to add. I too have a large family, limited space, and a tight budget. In December it is hard to try to have it outdoors. Maybe you could ask a friend or relative who owns a larger home to help you out. If not, maybe you could check out if your local park has a room you can rent for a small fee. (Some places it is as little as $50, partially refundable)
Entertainment - What does your son like to do for fun? What about pin the tail on the donkey? Play-dough? Painting? Car race? Basketball toss into a trash can or basket on the ground?
Good luck. I hope it all turns out well.

Since you have a limited budget, which many of us do, even $200 can be a lot, and especially since your son's B-day is in December... when everyone will have budgets to consider in light of the Holidays.

For us, my daughter just had her B-day party at Chuck E Cheese... it's a good package deal. But, even for us, the costs were unaffordable.. and luckily, my daughter's Aunty "treated" her for the party and paid for it. She is a really nice and generous Aunty who has no kids of her own.. so this was her way of "helping" us with the expenses. Sometimes, Grandma will pitch in too.... mind you, we don't "ask" them to do this.. but they are just very generous.

Perhaps, have a party at a public park... and maybe make it a potluck?

Or, if one of your family members, who may have a bigger yard space... can "volunteer" for having the party at their place?

For party goodies... www.orientaltrading.com has LOTS of party things, for good prices, in bulk.

And for activities, have several balls... since kids end up always playing with balls in all kinds of ways... and then maybe have a fun "team" type games... or geared down for kids 'adult' type games... or egg on a spoon games running relay games etc. Relay games or any type of running games are always fun for kids AND adults.

Good luck!
Susan