Need Birthday Ideas

Navy pier. They have the childrens museum and children love the build a bear workshop. my kids are 19-17-12 and the youngest 2 love navy pier
D. in chicago

My girlfriend is throwing a "Pump it up" party for her two year old next weekend. It looks like fun. I could tell you more about it after we go if you would like. here is their website: http://www.pumpitupparty.com/lisle.html#

Here are a few ideas:

Outing to the Brookfield Zoo
Children's Garden at the Morton Arboretum: On a nice day this would be great. They have a nice picnic area
DuPage Children's Museum

Maybe you could bring along cupcakes and one or two of her gifts and have a family party.

Hi D. B!

I feel for you as we are from The Netherlands and had the exact same thing going on. My 2-year old first birthday was shamefully empty and as the 2nd year developed, I decided to make friends in Gymboree classes, on playgrounds and just started talking to people with kids the same age in my neigbourhood. My son turned 2 a few weeks ago and I threw a party at the playground where a lot of the invitees not often come. I invited 10 kids with parents and they had an awesome 2 hours, which was enough for them. There is a waterpark, so they had a blast. I brought a table and some snacks and drinks (read: refills for their sippycups)and had an Elmo theme and balloons. I would say: go join a Gymboree or something like that and make new friends for your toddler quickly! Happy birthday!

My Son is 2 1/2. When he turned two, my husband and I both took his birthday off of work and we went out to breakfast and then to the Dupage Children's Museum in Naperville. For dinner I bought a small cake from Jewel. We had a great time.

One thing is Chucky Cheese. They offer a birthday package of pizza and games/ride tokens. I think hats too. There are things for your two year old to do also. Another idea is Kiddie Land amusement park. They have lots of things for toddlers to do. Good Luck!

Meg W.

On our sons birthdays we try and give them a new experience. There are some really good places for the younger ones.

You can go to the Dupage children's museum in Naperville, or if you want to make an outing to chicago you can go to their children's museum.

There are indoor swimming pools, and if you can find one like the Bolingbrook Recreational Aquatic center they have a toddler time and they have zero depth with slides and some fun toys to play with.

Oddessy fun world is fun for the kids. They can run and climb and play games and get food...

Morton Arboretum is a good place, they have that whole new children's garden. That one is a bit dependent on weather of course..

There are some places that have children's plays if she might like something like that?!

Our son was really into trains, so we took him to the Museum of science and industry for all that sort of stuff. They also have the area where baby chicks are born and that's really neat.

YOu can do the zoo, and spend extra time in the kids areas.. paint her face, etc...

Hope some of those ideas help!

Build-A-Bear Workshop is fun for kids of all ages, we took my daughter there when she was 1.5 and she loved it. Don't know if you have ever taken your children there, but you can get out of there for both of your kids spending under 40.00 if you set a limit on the accessories, then maybe a family meal out at a restaurant! Good Luck!

Hi D.. I am not sure where you live, but if you wan to take your daughter out for a special day for her birthday, you may want to try a store called Libby Lou. They dress you and and do great things with her hair. Really make her feel like a princess. Let me know if you want more info. You could also do Build a Bear.

Hope this helps.
J.

My sister just had a messy party for my four year old nephew. She had several stations-colored shaving cream, silly string, painting, etc. It sounds like a fun idea! She had it outside, though.

Here is my list of places to throw birthday parties:
Brookfield Zoo
Cosley Zoo (Wheaton)
Morton Arboretum's Children's Garden
DuPage Children's Museum (or other children's museum)
My Gym
IL Gymnastics Institute
Gymboree (playandmusic.com)
Movie Theater

If it's just you and your two kids, I bet your daughter would love just being special that day with a homemade birthday crown, song being sung to her, and gifts for her. But I can understand wanting to do something more - I ended up doing more, too! Have fun with it, enjoy, and happy birthday to your daughter!

Hi D.,

One thing I set up with my kids is they get to pick the meal for their birthday. Whatever it is it does not matter let them be in control for the day(obviously within reason). Does she like to go to somewhere special or have any special interests? My son loves animals so we have gone to the zoo before. Or make it a Family night and play whatever games she wants to play and have a family movie with her favorite movie. We do this on a regular basis. We pick a movie as a family and make popcorn the old fashioned way(let her pick her favorite snack) and we sit in the living room with the lights out to watch the movie just like in the theater! Whatever you do make sure she has tons of fun. My boys are 10,7, and 4 and they all still love to pick what's for dinner and what we do for the night. Hope this helps and remember what makes it special is not what you do it is the fact that you are there and want to make her happy.
Y.

D.,
Since at this time in your daughters life you don't have any little friends to invite. Do something with just the four of you. The Choo Choo in Des Plaines has a real working train that delivers your meal to your booth. (fyi: there are tables that are near the window and a waitstaff delivers your meal-get there early or prepare to wait for tables near the train) Milkshakes and children's favorites are on the menu. They sing a really fun birthday song and sell birthday cupcakes w/ plastic whistles. There is also a fun train engine ride that is free.

It does get busy and it closes early. Check their website for details or call information for the number. It really is a fun lunch. If you eat at 11, you can be back home in time for nap.

Take a little trip. How about an indoor water park? My kids love them and have sooooo much fun. Lake Geneva has a great one for tots (lots for 1-6 year olds to do). There is also a new one in Elmhurst, one in indianapolis (also a great children's museum there). One at starved rock in Ottowa. And if you want to make a vacation out of it, there is Great Wolf and the Wilderness Lodge in the Dells.

Hi D.,
We decided not to give our daughter a party every year because we didn't want her to grow up thinking that she's supposed to have one every year. We celebrated year 1 with family and friends. Year 2 was just cake and ice cream. Year 3 was a big party at McDonald's PlayPlace and an appearance by Dora The Explorer. We did this because we knew at age 3 she would remember this party as I still recall my party at age 3. Age 4 we brought cupcakes and candles to her Sunday School class, sang happy birthday and then went out for burgers. Parties, yearly can become quite costly, especially when you start having more kid!

~M.

Hello D.!

You might want to think about Wisconsin Dells. There are many hotels that have indoor waterparks that are kid friendly. My daughter is 2.5 years old and we have been taking her since she was about 18 months. There are other things to do there that are also for the younger kids. Familyland Bay of Dreams is a real good indoor waterpark for the kids. There are two parts of the waterpark. Another good one is Kalahari (I am not sure if I spelled that right). Anyway if that is something that is not possible there is always Chuckie Cheeze. I wish you luck! Things will work out.
J.

It's a bit expensive but what about a party at Gymboree? My kids LOVED gymboree when they were that age. Even if you only have one or two kids with, your little one will have a blast!

For our kids, we had their friends from church come and we just did a big jumpy house for them to play in.

K.

D.,
Kiddieland!!! Not sure if they are open during the week still, but do beleive they should be on the weekends. I have taken my kids there for the past 3 summers and they LOVE it. It is a mini amusement park located in Melrose Park at North Ave and 1st Ave. If your other one is older, then they will definitly enjoy it. Look for their website for more detailed info. Good luck! ~K.

Even if it is for bigger kids she may enjoy doing it. The little ones get to look at older children doing things they are not allowed to do and they would like to try it. I had pin the tale on the donkey (blow up donkey with velcro tails from Walmart) that stood perfect to my sons height. I also had a piniata and he loved hitting it before anyone else got a chance and we didn't blind fold him for it either. He doesn't get to swing the bat in the house normally so that was a real treat for him.

If your daughter is well behaved and listens well you might try a sand art type thing. I learned this trick just a couple of weeks ago at Borders on Friday night at 6:30 (they have arts and crafts). Buy some wax paper, salt,different colors of side walk chalk (long and round) and small containers that are clear (you should be able to get them at an arts and crafts shop). Put a sheet of the wax paper in front of each child and poor about a tablespoon or so of the salt on the paper. Let the child choose a color and roll the chalk on the salt. It colors it then you can use the wax paper to poor the colored salt into the container. Let them keep choosing colors until they are done. My son is 2 and he loved but did make a little bit of a mess when I stepped away to help one of the other children. This will give all the children a little keepsake from her 2nd birthday. Good Luck.

Have you been to the DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville? It is great fun for little ones and older ones too. It is a "learning through touching and playing" type of museum. My only suggestion is to bring a change of clothes for your little girl. The water table area can get a little messy. Anyway, you can make it a very special day for her and your family with that as the focus. You can also have kid parties there (for future reference).

It sounds like it is only your immediate family. Why not try going to the zoo and making a big deal out of it. Even in the fall it is still nice at the zoo and you might see some animals active that you would have not seen in the summer. You do not have to do the cake there you could go out to eat after or just do that part at home. Or you could go to a children's museum, theres one in Naperville that is not too expensive and easier to get to than the one on the pier. Hope this helps.

T.

Little about myself
stay at home mom with a 2 1/2 yr old daughter and 10 week old twins.

D.,
I am taking my daughter to Playworld. They have one in Rockford and one in Chicago. I went there for my nephew's 2nd birthday. It is this big play place. It has tubes like the McDonald's. The have a spot for the big kids and a spot for the little kids. They have party packages. My kids love it. I asked my daughter if she wanted to have her 2nd birthday there. We have gone a couple of times on our own. For me it cost $7 for a day of fun for my two kids. Parents are FREE! I pack a cooler and when we get hungry or thirsty we go out to the car. They have a snack bar, if you prefer to due that instead. I know that one of the party packages included pizza. Good Luck and enjoy the party.

It looks like you already have tons of ideas, but what the heck, I'll add my two cents.

(Oops-- just saw you're in Forest Park, so I've removed the Kohl Children's Museum part. But, I still think a downtown outing would be fun!)

If you're up for a trip to the city, I took my son to the Chicago Children's Museum (at Navy Pier) just after his first birthday, and he even enjoyed it at that age. The Shedd Aquarium has been my kids' favorite museum yet. It's just incredible, with a great dolphin show.

Let us know what you decide. Have fun.

Hi D.! Are you in the Chicagoland area? I moved with my husband 8 years ago from NYC and we are in same situation -- no family here and not many friends with kids. Roland's 1st birthday was us and a couple of neighbors. His 2nd birthday was worse. It's nice to keep it simple and luckily he won't remember it but still hurts me!
DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville is very cool for little ones. Lots of water activities (playing with it, not in it) and there are lots of kids around. There are some nice restaurants in downtown Naperville where you can have a celebration lunch or dinner afterwards.
Good luck!
S.
Lisle-IL