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i called an reserved a shelter at our outdoor YMCA pool for my DS's 9th birthday. The party will be held during public pool time.
Some issues:
3 of the 12 guests attend day camp here so for an hour or so everyday they hang out here. These kids have passed a test to go down the big water slide. other guests probably haven't and by pool rules will be confined to a still fun but smaller (younger) waterslide. Any advice on how to deal with that??? just hope no one brags about the big slide or teases about others going on the small slide? I would never occur to DH to even worry about this so i don't know if i'm being silly.
I'd like to make this seem more of a party an less of a day at the pool, but aside from singing happy birthday and eating cake, i'm not sure how to do that?
I doubt i can play diving games if there are other kids there, and i don't really want them running around the pool deck. Any fun games for 9 yo boys???
I don't have anything against chucky cheese but it never seems like the kids actually play --together-- sometimes ds will come back from parties like that and doesn't even realized half of the other guests were there. That is why i would like to make this party more special than just run around the pool. but i'm not sure how to do that.
I hope this is clearer than my original post. I know i don't have many direct questions but maybe you can speak to my concerns. thanks.
i tried to retype the quesiton to make it a bit more clear, not sure i succeeded. now i'm really talking myself out of this poolparty at all, but a house party will not work with this group of high energy boys. so ............ help!
We have a mini-golf/go-cart/bumper boat place here that is great for parties. They go for a go-cart race, then play mini-golf, then we do cake and presents, and end with getting soaked on the bumper boats. They all love it.
if the pool is not your own backyard pool and will be open to the public I would avoid that. Do a destination party like chucky cheese or lazer tag or whatever. it will be way to hard to keep track of kids at a public pool and if someone got hurt you would be responsible.
I like the idea of them all playing. You don't mention how many kids. Sometimes it is hard to oragnize the games in the pool.... especially if it is a public pool. Would Hawaian decor be too girly for him ?
You could have a bunch of things thrown for the bottom of the pool and race to gather as many as they can find. I think that kids will just play and enjoy the party. I know what your feeling though , I am a big theme mom with parties too........hard to stop, but trying too as well.
I wouldn't do the Y pool, too much out of your control, and it sounds as if that is more your style (in a good way!)
Are there any miniature golf places nearby? That would be fun for the kids, or Chuck E Cheese, or a Children's Museum, all are great for 9 year olds. And ask your son what he thinks is fun, he might come up with something you haven't considered that's special to him.
Don't worry if all the kids play with each other, even your son, they sometimes don't and that's OK. But do talk to him beforehand and let him know that the polite thing to do is play some with all his friends who come, not just one or two.
And remember, next year is his 10th, you HAVE to do something awesome for that, so don't make it hard on yourself trying to top this year's party ; )
We did our seven year old's party at the local pool. It was the best party we've had! Ten seven year olds didn't need any extra stuff or entertainment - they did all of that themselves. The pool people set up a party area with chairs and tables, provided food, we brought the cake, and the kids got to play with one of those foam pool noodles each. It was the most fun, stress-free party ever.
Hmm sounds like your son &his friends will disperse.
Can you have it at a high school pool? Friend's pool?
If you decide to go w/it there still, no games are probably necessary as they will just disperse, have fun & move around.
Let's say you still have it there.....how about free-pool-water-slide time then they all re-convene for food, games, cake?
If so, you can do a few games: pinata, treasure chest hunt, pool games.
See if you can arrange games IN the pool. Each pool has certain rules about what is and isn't allowed.
-- Marco Pollo
-- Beach Ball toss
-- Water tag
this sounds way more stressful than a simple party at your home. between the concerns about how many additional guests you have to pay for per invitation, the pool rules and tests, the need to be courteous to all the people there who will NOT be part of your party, and your own need to have the kids do stuff together, this sounds pretty awful.
i'd either do a basic party at your house and let them swirl and re-form as they do naturally, or pick a specific theme/destination party like the ghastly chuck E or laser tag or miniature golf, something that will naturally keep them together.
khairete
S.
I can't remember all your questions, but let the kids just play however they want...no need to jazz it up. Bring some blow up beach balls and let them have their own fun. My only suggestion is to bring some extra goggles...our pool party was fun but lots of kids forgot their goggles and one girl lost hers and cried.
Sunday may be a better day for the party. Is this the only pool you can go to (i.e. water testing for slide)...Perhaps another pool that would be a new experience will be better.
At this age, VERY few parents want to hang around...don't even mention it. As a matter of fact, when we had our pool party, we had the cake at the house, then drove the kids to the pool, we took a van and a few other cars. This avoided siblings coming, etc. Plus we did some nice decorating and it was a lot easier to not have to lug the cake there and lug all the gifts home.
