Berkeley Parents Network: Other Theme Parties

Berkeley Parents Network

Other Theme Parties

Berkeley Parents Network > Advice > Birthdays > Other Theme Parties

Ideas for Theme Parties

Someone asked about cowboy themes, etc. My younger son has had a knights & dragons theme, a cowboy theme, and a space theme. We make the games and the pinata (add a ~ to the n) fit the theme (like pin the flame on the dragon), but we don't have swords, guns, or light sabers. I'd rather build on these themes with my son's imagination, than give in to Care Bears or Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Although there is violence associated with all these themes, the historical/science-based themes provide lots more scope for discussion and creativity than the characters that belong to Hallmark Cards.

Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 08:53:34 -0800 (PST)
From: Lynn

This is an interesting topic. I'm personally resistant to "birthday party inflation" in which parties for little ones (my son's going to be 4 in a couple of months) are so elaborate and costly. When they're young just going to a playground is still fun. It seems to me there is plenty of time when they're 8, 9 or 10 to get into "concept" parties.

Can't we let them be simple and imaginative while they're young? And when one kid has a big fancy party it makes it hard for others who are just doing modest parties in Tilden park or at home.

Date: Wed, 21 Feb 1996 08:58:19 -0800
From: Dianna

Okay, I've given two really good birthday parties for my son when he was 4 and 5, and a so-so party for when he turned 6. My best advice is to get a book on the subject (my solution for most of life's problems). Vicki Lansky has a good book on this, but my favorite is one I think is just called "Children's Birthday Parties." You can find it at Mr. Mopp's, or check it out from the library.

The trick is to have lots of activities, some active, some quiet, towards the end. Kids this age like hunts, so one year we had a peanut hunt, and the flashlights I handed out were their party favors. The next year we had a pirate theme and so had a treasure hunt, which was some work to set up in a public park, believe me. The treasure consisted of that gold coin chocolate candy, plastic pirate hooks and eye patches, and scarves.

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