https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 19:37:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-celebrate-your-los-birthday#post-2928256 Sat, 13 May 2023 12:08:31 +0000 ChitownRo 2928256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For ages 1-3, hosted our friends+ their kids at a park, pool, or our house. Ages 4-5, whole preschool class, both genders at park, event space or our house. Kindergarten + older we invite all of the boys or girls in the class depending on if my sons or daughter. I hosted elementary boys at our house once as a drop off, never again… Only event spaces from here on out. They were so wild. I’m hoping that we can continue to host the girls in my daughters class at our house.<br /> But the cost definitely adds up for 3 kids! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-celebrate-your-los-birthday#post-2928255 Fri, 12 May 2023 08:02:35 +0000 josina 2928255@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From age 1 to 5 we had family-only parties at our house. DS's bday is right around Thanksgiving so we end up just hosting T-day and celebrating his bday same day.</p> <p>6 and up we invite friends but we started out with just the neighbor kids, so we knew them and their parents well. Drop-off parties with 4-6 kids.<br /> This year my 8 year old invited 8 classmates for an indoor sports themed party which was crazy, lol but we survived. I so wish they had summer birthdays so we could move the party outside! </p> <p>I don't see us ever doing a whole-class party, I think 8 is my limit. Some of DS's friends have done pool parties or bowling parties, or even rented out a gym for a couple hours. DD hasn't had any class parties yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-celebrate-your-los-birthday#post-2928253 Thu, 11 May 2023 09:36:13 +0000 cake2017 2928253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LadyDi: I’m trying to figure this out too! I posted something similar! We are doing. BD for our almost 6 year old. We usually celebrate with just us and will do the rest with the other 2 siblings. Same. Not doing 3 big parties each year!!! Tired of all the toys too LOL! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-celebrate-your-los-birthday#post-2928252 Wed, 10 May 2023 14:22:09 +0000 Bluemasonjar 2928252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have done a variety of things between our two boys. Each of them had a 1st birthday party with family and close friends. The next few years we celebrated with only immediate family. </p> <p>Starting around 4 we would invite their whole class. As they have gotten older we have let them choose which friends to include since they now have more across other activities.</p> <p>We have hosted at our home a few times with food and an activity (lawn games, treasure hunt), rented a pavilion at a local park and a trampoline place. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-celebrate-your-los-birthday#post-2928251 Wed, 10 May 2023 08:42:01 +0000 erinbaderin 2928251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For us, it depends on the kid. My older son is pretty social and outgoing, so we've had big parties for him - he's soccer obsessed right now so for the last couple of years we've rented out a soccer field and then had pizza and cake, but before that we did a gymnastics place, and one year we had a wildlife rescue place come to our house with rescued animals.</p> <p>My younger son is much more of an introvert - when he turned three we had his entire class at a gymnastics place and he spent the whole party hiding in the party room overwhelmed by the number of people. When he turned four he wanted a special family thing instead, so we did a Star Wars dessert party at Disney, where we happened to be a few weeks before his party. Last year he just wanted two friends over for a playdate. This year he went big, which surprised me, so we invited his whole class to the local pool and then did hotdogs and cake in the attached party room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-celebrate-your-los-birthday#post-2928250 Wed, 10 May 2023 05:38:50 +0000 ElbieKay 2928250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My oldest has had some pretty excellent birthday parties starting from age five: the Intrepid Museum; a very large and chaotic house party that featured a Star Wars screening plus a lot of chaos with inflatable lightsabers; a skateboard lesson in our driveway (with a vendor); gel ball, which is basically paint ball lite, in our yard (with a vendor); and this year a video game truck. Next year will be his tenth birthday, and I think we may try to scale down to something smaller.</p> <p>My twins are turning five this summer. They are expecting a repeat of their last two backyard birthday parties. We own a few backyard inflatables / water toys, and I think we will just set them up and tell their classmates to show up in their bathing suits. Last year, we put a ton of effort into the food — I baked and decorated two birthday cakes plus my husband grilled hamburgers and hot dogs — so it was still not super cheap plus all the work for us. But at least we did not have the additional cost of a vendor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-celebrate-your-los-birthday#post-2928248 Tue, 09 May 2023 14:58:02 +0000 JJ2626 2928248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My one kid just turned 5 and we did outdoor park parties for her 4th and 5th birthdays. We invite her whole preschool class (12 kids) plus a few of our friends with kids. It’s easy and cheap. The playground is right there, we get pizza, cake, cheap snacks, and the kids are happy. I love it bc my kid is so happy playing with her friends and having cake and it’s pretty easy. Almost all the birthday parties we’ve been to have been at parks but we live in CA so can always be outside. We always say no gifts but people often bring a book or something small like stickers. No gifts is very much the norm where we live. We give her one gift from us and then she gets gifts from. Grandparents and cousins. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-celebrate-your-los-birthday#post-2928246 Tue, 09 May 2023 11:10:08 +0000 catgirl 2928246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For DD's 1st-4th birthdays we did just family parties at our house. We did our first friend party at a local gymnastics place when she turned 5 but we also did a family party. Her 6th birthday we didn't really do anything because of Covid - but two of her best friends (and their moms) surprised us with cupcakes in our backyard. For her 7th we did a separate dinner with each set of grandparents (3) and had a friend party - it was supposed to be sledding but we ended up with freezing rain all weekend and switched to the movie theater at the last minute. For her 8th we did the 3 grandparent dinners and then a friend party at her karate studio. </p> <p>DD's birthday is in December, we live in Maine, and our house is small. If we do friend parties we have to use a venue of some kind. She is an extremely social extrovert who LOVES parties. But man, December becomes such an expensive month for us. </p> <p>The crazy amounts of gifts she gets two weeks before Christmas makes me feel like my house is stuffed. We've tried to say no gifts please but 80% of people still bring them and then the others feel bad. I considered the idea of a "Fiver Party" to help with the gift issue but was worried how it would be perceived. This was the sample I found for invitations:</p> <p>"Your presence is the only present that we need, but should you want to give something to the birthday girl, please consider giving $5 that she can put toward something special."</p> <p>Still thinking about doing it next year, but not sure if I am brave enough to possibly anger people... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-celebrate-your-los-birthday#post-2928245 Tue, 09 May 2023 09:07:28 +0000 Chuckles 2928245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When my son was younger, pre-covid, we did have a few years with bigger parties in our backyard with maybe 15ish kids, but we typically enjoy hosting and it felt less expensive than renting out somewhere. When he turned 9, I encouraged him to choose a few of his closest friends and we took them to a small amusement park near us. I think we'll keep doing small parties with close friends now that he's getting to be a tween :shocked: </p> <p>For DD, she's just 3 and her birthday is in the winter, so we haven't had any parties for her other than a few family members both because of covid and we didn't want to invite her whole class and have them running around inside our relatively small house. I'm not sure what we'll do when she turns 4 this year - probably suck it up and rent out a space. It's tricky though with parties with daycare friends because you never know who is going to come and you have to rent out the space so far in advance. I don't want to pay for somewhere and then have only 5 kids come, but I don't want to assume it will be only a few kids and do it at our house and then have 15 kids rsvp yes. These winter birthdays are harder for sure! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-celebrate-your-los-birthday#post-2928243 Tue, 09 May 2023 07:25:37 +0000 Lahela017 2928243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't enjoy hosting, so we don't do big parties. For now, we just have close family over for a meal or even just cake and ice cream and they get some gifts. Just grandparents and my sister and her husband that we are very close to. We also do some type of fun outing as an immediate family that weekend- the zoo, a different park, a local beach, etc- nothing wild.</p> <p>My kids are still little though. This was the first year my daughter asked to have a friend party, and I just said maybe in the future. I don't think we'll do a friend party every year, but maybe we'll do a small friend party once in a while when she's older- or maybe just a special play date with one or two friends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-celebrate-your-los-birthday#post-2928242 Mon, 08 May 2023 14:34:16 +0000 LadyDi 2928242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm just curious! Do you have a big party with all of your LO's friends? Just a family party? Take a trip? Do you get your LOs gifts?</p> <p>Other than covid years we've had relatively big parties for my oldest. However, he has two younger siblings who are now much more aware of birthdays, parties, gifts, etc and my wallet can't handle three big parties a year and my house cannot handle the influx of gifts and toys so I'm trying to scale back this year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-ideas-and-questions-please-son-is-5-yo-turning-6yo#post-2928019 Tue, 21 Feb 2023 14:22:10 +0000 cake2017 2928019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lilfarmer: This is what we have done since turning 5. He asked to have something with a few friends so planning to change it up this year😊… I love doing this though and we will continue as a party each year isn’t happening lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-ideas-and-questions-please-son-is-5-yo-turning-6yo#post-2928018 Tue, 21 Feb 2023 14:20:36 +0000 cake2017 2928018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bakingdoodle: Yes he did!!! This would be his first and we wanted to do something small with his close friends he’s formed! Just thinking 2 hours with something fun, good and cake! Reviewing all these ideas! It’s been helpful! thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-ideas-and-questions-please-son-is-5-yo-turning-6yo#post-2928017 Tue, 21 Feb 2023 14:19:25 +0000 cake2017 2928017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oldschooolmama: I would love to do one at our home but our backyard is not the biggest! </p> <p>We love the painting places! He would too! Since this is June we wanted to have something outside but now bowling is an option! </p> <p>Good luck!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-ideas-and-questions-please-son-is-5-yo-turning-6yo#post-2928016 Tue, 21 Feb 2023 13:56:56 +0000 oldschooolmama 2928016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter is in the same spot as your son except turning 5. Since she has never had a friends party so I’m debating doing one this year. It helps I love the parents/ kids in preschool class :silly: We are debating donuts and a public park at 9-ish am due to the heat in our area (cheapest option and loads of fun), the local gymnastics place, or hosting at our house with a giant water slide. Last option most likely wont happen but dang she would LOVE it. I’m also toying just inviting her BFF + BFF’s two sisters to one of those painting pottery places but I’m not sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-ideas-and-questions-please-son-is-5-yo-turning-6yo#post-2928015 Tue, 21 Feb 2023 12:41:34 +0000 cake2017 2928015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All of this was very helpful! I’m going to compare the venues and see what will be better for him! We are going to just invite the boys he plays with at school! Thank you all!☺️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-ideas-and-questions-please-son-is-5-yo-turning-6yo#post-2928013 Tue, 21 Feb 2023 09:34:09 +0000 MamaCate 2928013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: I think you have gotten a lot of good ideas above and park parties have worked well for us as hosts and guests.</p> <p>For a summer birthday at that age I think just inviting the friend group makes a lot of sense.</p> <p>I just also wanted to suggest looking into some local venues as they can make hosting really easy (but usually more expensive than a park party). We have done parties at our local children’s museum, a local jumping/indoor play space etc. we have also been to parties at the zoo and an indoor trampoline park and rock climbing place. If there is something that is a good fit for your child’s interests, they can be a great option! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-ideas-and-questions-please-son-is-5-yo-turning-6yo#post-2928007 Mon, 20 Feb 2023 20:11:49 +0000 bakingdoodle 2928007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did your son request a birthday party? why not ask him what he likes. As much as I would like to think you need to invite the whole classroom, it's not very good that way: most kids don't play with all the kids in the classroom. Boys play usually with only the boys... girls with the girls. The only time my son asked me for a birthday party, we did it at the bowling alley. (he was 5 at the time). All the parents had to help ( and we only invited total 16 kids, because we didn't want to have too many lanes) ... and all 4 lanes play in parallel... Not very fun socially. I personally got pissed... because they didn't care about the bowling... they just wanted to go to the super expensive arcade attached to it.<br /> We also went to an orchard (but close to halloween, for apple picking). Was a wet day. This really depends on how much entertainment they provided and how good is the host. We had a hayride. They picked apples for 10 min... and jumped in bounce house. I vote for park/playground. Max of fun. Get a pinata and a cake and there's also no limit on how many people can show up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-ideas-and-questions-please-son-is-5-yo-turning-6yo#post-2928006 Mon, 20 Feb 2023 19:21:16 +0000 JJ2626 2928006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter is 5 but we’ve gone to a few 6 yo boy parties. Can you do a playground and/or bounce house at a park? Always a hit and very little work for you. Get a few stomp rockets too and call it a day </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-ideas-and-questions-please-son-is-5-yo-turning-6yo#post-2928001 Mon, 20 Feb 2023 16:35:27 +0000 Lilfarmer 2928001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do trips for our kids. When our 5 year old turned 6, we did a trip to a state park over a weekend. The cabin was very cheap ($60ish/night) and we took the kids hiking, swimming, fishing, etc. and let him pick where we had dinner. </p> <p>My older LO turns 10 soon and we are taking him to a kids science museum and staying overnight in a hotel with a pool. He’ll get to pick the restaurant for his birthday dinner too. </p> <p>This has been commensurate with the costs of a birthday party but without all the hassle. The kids seem to love it and have started to come up with trip ideas for future birthdays! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-ideas-and-questions-please-son-is-5-yo-turning-6yo#post-2927999 Mon, 20 Feb 2023 09:45:54 +0000 catgirl 2927999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You are absolutely okay to only do the small group of just boys! </p> <p>I agree that the orchard could be tricky - I think you would have to expect them to lose interest and be a little all over the place. </p> <p>We have gone to a lot of bowling parties in the past two years - the kids seem to have fun. Biggest tip is to not have too many kids per lane because the kids will lose interest in bowling if they have to wait too long between their turns. </p> <p>I also love the park/playground idea - we have gone to many parties that have been casual at parks and the kids and adults are all happy. Some with just cake/cupcakes and some with more food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-ideas-and-questions-please-son-is-5-yo-turning-6yo#post-2927998 Mon, 20 Feb 2023 07:33:48 +0000 togetherthroughlife 2927998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always do a park birthday party. 9-10am on a weekend…less crowded and less hot. I get bagels, a fruit tray, and a platter of chicken minis from Chick-fil-A. I bring bubbles and chalk. A cooler of drinks. And cake or cupcakes. And that’s it! And it’s always a hit! We do this for both our kids. Parks are great because the kids can just play however they want for however long they want. Plus it’s outdoors and free. :) I see the splash pad suggestion above which is also a great idea! Here they usually aren’t open as early as I prefer to do the party though, and people do flock to them in the summer so if you don’t want crowded then a splash pad is maybe not a good bet unless you go RIGHT when it opens. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-ideas-and-questions-please-son-is-5-yo-turning-6yo#post-2927997 Mon, 20 Feb 2023 02:50:17 +0000 cake2017 2927997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@erinbaderin: that’s what we were afraid of too! the orchard said an entire hour for picking.😳</p> <p>We are open to either outdoor or indoor. I’m waiting for the bowling place to get back to us. They said 90 mins of bowling?! We were thinking that, lots of food and snacks and cake, cookies etc… only going to invite the close boys he plays with since summer time anyway and we need a smaller guest list! </p> <p>I’m going to look to see if there are any splash pads! Didn’t think of that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-ideas-and-questions-please-son-is-5-yo-turning-6yo#post-2927996 Sun, 19 Feb 2023 20:51:47 +0000 erinbaderin 2927996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My six year old’s tolerance for apple picking is roughly five minutes - I’m not sure it would work for a party. He does enjoy bowling, though. </p> <p>Are you thinking about something outdoors/free? What about a splash pad? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-ideas-and-questions-please-son-is-5-yo-turning-6yo#post-2927995 Sun, 19 Feb 2023 02:07:33 +0000 cake2017 2927995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>TIA! I have another question about BDs….</p> <p>We don’t want want to have a party at our home. Any ideas on how to celebrate?</p> <p>Also, his BD is in June(school is out) so do you think we could just invite a few friends from his former class and maybe some from his camp groups?</p> <p>Do you think just inviting some of his close male friends is okay? I’ve noticed he is just playing with the “ boys”….</p> <p>Bowling? too young you think for 5/6 year olds? </p> <p>We were thinking an orchard( running outside, pick your own fruit, pizza, cake)… but it would be open to public, hot and maybe chaotic? IDK!</p> <p>Just trying to get feedback and ideas! This would be our first BD party we celebrate with invites! I feel like i’m overthinking but also want to make it special for our big boy! </p> <p>Thank you- any ideas or feedback would really help us! ❤️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-for-6yo-a-day-before-fathers-day#post-2927915 Mon, 23 Jan 2023 23:39:03 +0000 Lahela017 2927915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: I think that sounds like a great plan! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-for-6yo-a-day-before-fathers-day#post-2927891 Fri, 20 Jan 2023 00:34:13 +0000 cake2017 2927891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@togetherthroughlife: @Lahela017: Yeah, I was going to send Evite 3 weeks prior? Also a reminder one week prior… do you think that’s enough time? I don’t want people to forget. </p> <p>@catgirl: same, DH works weekends and can take off this weekend which is rare and can be very difficult. DS school break starts in May so hoping that will not be a problem but it is summer so we will always run the risk! </p> <p>I’m thinking if even two or three friends come he will still have a good time- with family as well!!!</p> <p>Thank you all! ❤️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-for-6yo-a-day-before-fathers-day#post-2927889 Thu, 19 Jan 2023 14:00:57 +0000 catgirl 2927889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It being Father's Day weekend wouldn't have a huge impact in my opinion. I agree as long as it's not on Father's Day you are fine. Yes, some people might have other plans but that's always a risk. </p> <p>That specific weekend would be hard in my area, not because of Father's day but because it is the first weekend of summer vacation (well, hopefully - depends on the number of snow days we have). </p> <p>My DH also works weekends and our DD's birthday is two weeks before Christmas. We always pick a day that works for us and hope for the best. I do generally reach out to key people before the official invitations go out to give them a heads up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-for-6yo-a-day-before-fathers-day#post-2927887 Thu, 19 Jan 2023 12:11:39 +0000 Lahela017 2927887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with others. I don't see it being an issue as long as it isn't on Father's day itself and maybe give a little extra heads if you have any really important guests. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birthday-party-for-6yo-a-day-before-fathers-day#post-2927886 Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:20:41 +0000 togetherthroughlife 2927886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah I think letting people know the day and tentative time ASAP - even if you don’t have other details. So that they can plan around. :) </p>