https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:35:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1902183 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 13:57:09 +0000 whenoceansrise 1902183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is due December 21st and I've already been thinking how hard party planning in the future will be!</p> <p>One idea that I had is our church has an indoor gym that they'd let us rent out (for free) and I could rent a bounce house and DIY some carnival games. Maybe you could find a local church with a large room or gym that they'd let you rent for cheap! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1902103 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 13:25:55 +0000 Foodnerd81 1902103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: The Franklin Park Zoo does "Do It Yourself" bday parties, so you pay by the hour then just pay for admission at a discounted rate. Not sure how much of the zoo would be enjoyable in dec. though.<br /> <a href="http://www.zoonewengland.org/celebrate/event-types/birthday-parties" rel="nofollow">http://www.zoonewengland.org/celebrate/event-types/birthday-parties</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1902076 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 13:17:28 +0000 rachiecakes 1902076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cole: I would LOVE to do this but my very best friend lives in CT and her LO is 10 months younger than J and they're best buddies too. We've talked about just doing something with the two of them for J's birthday instead of a party. </p> <p>@Foodnerd81: yeah, if we did the Children's Museum, I would just pay their entry as they arrived and we'd head out afterwards for dessert somewhere. I can't chance paying $400+ again for no one to show up due to weather... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1902055 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 13:06:59 +0000 Foodnerd81 1902055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: I've already been wondering the same thing about party locations. I'm guessing the Children's Museum here is crazy expensive. </p> <p>Do you have any friends who live in bigger apt or condo buildings that have a common party space area that can be reserved? I felt like that would be ideal- can fit plenty of people, you bring all your own stuff, kids running around won't annoy anyone-- but I don't know anyone who lives nearby that I would ask to use their building. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1902046 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 13:02:47 +0000 mrs. wagon 1902046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: walling you.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1901993 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 12:34:00 +0000 Cole 1901993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: what if you do a weeknight and just invite a few people? I have read that an ideal number of guests is the birthday kids age plus one if you want them to actually get to play with everyone. Keeping it small would make it easier to play it by ear in the event of bad weather. </p> <p>Try calling a bunch of places, we have a few play places that let you do non scheduled "parties" during non peak times and let you bring in a cake and decorations whereas during the weekends they won't let you because they are already busy. Maybe a YMCA or similar would let you bring in a few kids to swim and then have pizza and cake. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1901599 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 09:15:29 +0000 mrsjyw 1901599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're skipping a party this year because I don't have the energy to think through logistics of Thanksgiving holiday/random weather/ppl's schedules. Hugs, just commiserating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1901594 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 09:14:06 +0000 rachiecakes 1901594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: we don't even have room for 3 chairs at our dining table for the 3 people that live in the house, lol. If I stretch out my arms I can touch both walls of my kitchen, small. :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1901550 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 08:58:04 +0000 Mamaof2 1901550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How many kids are you inviting? I know you said your place was out but what if you just invited 3-4 friends and kept it super small? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1901547 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 08:57:16 +0000 looch 1901547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hear you about the toddler birthdays in winter...it's difficult enough as it is to schedule between Thanksgiving and New Years as it is, then you have to worry about snow!</p> <p>Do you have indoor soccer field houses around you? They'll also be able to host a party, but they are expensive, which sucks for the cancellation aspect.</p> <p>I think this year I am going to do a small celebration at school with a craft and then do an end of the year party with parents in our yard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1901541 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 08:55:31 +0000 autumnlove 1901541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: I hope it goes well!!! December birthday parties can be kinda tricky! &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1901535 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 08:53:39 +0000 rachiecakes 1901535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@petunia354: one of my old coworkers, his two grandkids had Christmas birthdays so they would have a HUGE party in the summer for them together. It was pretty cute!<br /> I've already got friends emailing me with dates that they wouldn't be able to make it to the party because they have holiday commitments. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1901533 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 08:52:00 +0000 rachiecakes 1901533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Great ideas! Thank you all so much!</p> <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: We don't have a Chuck E Cheese that is close by and the bowing alleys nearby are all bars. He would LOVE to bowl.</p> <p>@raspberries: yep, we're like 10 minutes from there! I saw that too - I hear it gets booked up really quickly. </p> <p>@Shutterbug: I'm waiting for it to open up already! That would be so much fun.</p> <p>@dolphin: J loved the indoor play park last year. </p> <p>And I'd do it again this year but I'm really trying to avoid spending $400 for a party that could get snowed out again. Trying to think of less expensive options. Something that if we had a snowstorm, I wouldn't have to worry about losing a lot of $ if we had to cancel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1901272 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 22:26:11 +0000 dolphin 1901272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD's birthday is a week before Christmas and I just booked her party at an indoor play room. We went to a bday party at a Children's Museum and had a great time. The one we went to let you rent out a private room for an hour for food and cake and then the rest of the time you get to explore the museum. And if you choose the semi private option it's less expensive! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1901112 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 19:28:57 +0000 Sparkler 1901112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would highly recommend the trampoline park. The take care of everything except cake (pizza,paper goods, juice/water) the kids got to keep the socks and I want to say it was like $250? I think the package includes like 10 kids and you can pay for extra. Some of our friends complain about paying for parking at the children's museum (and with children's museum parents are just as expensive as the kids if it isn't an organized party) and the trampoline park though in a random location has plenty of parking! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1901035 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 17:59:57 +0000 mauxie 1901035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Aww! I really love the idea of a children's museum outing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1901034 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 17:57:46 +0000 Shutterbug 1901034@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How about that trampoline park opening in your town (kidding... sort of :silly: ). I like the children's museum idea since you won't be locked in with rental fees, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1901012 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 17:20:37 +0000 lady grey 1901012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: @blackbird: The ymca sounds good. Do you have community center near you? We have a bunch here and you can rent out rooms for parties, some of them will set out toys in the gymnasium so the kids can go wild. </p> <p>Or how about a Little Gym/Gymboree? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1900979 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 16:29:38 +0000 winniebee 1900979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Love the children's museum idea! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1900976 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 16:26:13 +0000 raspberries 1900976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does New England = Boston-ish? The Boston Fire Museum is rentable for birthday parties, I just looked at their website and they're all booked for this year - but something to keep in mind for next year! Or you could do a My Gym party - we went to a birthday party there last year for a 3-year-old and the kids were just thrilled to pieces with it. (<a href="http://www.mygym.com/boston/birthday-parties" rel="nofollow">http://www.mygym.com/boston/birthday-parties</a>) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1900966 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 16:11:20 +0000 bunnylove08 1900966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>how about the aquarium (not sure if there is one near you) but you can do the pay by admission and then do some cake at the food court. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1900955 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 16:05:36 +0000 blackbird 1900955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about a ymca? They have indoor pools and do kids parties! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1900952 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 16:03:23 +0000 Lindsay05 1900952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That sounds fun! Going swimming may be a good idea too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1900943 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:57:47 +0000 mediagirl 1900943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Children's Museum sounds GREAT! We have one here that lets you rent a room and for that you get helpers and the room. :) You pay for the kids admission, they play and at a certain time, the museum calls the party and they all go in to sing and eat cake. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1900933 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:49:21 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1900933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd pick a Friday night when people will already be out &amp; about. The party could start at 5:30 pm. You would have to shell out for dinner, but this way no one will already be holed up at home on a Saturday. Dinner can be pizza &amp; soft drinks.</p> <p>Pick any fun place where kids of all ages can let out some energy and the parents have a comfy place to sit. Chuck E Cheese has a full on arcade. Some bowling alleys do too. If the Children's Museum is open late and has a cafeteria or allows outside food that's still a winner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1900902 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:31:51 +0000 petunia354 1900902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Aw, that's so sad about his party last year! I don't have any ideas but can commiserate since DS's birthday is between Christmas and new years! I long for an outdoor BBQ party for him, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-birthday-party-for-toddler-wwyd#post-1900892 Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:26:45 +0000 rachiecakes 1900892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>J will be 3 (!!) this December.<br /> His best friend and two of his other friends have birthday this month and his cousin has a birthday two weeks before his. He's reeeallly into birthdays. And I love seeing his face light up with the candles and singing.<br /> And having all these birthdays just before his really gets his excited for his birthday. </p> <p>The thing is - by the time it's his birthday, anything outdoors is out of the question. And last year we had a snowstorm the day of his party and half the guests couldn't attend. (The snow just started falling as the party ended, but there was storm watch on all day, so the cancellations were also last minute. Totally understandable, but disappointing.).</p> <p>I have NO IDEA what to do for J's birthday this year. I want to do a party, but having at our place is also out of the question. We don't have parking and have a teeny tiny apartment. I really want to avoid paying a lot of (nonrefundable) money for a party that his friends might not be able to make it to. </p> <p>Anyone have any suggestions? Fun ideas for an active soon to be 3-year old?<br /> I was thinking maybe a Children's Museum or something and just paying for the group as they arrived and having ice cream and cake at a bakery/ice cream shop or something along those lines..?</p> <p>Poor kid, he gets a birthday a week before Christmas and in New England, where you can get a snowstorm, too. </p> <p>Looking for ideas! </p>