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I guess it depends on a few things. Would your son enjoy a pottery painting party? Would his friends? If they're going to have a great time and you have the money than go for it. I'm not sure the 5 year old boys I know would be into it, I think they'd paint for 5 minutes and then just want to run around, so for me the money would be better spent hosting kids at a play centre or a movie.

I don't think you'd need to have favours at this party, I think what they're painting would be the favours.

@irene: some thoughts

Cake+candles: $50
*** I would make cupcakes at home

favors+plates: $55
*** grab some plates from the doallr store and the favor is the mug they painted

$10 juice, water bottles
*** water only - a case is around $3 here

@irene: does the venue (a) know the guests are 5 yrs and (b) have any idea what five year olds act like?!

I love the idea of a pizza making party for this age group if that is an actual option for you. My pre-k girl and her k/preK friends would universally enjoy the pizza, whereas only a small number of them would actually paint pottery.

@irene: I would split the difference with the cupcakes: bake them yourself and then frost with store frosting. Though, making homemade frosting is super, super easy and you can pipe it on with a Ziploc bag (I don't use fancy attachments). The picture is a funfetti angel food cupcake I made last year with whipped cream icing piped on with a Ziploc bag I cut the corner off of.

I also think that whatever they paint should be the favor, even if they have to wait a week. But I hate favors anyway and never have them.

@irene: I would do the pizza party and save the pottery thing for when your son is older and will truly appreciate it. Plus, boys at the age of 5 might be a bit much and very stressful for you at a pottery place. I would be scared that they would break something!

@irene: Do you have the option for one of those canvas painting places, if you're worried about things getting broken?

Budgetwise for outside the home, I think its reasonable.

That said, I'm lukewarm about the pottery thing in terms of actual value. I don't think the kids would use the mugs or they might break them, and the figurines seem useless. Do you have a Michael's around you? They host kids parties with a variety of crafts that you can pick and you can bring in your own food.

In that same vein, call your local Home Depot or Lowes. They usually do FREE kid's workshops where they build something, get a little apron, a certificate of achievement, etc. on a weekly or monthly basis. Because they offer this free service, some parents will call the manager and see if they can do one for a birthday party. Some locations let parents bring food and everything on-site.

Another popular option these days is a gymnastics gym or the YMCA - they usually let the kids run around and tumble and then they get lunch afterwards. I mention this because if you are doing it in the winter and its cold, kids may be more excited about running around and burning off energy than sitting still and doing crafts.

@irene: If that's what your son wants to do than do it! It's his birthday, who cares what the other kids would prefer - they can do those things for their birthdays. People know their kids so if they think they can't be trusted in a place full of pottery I assume they'll either say no or stay to supervise.

Remember too, though, that if you decide to do something else you and your son could still go to the pottery place and paint mugs, and then you guys have a special date with souvenirs of your outing.

I'd totally do the pottery party if that is what your son wants. His birthday, his choice.

@irene: I would either lower the cost and do the cheap figurine and do a small favor or do the mug. But kids may enjoy the figurine more because there is more detail. Sometimes kids have trouble with a complete blank canvas.

I would do a pizza party but take my son pottery painting as an outing for his birthday instead of a present.