Party Guide

KC Parent’spartyguide

• fresh ideas • terrific themes • great venues

Kansas City Zoo

Let the Kansas City Zoo host your child’s next birthday party. We guarantee a wild time for every guest! We are currently offering birthday party options on weekends. Zoo admission and rides wristbands are available as an add-on. You are welcome to provide your own décor, food, and activities. Visit KansasCityZoo.org/birthdays to join us for a celebration like no other! See display ad on pg. 49.

Mission Bowl

Mission Bowl has been serving the community since 1958. We have hosted several generations of families for all types of birthday parties, from the 2-year-olds to the spunky seniors and everyone in between. We hope your family will be the next

Where fun TAKES FLIGHT!

With attractions that cater to any level of adventurer, there’s something fun for everyone.

Both locations now open UrbanAirLenexa.com

8554 Maurer Road • Lenexa, KS 66219 • (913) 359-5800 UrbanAirOverlandPark.com

14401 Metcalf Ave • Overland Park, KS 66223 • (913) 298-0626

to join us in celebrating your next upcoming birthday. All you have to do in invite the guests and let us do the rest including cleaning up the mess!! See display ad on pg. 47. MissionBowl.com

Movies2U

Roll out the red carpet and celebrate that special occasion with a movie! Round up the kids to watch their favorite movie on one of our largerthan-life inflatable screens. Throw in our popcorn machine and the effect will be complete. The kids won’t forget it and you’ll love it as our professional staff takes care of every detail. One of our 4 differently sized screens is sure to fit your occasion and budget. See display ad on pg. 50. Movies2U.com Princess at My Party

Have your child’s favorite character come to the birthday party! Choose from Raya, Elsa, Anna, Rapunzel, Moana, Elena, Ariel, Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Jasmine and Snow White. Also, inquire about our Super Girl, Wonder Woman or Bat Girl parties! Watch the magic unfold as the children go on an adventure that includes a story, games, music, a makeover or face painting and a treasure hunt. See display ad on pg. 49. 816.830.4841. PrincessAtMyParty.com

RoKC

Celebrate your little climber’s birthday with RoKC! Enjoy your two-hour party for 10-15 climbers with your own birthday party attendant and private climbing instructor! Parties are available at both our Olathe, KS and North KC, MO locations. Party also includes rental gear and a private party room for cake and presents, feel free to decorate it to fit your theme! Every birthday deserves the gift of adventure. See display ad on pg. 51. ClimbKC.com

Urban Air Adventure Park

Urban Air Adventure Parks in Lenexa and Overland Park continue to be voted Best Kids Birthday Party Place year after year. It’s the perfect place for indoor stress-free birthday parties for all ages. More than just a trampoline park, Urban Air has something for everyone. Let the kids fly through the park on our sky rider, take on our climbing walls, or reach new heights on our trampolines. Urban Air. Let ‘em fly. See display ad on pg. 46. UrbanAirLenexa.com, UrbanAirOverlandPark.com

THE ULTIMATE ALL-NEW BIRTHDAY PARTY GUIDE

FOR KANSAS CITY

200+

PARTY VENUES AND PARTY ENTERTAINERS

CHECK IT OUT AT KCPARENT.COM!

Bowling Birthday Parties

X Strike X

$90.00 per Lane (package)

• 2 Hour Party for 5 • Shoe Rental for 5 • Large Single

Topping Pizza • 5 Small Soft Drinks

• Tablecloth, Plates, Napkins, Balloons, NEON Bowling Pin • 5 Goodie Bags You invite the guest we do the rest...

Mission Bowl

1020 S. Weaver St. Olathe, KS 66061 (913) 782-0279 missionbowl.com

Throw Birthday Parties Like a Boss!

Stress-free parties? To many busy moms, this sounds like a dream instead of reality. But the dream is attainable simply with a bit of planning and a focus on your child’s specific interests. When you let those be your guide, everything will fall into place a lot faster.

For example, if your son or daughter is into the Kansas City Chiefs, that is a direct lead into the cake, games and snacks for your party. Many baking shops have football-shaped pans, and of course, you can have a Mahomes hair cake created locally! Schedule a tour of Arrowhead Stadium for the activity. They offer scheduled tours every Friday at 2:00 and 4:00. Bring a small group for a tour, and it will be the best photo op ever. Create a montage for each child to keep forever. With the recent Super Bowl win, this is a popular choice.

If you are planning a party for tween girls, make sure you do some tricks to keep everyone happy and minimize drama. Set boundaries by making a cute sign with a smiley face saying, “You are entering the ‘no drama zone.”’ The girls will repeat the phrase and find the thought amusing. Consider unplugging computers and collecting cell phones at a certain time, and make sure to discuss with your child movie choices that will appeal to everyone.

When the party includes an outing, like visiting a pizza place or bowling alley, create a list of names of selected children to go in each car. Tell the children there will be no negotiations or special requests. Do make sure no one is feeling left out throughout the party time. Most of all, smile, laugh and be optimistic yourself. You have an ideal opportunity to model some important things to these youngsters: flexibility, friendliness and the ability to laugh at oneself. Foster these traits in your own kids, too, so that when you send them off to a party, you won’t have to worry.

Once, I included everyone’s dog in a party for both my kiddos, whose birthdays fall in September. We got a birthday cake from a local pet store with carob chocolate and dog-friendly ingredients and had plastic swimming pools around the yard so the pups could swim and play. The children loved it and because it was outdoors, that’s where the mess stayed. Playing fetch and having a puppy theme were a hit. The “people” cake was shaped like a dog bone, and party favors were bags of puppy chow. You can find that recipe online. Do make sure each dog is social and used to being around other dogs.

Consider planning an experience instead of a party, as I mentioned earlier about the Arrowhead Stadium tours. Give your child the option of taking several friends on an outing, such as the movies, bowling, local theme park, arcade, indoor rock climbing or the pool, depending on the season. An outing with a small group of friends is much

less chaotic than a big party and requires almost no effort. Children often enjoy and bond with their close friends more when there aren’t so many people running about.

Whatever you do, if you have the party at home, keep the food simple. Lunch can be PB&J. If you do want pizza, ask for a school cut that features smaller slices, since kids often don’t finish their slice anyway. Another option is to plan the party before or after lunch or dinner, so you don’t feel obligated to provide a full meal.

Let each child help when it comes to party favors. For example, paint or tie-dye t-shirts, decorate cupcakes or make slime. This gives kids an activity to enjoy and then take home. They stay busy, and you save on goody bags!

Remember, you can always use items you have around your house. Create fun stations from toys you already have, such as a sports station with basketballs, soccer balls, tennis rackets and balloons. Or play dress-up and set out play clothes and other dress items you already have. Water fun is always a hit, with squirt guns, water balloons and kitchen sponges.

Who says you must have a birthday cake? Ask your child what he or she would like and go from there. Suggest root beer floats— purchase plastic cups for serving, and each child can take one home as a favor. Scoop ice cream into the cups the day before and store them in the freezer, then let party guests choose their favorite flavor of soda to make their float.

Keep your party-planning self on track by always asking yourself whether your ideas will make your child have a better birthday. Looking at Pinterest may be exciting, but, chances are, children won’t care about much of that. Most would much rather enjoy a happy, present mom at the party than a burned-out, stressed mom who stayed up all night cutting out perfect food labels the kids can’t even read. Spend time on what matters to your child and leave the rest alone.

Once, I included everyone’s dog in a party for both my kiddos, whose birthdays fall in September. We got a birthday cake from a local pet store with carob chocolate and dog-friendly ingredients and had plastic swimming pools around the yard so the pups could swim and play.

An avid outdoors girl, Judy Goppert lives in Lee’s Summit. She enjoys drawing on her personal experiences to write about the nuances of everything wonderful about life.

Sources: StressFreeKids.com, Simply-Well-Balanced.com, EverydayFamily.com.

Princess Partyat my

Have your favorite princess at your party!

Parties Include: Story Games Facepaint Music Prizes & More

Visit www.kansascityzoo.org/birthdays to plan your party today!

Rachel Johnson

rachel@princessatmyparty.com 816.830.4841

PARTYGUIDE Have a Happy Birthday!

Budget-Friendly Birthday Ideas That Make Your Child Feel Special

The day your child was born is a day to celebrate and make him feel special. Birthday parties are fun but they can be a lot of work, and the costs can quickly add up. Whether you decide to host a birthday party every year, every other year or skip it to cut down on costs, these ideas are sure to make your child’s birthday special.

Create anticipation

As the birthday approaches, build anticipation by talking about it and planning what the day will hold. You can create a special countdown by making a paper chain and tearing off one link per day or even just counting down the number of days on a chalkboard in your home. Explain that although there will not be a big birthday party this year, a lot of fun things are planned.

Make the cake

A great way to save money on a birthday celebration is to make the cake yourself. Choose flavors and colors or themes your child loves and get siblings involved in

The WOW Factor

Have an unforgettable party!

What’s included with your cinema experience:

• Movies2U host for your entire event • Huge HD-formatted 16:9 cinema screens with

NO blower running • High Definition, 5,100

Lumens Projector • Premium RCF Audio System • Cinema popcorn available • Locally owned since 2016

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the preparation. Kids typically don’t care about whether the cake is perfectly decorated; they are happy with a cake that is made just for them.

Balloon avalanche

When your child goes to sleep the night before her birthday, decorate the house with balloons or birthday decor. Try taping a disposable tablecloth to the outside of the door jam and fill the space between with balloons. When your child opens the door, she will be greeted with a balloon avalanche sure to put a big smile on her face.

Kid’s choice

When you are planning the day, consider your child’s favorites. Plan the day’s meals around the foods your youngster loves. Choose things that you typically do not serve to make the day more special. If you will go on an outing or if you will be dining out, let the birthday kid choose the location. Document the day

Create a list of questions to ask your child on his birthday such as “Who is your best friend?” or list TV shows, songs, foods, etc. Record the answers in a safe place and repeat each year. It’s fun to look back and see how your child has changed and matured over the years.

Tell the story

Kids love to hear stories about the day they were born, the cute things they did as a baby or how you prepared for their arrival. Spend part of the day telling favorite stories about your child—he is sure to love it.

Have others reach out

Ask friends and family to wish your child a happy birthday with calls, texts, messages or cards. Consider talking to family members via Skype. This will help your child know that others are celebrating her, even if you aren’t hosting a big birthday party this year.

We parents often feel like spending a lot is the best way to make our child’s birthday special, but this is truly not the case. With a little extra planning, your child’s day can be just as special as any expensive party.

Ways to Celebrate Without a Party

•Go to the movies. • Visit an amusement park. • Have dinner out at a favorite spot. • Go bowling. • Take a day trip to a neighboring town. • Attend a sporting event. • Be a tourist for the day in your hometown, visiting the zoo or other local attractions. • Let your child pick a place to visit.

Sarah Lyons is a stay-at-home mom to six children. Some years her kids celebrate their birthdays with a party and other years they choose to celebrate in other ways.