Bringing Back Home Parties

BRING BACK HOME PARTIES

Party Like It’s 1979

by Andrea Vance

Think back - WAY back to your early childhood days of elementary school and neighbourhood playtime in the Lower Mainland. Before the advent of scheduled playdates and overscheduled weekends, things were simple.

It wasn’t too long ago that the idea of hosting a birthday party in a venue other than your home was uncommon. Then the restaurant parties became popular, when McDonald’s play areas, Chuck E. Cheese, and the local ice cream shop became the party spots of preference.

Then the trend moved to have kids’ birthday parties anywhere BUT home. Somewhere along the way it became mandatory to invite every student in your child’s class, and the thought of having them all in your house, making more noise and messes than you thought possible was too much to handle.

Today, birthday parties hosted outside of the home have become the norm. The dilemmas of whether or not you should invite the whole class, if parents should come, and whether there should be a gift opening, are all high on the list of decisions, and today, it often feels like it’s more about who’s doing the coolest thing than it is about celebrating the birthday person.

Retro fashion is hip again, and we’re thinking the return of retro should apply to birthday parties too.

What if we threw it back, and partied like it’s 1979 again? What would it look like?

The games

Pin the tail on the donkey was a childhood classic. Kids may roll their eyes at first, but watch them light up when they pin that tail closest to the donkey’s a##! The memory game was another hit. Remember the one kid who could always remember every item on that tray?

Musical chairs was the perfect ice breaker. Update this game with the latest pop or rap song, and keep the kids dancing. Pass the parcel is another go-to game. A mystery prize is wrapped in layer after layer of newspaper, and the last one to uncover the prize, wins!

Blind man’s bluff was a personal favourite, where you blindfold one child, and spin them three times. They then try to catch one of the other kids, and when they do, they must guess who it is while staying blindfolded.

The telephone game is a great way to engage everyone at the party. Write out some phrases on pieces of paper, and let the birthday child start by whispering it into the ear of the person to their side. They whisper to the next, and on it goes. The last one says the phrase out loud based on what they think they heard. No prizes necessary, just lots of laughs.

You can't lose with a good old fashioned scavenger hunt. Make a list of items for the kids the gather, and even divide them into teams. Upgrade the game by allowing kids to use phones or iPads to take photos of them doing interesting things instead of just collecting items.

The setting

Pick a theme, even if it is just a colour theme, and then pick a few things to dress up the room.

Put up streamers, but skip the balloons for the sake of the environment. Get the kids involved in the décor. Colour match the napkins and tablecloth, and keep it simple. Kids care more about the fun to be had than the decorations!

The food

The cake is key. Let the kids bake the cake, even if it just comes out of a box - this is way cheaper than going to the bakery, and it’s an opportunity for the older siblings to get involved or the birthday child to take the lead.

Put out some chips and snacks, and order up some pizza! Fresh Slice, Panago, Domino’s, or your favourite local pizzeria can supply the kids’ favourite slices. You know this is one birthday meal that will get eaten.

Another easy birthday food that is often overlooked is sushi. The West Coast has some of the best sushi around, and it’s inexpensive if you stick to simple rolls like cucumber maki.

Sponsored by Gulf Of Georgia Cannery

Other ideas

One friend hosted her daughter’s birthday in a local park for years. Friends and family were all invited for an outdoor barbecue or picnic while the kids played for hours. “Happy Birthday” was sung, cake was eaten, and the kids still remember this fun day.

If you have multiple kids, consider having the older siblings plan and run the birthday party for the younger one. They can make the cake, setup the games, give out the prizes, and keep everyone entertained for hours.

The classic slumber party is a big win. Kids can bring a sleeping bag, a pillow, and their best onesie jammies, and spend the evening playing games, eating popcorn, and watching movies!

Sponsored by Millenium Learning Advantage

HOW TO THROW AN OLD-SCHOOL BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR YOUR KIDS

Invitations

A week before the party, send your kids on their bikes to tell their friends in the neighbourhood to come over, and have them spread the word at school. Cake: Grab a box of Duncan Hines Cake Mix, bake it, and top it with a can of white frosting.

Food & Drinks

Make a pitcher of Tang or Kool-Aid, dump a bag of potato chips into a bowl, and throw a frozen pizza in the oven.

Party Games

Wrap a cheap gift in layers of last weekend’s newspaper cartoon pages for an old fashioned game of pass the present, and set up a game of pin the tail on the donkey.

BIRTHDAY PARTY VENUES FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES

When You Don’t Want To Host The Party At Home

by Andrea Vance

If you can’t stand the thought of having 20 kids in your home, or you just don’t have the room for a home-based birthday, no problem! We totally get it. There are so many great birthday party venues in the Lower Mainland to choose from, so to help you with your party planning, we’re sharing some of our favourite picks.

For the sporty kids: If your kids are into sports, rent your local school or community gym for a couple of hours, and hire Sportball to come out to keep them busy. They can play indoor hockey or soccer, and the coordinator will set up lots of different games to ensure everyone can participate. At 6 Pack Beach in Richmond, kids can play volleyball, archery, dodgeball, or soccer. Bring snacks, drinks, and a cake, and you’re all set.

For the little ones: Kidtropolis in Richmond offers an indoor town complete with bank, airplane, vet clinic, grocery store and more for exploring and using their imagination. Tumbletown in Vancouver focuses on movement and provides instructed play on specially designed gym equipment, and offers added activities and games. Both places have party rooms and spots for coats and shoes.

For tweens and teens: Older kids need a place to party too, and for that we love Playland! Hours of fun on the rides, games, and lots of food options too. If your tween loves music, singing, and dancing, check out the cool setup from My Studio Party. They can come to you at home, or make arrangements for a spot nearby. Summer time can take you to Cultus Waterpark near Chilliwack with a car full of tweens or teens for a day of adventure. It’s only an hour or so from the city, and you can spend the whole day, wrapping up with pizza from the famous Beethoven’s Pizza restaurant across the street.

Fun for all ages: Kids parties are also a great time to try something new. Making your own pizza at Rocky Mountain Flatbread Kitsilano or Main Street locations fits the bill for kids who love food, complete with chef’s hat, juice cocktails, frozen yogurt, and chocolate brownies for dessert. The ROX birthday party at the Richmond Oval lets kids try sports simulators like bobsled and ski jumps, plus a private screening of the ROX film and exhibits too. It also includes one of the best party rooms in town, with 3 hours in the Legacy Suite for up to 15 kids and 5 adults.

If you think a swimming party is boring, it’s time to check out Watermania from Richmond Aquatics, including action for all ages. The older kids can try the crazy fun wave pool with floaties, while the younger kids will enjoy the interactive water play features with giant tipping bucket and sprayers. The waterslides are great for all ages too. They’ve got lots of room for kids and families in the multipurpose room for cake and snacks.