Once you start looking into the cost of arranging a kid’s birthday party, you might be surprised at just how much it all costs – there’s a lot to consider, and some of the larger elements, like hiring a venue or entertainment, for example, can set you back many hundreds of pounds. It might even make the whole thing impossible to pay for, and then what can you do?
The good news is that even if the party you originally had in your head has become a little too pricey, there are other options, and you can still host a fantastic kids’ party that everyone will love. With that in mind, here are some ideas to consider.
A Movie Night
One idea that could work very well is a movie night, and there are a few different ways you can set this up. If you’ve only got a small number of guests, you can use your living room or perhaps a bedroom, complete with mattresses on the floor or blankets for everyone to get comfy on. If there are more people, you might want to host the party in the summer and arrange a large screen in the garden, for example.
Whatever option you go for, you can watch a movie you already own on DVD or that you’ve bought from your streaming service, or you can pick one to stream directly, depending on the birthday child’s choice. Make sure it’s age-appropriate, and everyone should be able to enjoy it. You can offer popcorn and other snacks and perhaps add some themed items that match the movie to the build a bag party bag you give out at the end. You could even come up with some party games for when the movie’s over that relate to what they’ve just watched.
Go Traditional
Remember those parties from your childhood where everyone just played free games and had a lot of fun? Even if you’re too young to remember, just ask your parents – they’re sure to have been to lots of kid’s parties just like that.
All you have to do at this kind of party is provide the food and drink and host the games. You can play musical statues, pass the parcel, musical chairs, tag, and more – none of it’s going to cost anything (except for a prize, of course), and when the atmosphere’s right, everyone will have a great time.
Get The Timing Right
Food can be a big cost when it comes to a kid’s party, but if you get the timing right, you won’t have to spend quite so much. For example, if you plan the party to be between 2pm and 5pm, you’ll only have to provide a snack rather than a full meal – you’re right between lunch and dinner, so you can get away with a little less when it comes to the snacks you offer.
Timing is good for other reasons as well, including the fact that you’ll be in control of what’s happening, and if you time things well, you’ll be able to get everything cleared up in time to enjoy a relaxing evening once it’s all done, which you’ll probably need! Don’t forget that giving yourself a little extra self-care is a wise idea, as children’s parties can be exhausting.
Share The Cost
Having to pay for a kid’s birthday party by yourself is always going to be more expensive than any other option, but what if you could split the cost with someone else? If you can, that can be an excellent option because not only will you spend less, but you can push the budget a little and organise an even more special party.
If your child has a friend or relative with a similar birthday, speak to their parents and see if arranging a joint party would be possible. You’ll share the costs and only have to host one event, which should please everyone and it will certainly make life easier all around.
One thing to bear in mind if this is something you want to consider is the age of the children, however. A six-year-old and a 12-year-old – just as an example – will want very different things when it comes to a party, and their friendship groups are unlikely to overlap. That’s why it’s best to pick a child of a similar age to share a birthday party with, to ensure that everyone gets to enjoy the party and no one has to miss out on anything they want to do.
