Tag: birthday party places for kids
When to choose to do a birthday party at home versus at a venue
Making the Right Party Venue Decision
Planning your child’s birthday party can be a bit overwhelming with numerous factors to consider.
One of the primary decisions parents face is whether to host the party at home or choose a party venue.
This choice can be challenging, but we’re here to help you explore the pros and cons of both options.
Home Parties vs. Venue Parties
Hosting a birthday party at home is a popular choice for many parents, especially for younger children.
However, it’s essential to understand that it’s not always the easiest or most economical option.
Let’s break down the advantages and disadvantages of both home and venue parties.
Pros of Home Parties:
- Personal Space and Comfort: Your child can retreat to their room or a quiet area if the party becomes overwhelming for them.
- No Travel Involved: You won’t need to transport guests to a different location.
- Flexible Timing: You can host guests for as long as you like, with no restrictions on the duration of the party.
- Custom Decorations: You can set up theme decorations according to your preference, even days in advance.
- Food and Beverage Choices: You have the freedom to prepare and serve food, including alcohol, without specific rules.
Cons of Home Parties:
- Cleaning Responsibilities: Preparing your home before and cleaning up after the party can be time-consuming and potentially costly if you hire help.
- Entertainment Planning: You’ll need to organize activities to keep the kids engaged.
- Decorating from Scratch: Creating a festive atmosphere may require significant effort, and it may be challenging to surprise your child with the chosen theme.
- Risks of Damage: With numerous kids in your home, there’s a risk of accidental breakages or damages.
- Guest Management: Ensuring guests behave appropriately may be your responsibility unless you hire event staff.
- Unlimited Stay: Guests can stay as long as they like, which might lead to exhaustion for the hosts.
- Accumulating Costs: Expenses can add up when you consider all aspects, especially if guests expect alcohol to be served.
If these cons seem overwhelming, it might be time to consider a birthday party venue.
Factors to Consider when Choosing a Venue
There are various factors to consider when you’re choosing a venue for your kids’ birthday party.
- Venue Size
Ensure the venue has enough space to accommodate your group comfortably. Private room options are ideal to ensure your party’s privacy. - Decorations and Themes
Look for a venue that offers appealing themes, reducing your need to decorate from scratch. Check if they allow you to bring your own decorations. - Party Package and Privacy
Be aware of guest limitations in the party package and inquire about the costs of inviting additional guests. Aim for a venue that can offer complete party privacy. - Food Options
Confirm whether the venue provides food or if you need to supply it. Some venues offer the convenience of not having to prepare, clean, or transport food. - Staff Assistance
Inquire if the venue provides dedicated staff to assist during the party.
Making the Decision
Ultimately, the choice between hosting a party at home or at a venue depends on your child’s age, preferences, and your comfort. Ensure your child is excited about the decision as a birthday party is a significant occasion in their life.
If you’re considering a venue, visiting it in advance can help you get a feel for the space and see if it aligns with your party plans. Not all venues offer complete privacy, so it’s essential to explore options and not limit yourself to home-only celebrations.
Choose the option that best suits your child’s desires and your comfort level. Remember, the most important thing is to create memorable moments for your child’s special day. Explore venues like Scooter’s Jungle that offer private, kid-friendly, and alcohol-free birthday parties.
Planning the Perfect Kid’s Birthday Party
Pulling off the perfect birthday bash for a kid is sometimes tricky as you may overlook something you think is trivial but which means a lot to the kid. The costumes, food and drinks, games, décor and much more must be gotten right for the kid to feel the bash was good and amply entertain her/his friends.
The best way to ensure everything is considered and taken care of is by having a checklist of activities and items needed.
Planning checklist
- Make a guest list and a budget
- Choose 2-3 dates and time agreeable to the must attend guests – give special consideration to your child’s best friend(s) and close family members availability.
- Look for a birthday venue if not having the party at home
- Choose the party theme and décor
- Select menu. If you want the food catered for by a catering firm, look for one and make the menu together
- Send invites. Digital invites work better for easier RSVPs and Thank you notes
You will need different preparations depending on whether the party is being held at home or at an outside birthday venue. If the bash will be away from home;
- Check whether all needed décor items are purchased
- Check out the party favors offered at the venue. Look quality stuffed animals and goodie bags and see if the venue allows you flexibility to pay for ONLY the amount used of these items so you can pre-order larger quantities to ensure no last minute run-outs.
If you engage a birthday venue, let them run everything so that you are stress free. Let them decide on the what/when/why/where questions of the bash. The venue usually has a timeline that works well to ‘Make it All Happen’.
- Review the venue website and brochure to see what to expect before, during and after the bash.
- Confirm what can and cannot be brought to the venue,
- Book party décor items like balloons through the venue,
- Confirm that venue has standard utensils, discuss color of utensils to ensure they match with your theme.
If the party is at home ensure;
- The needed kitchen and table wares have been bought. Take an inventory of forks, plates, knives, cups, cake lighter, and serving utensils and buy anything missing
- Order whatever party rental you will need (Tables and chairs)
- Schedule the cleaning service 1-2 days before
- Plan for 2-3 hours of activity and games
- Order entertainment services (Inflatables, trains, reptiles, characters…etc.)
- Plan for a cleaning service to come 1-2 days after the event to get your house back to normal.
2-3 days before the party;
- Confirm with the birthday venue regarding guest counts / give-aways / food / timeline
- Assemble all needed items not provided at the venue; drinks, costumes, goodie bags etc
- Prepare the camera with fresh batteries
1 day before the party
- Buy perishable food items and chill the drinks
- Pick up the cake
- For a home party prepare food items that can be refrigerated
Bash day
- Designate an assistant to help you out
- Decorate before guests arrive
- Have a gift check-in system
- Prep thank you cards
- Prep the birthday kid on how to say thank you
After the party
- Share photos and videos on social media
- Send Thank You notes
Considering throwing your next indoor birthday party at home?
Birthday parties are a big deal. The invites, the prep time, the entertainment, presents, the decor, the food, the cake. If you’re throwing a party at home you can’t forget to take inventory of kitchen items and tableware for the party, purchase everything you are missing. Don’t forget to schedule time to clean your home before and after the mess, ordering party rental equipment, and plan activities for 2-3 hours of your personal home invasion.
It’s easy to forget about all-of-the-above when you are planning your next kids birthday party, but for some of us, it happens every year. We find ourselves spending far more than we expect while trying to “make things easy” or “save money”. Does this sound familiar?
If you’ve already sent the invitations, booked the party clown and hired the taco-guy, you might be in for a repeat, but for everyone else there’s Scooter’s Jungle.
Scooter’s Jungle is conveniently located throughout Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Ventura County. Each venue offers a complete party itinerary to keep your party-goers entertained, with age appropriate arenas, dining rooms and event supplies on hand.
There’s more…reserving your next private birthday party at a Scooter’s Jungle near you gives you access to our professional event planners, clean facilities, made in-house fresh pizza, balloons available to match any theme and party favors that start at just $3 each.
During your visit expect to be part of the FUN. Your itinerary may include sliding down the tallest, longest inflatable slides, obstacle courses, zip-lines, air hockey, tricycle races, and much, much more.
Throwing your next Birthday Party at Scooter’s Jungle will help you avoid many of the pains that you’ll face when having a party at home, from planning, to cost, to cleanup. Call today to talk to our party planners or reserve your next party.