Children’s birthday parties are all about fun and celebrating. When hosting parties away from home, parents can expect to spend hundreds of dollars. A 2024 survey of 404 mothers with children age six months and older conducted by the parenting and pregnancy website What to Expect found that parents spent an average of $314 on party planning (excluding gifts). And one in five parents indicated they spent more than $500 on their children’s birthday parties.
Children’s birthday parties can be expensive undertakings, but the fun to be had makes the celebrations well worth the investment. Parents planning parties for their youngsters’ next birthday can consider these types of establishments to host the fun.
Indoor amusement park: The fun to be had at amusement parks is no longer exclusive to warm weather. Indoor amusement parks have filled the wintertime void for excitement. Bumper cars, go-karts, laser tag, and, of course, arcade games are just some of the attractions at indoor amusement parks. Outdoor amusement parks also make for great places to host children’s parties for kids whose birthdays fall between spring and fall.
Indoor water park: Parents who live in locales where winters are long should know that water-based fun need not be relegated to just a few sun-soaked months each year. Indoor water parks provide all the fun of their outdoor counterparts but can be enjoyed when the weather outside is far too cold to take a dip much less spend hours on a lazy river. Outdoor water parks can be a fun-filled and sunny spot for parties when the weather is warm.
Trampoline park: Children have boundless energy, so a birthday celebration at a local trampoline park can be ideal. Trampoline parks are indoor facilities that feature a range of attractions catering to young adventurers. In addition to trampolines, many parks feature zip lines, an assortment of slides, flash pads for youngsters with happy feet, and climbing-based attractions and challenges. Some even feature amusement park staples like bumper cars, while others may offer mini golf.
Paint your own pottery: Paint your own pottery studios are ideal for crafty kids who love to paint. A typical studio offers a range of unpainted ceramic pieces for kids to choose from. Once kids pick an item, they can personalize it with their own artistic sensibility. When the painting is done, the item is left behind with the staff, who glaze and fire the pottery in a kiln. Within a week of the party, families can pick up their finished products and display them or use them at home.
