Help me with planning a birthday party

[reya_5]

I have 2 year old son and would like to throw a small party of about 30 ppl. Please suggest me any good places to have a party. I live in NJ and have looked around Gymboree and Little Gym. Any help is appreciated.

[AggieMom]

30 children or 30 people? That's not a small party. :lol: The rule of thumb is the child's age plus one or two. I say that and always have huge parties at home for my kiddos, but they're mostly for the grown ups. My kids are 3 & 5 - for their next parties we'll ratchet it back down to kid only parties and save the big friend party for another time.

IMHO, 2 is too young for a paid party. He won't care and he certainly won't remember it. He'd be just as happy with a party at the park - bring bubbles and chalk and be done with it. You could do a bean bag toss easily with some sand buckets and home made bean bags. (iron the seams with seam tape and cut the edges with zig-zag shears) This IS the time to save some cash - save the Little Gym or Gymboree for next year.

Happy birthday to your little one!!

[PinkElephant]

As much as I dislike the rule of thumb Aggie'smom posted, I have to agree that it's hard for a two year old to be good for a long time. If you're having a family party with assorted aged kids, that's one thing. But I'd never exclude some nearby cousins because of a guest list limit. But a babysitting or preschool buddy or two could be invited as long as it's discreet and won't hurt others.

If you don't want to do a simple cake, ice cream, game and goody bag party at your house, perhaps an indoor venue with an age appropriate play area if you think rain might be an issue. Otherwise, why not a local park?

[AggieMom]

The rule is for kids - and it's next to impossible to keep these days with classroom rules that you have to invite the whole class if you send invites to school. If OP is talking about inviting 30 kids that's way too many. :eek: 30 including family/friends is doable, but it's completely unnecessary to spend $300 on a 2 yr old's birthday party.

[BeeEss]

I have 2 year old son and would like to throw a small party of about 30 ppl. Please suggest me any good places to have a party. I live in NJ and have looked around Gymboree and Little Gym. Any help is appreciated.

i did gymboree for my little one's first bday party (in NJ) and my baby loved it, as well as everybody who attended loved it! the kids had a blast, they loved it because they could play around in the safe childproof environment, plus the activities they did were also musical n fun.... with the pizza, the cake, the tip to the teacher, the disposable plates/cutlery/drinks (since gymboree would provide plates for the kids only)...you might have to have a budget of lets say at least 500$. I spent about 700 that year (because i overordered the pizza n drinks) but thought it was absolutely worth it from the feedback my guests gave me!

[AggieMom]

:faint: $700 on a 1 yr old's birthday party? This is Slickdeals! :bigeye: I about fell out last year when I had to do an onsite birthday party for both my boys and paid $400 for the whole thing - for both parties in one.

[serra]

is there a children's museum with a party room? try that. or chuck e cheese.