White, blue and pink memphis pattern with ice cream
So your child’s birthday is just around the corner, and you don’t have time to plan and prepare the perfect party? Don’t despair. There are plenty of fun places to hold parties for kids of all ages — from little ones to tweens and teens — that will save you time in planning, preparation, and cleanup. Most importantly, your birthday kid and guests will have a blast.
Skates & Blades – Roller skating rinks are gaining popularity again and most offer a choice of inline or roller skate rentals. Consider ice-skating and ice or roller hockey parties as a fun alternative. *Check out Cordova Skating Center, East End Skating Center, or Skateland Raleigh, or if you’re in North Mississippi, try Skate Odyssey or Mid-South Ice House.
Strike it Big – Bowling parties are a fun form of recreation for kids of all ages. Preschoolers can score every time with bumper bowling, while teens can go cosmic for glow-in-the-dark fun. Add to the amusement by offering small prizes for low and high scores and the most and fewest gutters. *Check out Billy Hardwick’s, Cordova Bowling Center, or Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl at Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid, all of which offer children’s party packages.
Pizza and Play – Preschool and early elementary children thrill at being invited to these parties where they can play kiddie arcade-style games, win tickets for prizes, hop on coin-operated rides, or romp in soft play areas. *Check out Pump it Up, Jumpin’ Jellybeans, Kid Station, Marshall’s World, Incredible Pizza, or Chuck E. Cheese’s.
Water, Water Everywhere – Head to a splash pad, sprinkler park, or pool. What better way to cool off and party on a hot summer day? *Check out the Kroc Center, H2OH! at Children’s Museum of Memphis (CMOM), or the Shelby Farms Sprayground.
Old MacDonald Had a Farm – Find a nearby farm and see what activities are offered seasonally. Many include hayrides, petting zoos, and more. *Check out Maple Grove Farm, Cedar Hill Farm, or Menagerie Farm.
Recreational Romp – Recreation and fitness centers offer a wide variety of activities for birthdays including gymnastics, swimming, basketball, or arts and crafts. *Check out The Little Gym, River City Gymnastics, Jumping World Trampoline Park, Sky Zone, Get Air, Urban Air, Seize the Clay, Pitter Potter, or Paint a Piece.
Putt-Putt & More – Family fun centers offer a variety of entertainment including batting cages, miniature golf, video games, bumper boats, or go carts. *Check out Golf & Games Family Park, Vantage Point Golf Center, or Rec Room.
Tag, You’re It! – Teens and older kids will love testing their skills and cunningness in a game of laser tag. These centers often offer on-site party areas and birthday packages. *Check out Battlefront Laser Tag & Paintball, Lasertron @ Golf & Games, or Pure Mobile Laser Tag.
Hands-on Fun – Keep kids of all ages thoroughly engrossed and entertained as they try out gadgets, watch or participate in experiments, play instruments, construct, and much more. *Check out CMOM, Music For Aardvarks, Fire Museum of Memphis, or Pink Palace Museum.
Rock Climbing Adventures – Daredevils won’t want to miss these exciting quests. Look for a rock climbing gym where party guests can do rock climbing with a professional instructor. *Check out Memphis Rox, High Point Climbing & Fitness, or Bridges.
Explore Nature – Curious children will love learning about flowers, plants, and bugs. *Check out Memphis Botanic Garden or the Lichterman Nature Center.
Z is for Zoo – The Memphis Zoo is a great source for birthday entertainment. Party package add-ons include face painting, ride vouchers, and animal encounters.
PARTY TIPS:
When planning your child’s party, keep in mind what’s important is not how perfectly the party goes, but that your birthday child and guests have fun. When you call, ask what amenities are available and included.
To ensure success, follow these tips:
Keep the guest list manageable to avoid chaos, confusion, and conflict. The number of guests should correspond with the child’s age or slightly over.
Request an RSVP with a specific deadline, allowing time to invite others should the guest list fall short. Be sure to include your phone number.
Offer your child choices for his party, ask for input, and allow him to assist in planning.
Send out written invitations. Verbal invitations may be forgotten, make the invitee feel that she was an afterthought, and often leave parents of the invited child wondering whether the invitation was approved by the birthday child’s parents.
Include all details on the invitation including a start and end time, address and directions, phone number, and what guests need to bring, such as a bathing suit and towel.
Play it safe, and set a rain date for outdoor parties.
Keep the length of the party within reason. Unless it’s a sleepover or special event, preschool parties should be limited to one hour and two to three hours for older children.