by Kat Ballew

Created on: August 29, 2010   Last Updated: August 30, 2010

Birthday parties are a special event for children, and they look forward to every aspect of the occasion. It can also be expensive, but there are ways to entertain children at a birthday party without spending a lot of money, and to ensure that everyone has a good time.

• Celebrate the old fashioned way

Playing musical chairs, pin the tail on the donkey, or even playing outdoor games if the weather is nice is a way to save on entertainment for children. There are many kids who are not familiar with these games, as birthday parties are celebrated differently in today’s world, and usually cost a lot of money. Organizing a three-legged race, having a tug of war, or playing other games that were popular long ago can actually be fun for children. 

• Have a dance party

Dancing is fun for kids of all ages, and a dance party can be something that they will enjoy. Perhaps setting a theme, such as beach music, rock and roll, or even an old fashioned sock hop will be entertaining, without spending a lot of money. Clear a room and gather CD’s that will go along with the theme, and decorate using simple decorations that can be hand-made. Just like American Bandstand, have a musical scramble using refrigerator letter-magnets, and put out the letters of a pop star and let them figure out who it is by unscrambling the letters. Or have a Soul Train party by forming an aisle, and let one person at a time dance their way to the end.

• Have a pool party or water party

This type of party is very simple to carry out. A pool party is great if you have a pool, and no entertainment is necessary. Another idea is a water party that can be set up outside if the weather is nice. Set up water sprinklers, make water balloons, put up a slip and slide and buy lots of water guns that can be purchased at the dollar store. Have wading pools or buckets of water everywhere so the kids can refill the water pistols themselves.

• A sports party can be another fun and inexpensive way to celebrate a birthday party.

It will allow the children to have a good time and promote exercise.
-Have the children meet at the local ball field and organize a baseball or softball game, or at a basketball court for a basketball game. Set up picnic tables for the cake or have an old fashioned picnic on the ground afterwards.
-Set up a net in the backyard and play volley ball or badminton.
-Organize a kick-ball or soccer game.

• Have a scavenger hunt

A scavenger hunt is a simple, fun and challenging way to entertain kids at a birthday party without spending a lot of money. The possibilities are endless. They can be within the neighborhood, at a mall, indoors or outdoors. They can be themed, such as a nature scavenger hunt, a recycled hunt, or even a particular color scavenger hunt where everyone has to find items of a certain color. Here is an excellent web-site that list just about any type of scavenger hunt you can think of:  http://www.diva-girl-parties-and-stuff.com/scavenger -hunts.html

Birthday parties do not have to be boring, nor do they have to be expensive. The decorations can be simple and colorful with lots of balloons, the cake made at home, and providing the entertainment using the ideas above without spending a lot of money are all ways in which to make this special day one that will be remembered by all.

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