17 Birthday Party Alternatives for Kids
In last week’s article, I described in depth how to plan a birthday party for your little one. However, you’re not necessarily going to be planning a party for your child(ren) every single year. Likewise, your child may not even desire a birthday party every year. After the chaos of my daughter’s 1st birthday party, we resolved not to have a big party at all for a while - maybe until she’s 4 or something. The pain and drama of having so many family members in the same space was nearly enough to take me out entirely.
So, as an alternative, this year we are planning on taking Bebe to Disney for her 2nd birthday, probably with just immediate family (meaning just her, my husband, my stepdaughter, and myself). This eliminates the stress of planning a party (and dealing with opinionated family members and friends), and will likely cost about the same. Considering how much Bebe loves Disney princesses at the moment, I don’t think she will hate us for foregoing a birthday party in exchange for a Disney day.
If parties aren’t your thing or you just want to do something a little different for your child’s birthday this year, there are so many ways to give them a magical birthday that they will love and appreciate.
Here are my top ideas:
Go to a theme park/amusement park. Theme park birthdays are the best birthdays money can buy, in my opinion. Some of my best childhood memories revolve around going to Disney as a little kid and Universal when I got a little older. As a young adult, I have worked at both parks at various points in my life and I still occasionally visit each one. I can’t imagine living in Florida and not allowing my daughter to have that same experience. If your little one is a toddler or baby, Magic Kingdom at Disney is your best bet. Other Disney parks and Universal parks have higher height requirements for their rides.
Note - if you want to utilize this option, plan on forking out some $$$. Theme parks were never cheap, and now they’re more expensive than ever. Parking at Disney alone is $30. Even being Florida residents within driving distance of the parks, I don’t see us going to theme parks more than a couple times a year.
Go to the Zoo. There aren’t many kids out there who don’t love animals, so you probably can’t go wrong with this one. Lots of zoos even have birthday packages you can purchase to make the event smoother and more affordable.
Find a petting zoo. If you have a petting zoo in your area, that could be a lot of fun for your little one, especially for little kids. My toddler would be super excited to pet a bunch of animals.
Mini golf. This is a great way to spend a birthday because it’s easy to learn, accessible to all ages and skill levels, and is non-intimidating compared to regular golf. They often have fun, interactive elements in their courses, such as windmills, tunnels, or water features that little kids will find exciting. It’s a relatively inexpensive activity and can create some healthy competition for everyone.
Bowling. This is a fun, group-friendly activity and would make a relaxed, but sociable environment for a birthday. Since players take turns, everyone can enjoy conversations, snacks, or drinks while waiting their turn. And of course, there are lighter bowling balls and bumpers available for little players. You’ll find relatively inexpensive admission prices (usually you pay for a lane for a set period, like an hour), and shoe rentals are generally in the ballpark of $5 per person. Bowling alleys always have food for purchasing, and will likely have package deals for events like birthdays.
Skating rink. One of my favorite birthday parties when I was a kid took place at a skating rink, and this is something I would totally plan for my daughter when she gets a little older if she’s interested. As a bonus, you can take your kid to a skating rink no matter how the weather is outside while still promoting physical activity for the whole family. A win-win for everyone.
Go to the beach. A natural and relaxing atmosphere, you can’t beat a good old beach birthday. The saltwater smells, beautiful scenery, and sunrise/sunset views would make for a fantastic birthday for anyone, including little ones. A beach trip need not require much preparation because it has built-in entertainment - sand for building sand castles, water for swimming, shells for collecting, etc. Beaches are also public spaces, so you won’t need to spend a lot of $$$ to get there.
Escape room. If your kid is a more hands-on person, an escape room can make a great option. You and your family will be directly involved in solving puzzles and finding clues, which will keep everyone engaged and excited throughout the experience. Escape rooms often have different themes, such as haunted houses, murder scenes, prison cells, etc. Needless to say, this activity would best suit an older kid, like a teenager.
Trampoline park. This activity definitely checks the “fun” and “physical activity” boxes. A perfect way to blow off steam and have a blast at the same time, your child and their siblings or friends will come back home exhausted and ready to call it a night (if you’re lucky).
Take them to an arcade or an ”indoor adventure park.” If you have bigger kids, say 10 and up, this is a great option. You don’t have to plan a thing… just provide transportation and $$$ and they will be entertained all day. We have an Elev8 near where we live and it has everything - an arcade, go-karting, bowling, laser tag, ropes course, etc. My stepdaughter, who loves all things gaming, would spend all day there if we let her.
Go camping, if your family is outdoorsy and it’s not too hot out. You could spend the day exploring scenic trails, enjoying nature, perhaps even having a picnic. Psychologically, they say being out in nature is great for mental health, too. A good break from fluorescent lights and frigid office spaces.
Stay overnight at a hotel and enjoy a resort experience. And make sure it has a pool! As a kid, I always looked forward to staying in hotels - there is something so exciting about living out of a suitcase for a day or two.
Host a sleepover for your little one and their friends. I am big believer in sleepovers since I had so many of them growing up. I also believe sleepovers expanded my worldview as a kid, because I was able to get a glimpse into the lives of so many different kinds of people by staying at their houses. If you have the space for a sleepover with one or more of your child’s friends, your child will probably love having them over. You could set up a cozy movie night for them indoors, or set up an outdoor projector for a backyard movie under the stars.
Take your little one out to their favorite restaurant. Granted, their favorite restaurant could be anything from McDonald’s to a fancy steak house. Whatever it might be, let them be in control today.
Take them to the movies, and let them pick the movie (obviously). If you have an outdoor theater in your area, that could make the experience even more interesting and unique. Let them have their pick of concessions - popcorn, candy, ice cream, etc. Birthdays are not the day to be especially health-conscious or frugal.
Scavenger hunt or treasure hunt. This activity is fun and interactive for all ages. I can’t think of a better way to encourage creativity and problem-solving skills than to create a fun scavenger hunt for your child and their siblings or friends. If there are enough kids to work in teams, it can be a good exercise in team-building skills. Not to mention the delight on their faces when they find a “prize.”
If your child has a favorite singer/band, consider taking them to a concert. Or, you could take them to a play or a comedy show. Whatever your child is into at the moment. The experience of getting to see someone live that they admire is something that will stay with them for a long time.
An interactive kids’ museum. Here in Central Florida, we have the Orlando Science Center, which fits the bill perfectly. It’s generally geared toward children and has a ton of science-y activities to keep them entertained. If your kid is a bit of a nerd (which is the best kind of kid, really), then they may enjoy this idea.
No matter what you decide to do for your child’s birthday, be sure to plan it with their interests in mind and they will surely remember it for life. Remember, approaching the day with love and positivity is much more important than the amount of money you spend, or how smoothly the day goes. So don’t fret when everything doesn’t go according to plan.
XOXO, Alexis.