5 yr old party help

Logansmommie

I am having trouble deciding what kind of party to have for my son who will be 5 in July.  My first thought was a swiming party at the YMCA.  They have a fantastic kids pool and the price is pretty good too.  For 2.5 hours you get 2 pizzas, juice, a party area, party hostess and swimming time for 15 kids plus however many adults.  The biggest problem with this is that the parents have to swim with the kids since most of them will be 5 yr olds.  I am worried that parents won't want to swim or it will be just too much to ask.  The party will cost us about $200 including everthing (extra food for parents, cake, etc...).

The other option I was looking at was a paint your own pottery place.  This could get more expensive depending on how many kids get invited.  It is basically $13.50 a kid with a min of 8 kids.  All that includes is a piece of pottery or t-shirt to paint and a room for 2 hours.  You can bring your own food in with a $10 clean up fee. We would probably only invite 8-10 kids for this one to keep the cost down.  The adults who come would not be able to paint anything unless they buy a piece and the $13.50 per kid price is the min cost, if they pick a more expensive piece then the cost will go up.  But I think painting would be fun and then the parents wouln't feel obligated to participate or stay if they didn't want to.

Any opinions on what I should do?  I am torn!  Oh and my son is fine with either one.

Thanks!  

jlw2505

I would not do a paint the pottery party for 5 year olds.  My DD went to one last year and the kids painted for about 10 mins and were done.  There is a ton of breakables in the store so the kids really had to be seated at the table the whole time and it was just stressful.  I would hold off on  that for a few years.  I personally would do the Y party.  If it is a kids pool, the parents might be able to get away with just getting legs wet - I am thinking of our city pool which has a kids pool that at the deepest goes to my knees. 

ppants

We had a pottery party when my twins turned 6.  They each got to invite 3 friends so with my two included and a couple of family friends we had 10 kids total.  It went really well and the kids had fun.  They painted for a little over an hour.  After we did presents and cake.  I delivered the pottery to the kids homes when it was done a week later. 

I don't mind taking my kids to the pool as a family and swimming with them, but I wouldn't really want to *have* to swim with my kids at a party.

hokies94

jlw2505:

I would not do a paint the pottery party for 5 year olds.  My DD went to one last year and the kids painted for about 10 mins and were done.  

Exactly.  I'm not sure what you would do for 2 hours.  Painting takes 1/2 hr at most-and that's if they're fairly meticulous in painting.  Five is pretty young for a painting party, especially for boys.  I would go with the pool party. 

KatFCo

I see you're in Ohio. Are you near a Graeter's ice cream that has a play place? This is what we're doing with DD's 5th birthday next month.

Other birthday locations I've seen for this age are gymnastics activities. I agree with PP that the pottery might be better for when he's older and the kids can appreciate it better.

shellybird101

What about a plain park and playground.  Do it under a pavillion, have some fun, easy games(balloon toss, relay race, etc) and then let them play on the playground.  This is what we are going to do this year.  Our park does have a small petting zoo and train ride, so thats a plus.

shouldbworkin

We just went to a bday party at a pool and the parents swam with kids.  It was no big deal really. 

shopgirl78

I have been to a 5 year old swimming party, most parents had floaties on their kids and watched them swim/ a handful could swim on their own.  It was no big deal esp if the kids can stand in the water.   DD had a party at the splash park at age 5.  We also stayed in the kiddie part there. 

I have been to a 7 year old swimming party (much different) where all put 2 parents dropped off (I was one of the two as my 4 yr old was also invited : )

My kids are turning 7 & 5 this summer and are having a combined party at the waterpark.   It will be in the kiddie part...

704bride

Do parents definitely have to swim with the kids?  If so, I would include that in your invitation, so that parents who aren't interested in doing that will just decline the invitation.

I agree about the pottery party in that 2 hours might be a lot to fill there.  If you do go with that one, have pre-selected pieces for them to choose from to keep the cost down.