2nd Birthday Party

NJ_TMM · March 2012

OK Ladies, so I was going to have my daughter's 2nd birthday at a paint your own pottery studio, but a bunch of posts are leaning me away from it? Can you please suggest or share what you did for your daugther's 2nd birthday? I live in NJ, don't have a large enough house to have people over and no backyard for a party. Her birthday is in the middle of May and I have children aging from 1-13.

Thanks

bim38106 · March 2012

with that age range for kids, I'd probably do a bounce house place. We did DD1's 4th bday party at Pump It Up. There's also Bounce U....

either that or any indoor play place, children's museum, even bowling could be fun.. But ya, I would not do a paint pottery place until their older. It's so stressful for me to take my 2 girls there at their ages, let alone with the rush of being at a party.

bumpuser511563 · March 2012

What about a swimming party at a public pool?

Pesky · March 2012

Honestly, neither of mine had big parties for their 2nd bday. But I would consider doing the Fun Bus or a kids' gym or even just a fast food place with a play area. Also you could consider a local children's museum, park or zoo.

jlw2505 · March 2012

DD #1 is a June girl in MN and we did an outside party and basically just let the kids play and had a small bounce house set up and a few other yard games. DD #2 is a March girl - for her 2nd, we went to an indoor park that has a huge climbing treehouse and a gym that has bikes, balls, etc set up. Other ideas are places like Little Gym which does a great party for that age, an arts and crafts type of place (we have something here called KidCreate) that will gear the party toward your age group. One of our local community centers has a "maze" which has a huge climbing thing for kids 3 and up and a really fun 3 and under area. They have great party packages. Also, depending on who you are inviting, our community center has a great pool that has a great zero depth kiddie area and they do party packages - this would require parents getting in the water though. I have also heard about people renting a room at a local community center or church/temple and bringing in a story teller, clowns or some other entertainment.

KathrynMD · March 2012

You don't need to invite that many kids - and even if you do, you don't need to cater to all of them. My 8 & 9 yo nieces come to my 3 yo's parties - I would never think to plan a party to their tastes (and wouldn't expect to have activities at their parties geared towards DD). They have fun watching the younger kids and playing babysitter and doing whatever it is tween girls do - braid their hair, gossip, etc.

I would see about getting a pavillion at a local park and either grilling or just bring picnic-y foods.

UsedToBeGoldie · March 2012

we did a pool party for my boy's 2nd... it was low key - just some good friends + their kids... we didn't invite kids from their class at daycare --- they are only 2- they don't 'get it" yet --- IMO, 2yo is a good time to go small and save money- your child will love having something small with cake + presents just as much (if not more) than something big with tons of kids and a big activity.

my older son we just did something at home with some friends and family - he loved it.

neverblushed · March 2012

2 y/o birthday is the hardest, I think. I agree that the pottery studio is not a great idea for kids this age. I opted to have grandparents over for dinner and not have a "kid party" at all for both my kids at 2. But, if you MUST have a party, here are some ideas:

--brunch at a local park. Kids come and play, you serve bagels, fruit, juice, pastry. One table for easy spring-time crafts. May is an excellent month for this.

--bounce place: pizza or chicken nuggets, drinks, cake

--chick-fil-a party: everyone eats lunch, hire a balloon clown to bend some balloons, cake, free play in the play area for 30 mins.

--party at a gym or dance studio that is oriented towards little ones: pizza or nuggets, cupcakes,

--self-serve yogurt place in the early afternoon: kids do crafts, cake, parents get each kid's yogurt, kids hang and play, whole thing's 60 to 90 minutes long.

BTW, don't fret too much over accommodating your older kid guests. My kids are at the top end of the age range in both our family and friends, and they've been to countless parties where they've been older than everyone else. Kids over age 7 "get it" that they're getting a courtesy invite, and that the party isn't going to be geared toward them. Maybe give them $5 gift cards to an ice cream place as a favor, rather than the kiddie favor bag. Feel free to orient the party to the birthday kid's age.

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2nd Birthday Party

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