10 Reasons to Have Your Kid's Birthday Party at Home

Kids love birthdays and they look forward to their parties with great anticipation.

Knowing how important it is to them, some years I want to put on my SuperMom cape and do something special. If you want to a throw a truly memorable party for your child, consider having a fun party right at home. You can do it and not lose your sanity. Here’s 10 reasons why I think you should host your kids' birthday parties at home. Your kids will thank you!

1. You won’t just be a number on a party room door. I have been to so many birthday party places (or mills as I like to call them) where the scarce staff only cares about getting you in and out of your party room on time and with minimal hassle. They don’t even bother to learn your kid’s name. It’s your kid’s big day! You don't want your party guest to feel like they are being herded.

2. Big impact, for less. Sure, you can spend $1,000 on a kids birthday party at home without even trying hard, but you don’t have to. You can throw an awesome and more importantly memorable party in your house for under $200. Get a little creative, do a little homework, use things you already have in your house and concentrate on what matters to your kid – the activities, not the decorations. Read my post 7 Ways to Save Money on a Kids Birthday Party.

3. It will force you to clean your house. Thank goodness we entertain often or our house would never get cleaned. A party forces you to pick up the clutter and purge. While it’s a little bit of work, everyone in the house will reap the benefits of clutter-free living. For a month. OK, a day. OK, maybe a few hours.

4. It will distinguish you as a superhero. Other Mothers will envy your courage for allowing 10 kids into your home … at one time. At the end of the party you may be tired but you will be victorious. “They came. They played. They ate. They left in one piece.” Success! More importantly, when your child looks at you at the end of the day and says “Thanks Mom! I had fun at my party.” You’ll feel invincible.

5. Chance to get your Creativity on. If you’ve been hankering to do some of the cool craft or entertaining projects you’ve seen in magazines or online, this is your chance. If your child is old enough, get them involved. Have them help you make invitations, cook the food, or decorate. It’s a nice way to spend time together and teach your kids party planning skills.

6. Make new friends. When you have a kids birthday party at your house, it’s nice to invite the parents to stay and not only help out (YES!) but also to socialize. I’ve met some great new friends at kids’ birthday parties. Parents seem more inclined to stay if the party is at a home, than in a party place. I guess since there are “workers” at the party places the parents don’t feel like they have to stay and supervise.

7. Kids like to show off their toys. What are the first thing kids do when a new friend comes over. “Come look at my room!” “Come look at my toys!” “Come see the dead frog in the backyard we just found.” They love to show off their “stuff” and a birthday party is a perfect chance to show off to many.

8. Backyard, back-up plans. Have you been to a birthday party place and the activity or entertainment took a lot less time than you thought? One year, we had my daughter’s party at a Chocolate Shop. The kids made chocolate candy and treats. It was a big hit … for 30 minutes. So, we were in a small party room with nothing to do for 30 minutes before the pizza arrived. Fortunately, I had some back up games, but this could have been a nightmare. If you need to kill time, it’s easier to do so at home. You can pull out a movie, send the kids to the basement to play with their toys, or go play on the swing set in the backyard.

9. It’s more memorable. Think back. Which parties do you remember the most? I remember the ones my parent’s threw for me at home. I asked my kids which parties they’ve liked the best and they chose the ones we had at home. Why? They stand out more. They are unique. Kids get tired of going to the same places all the time for their friend’s birthday parties.

10. Not tied to the most popular party themes. Maybe your child doesn’t want a princess/ pirate/ racecar/ fairy party. Most party places and entertainers offer what’s most popular, understandably. However, if your child loves cowboys or owls or puppets or making sushi, you might not be able to find that kind of party pre-made at one of the party places. Host it at home and use your creativity to throw a totally unique party.

Hey, I’m a busy Mom. I understand that some years you are just not going to have the time to plan and throw your child’s birthday party at home. Or your son is just dying to play Laser Tag. No problem. Have the party at a party place and make your life less stressful. However, I strongly believe that you should throw some of these parties at home to shake up the variety and create stronger memories for you and your child. Check out these posts on unique kids birthday party ideas to get you started.

Have your hosted a kid's birthday party at home? What tips can you share to make it easier for other Moms?