Parents’ Guide: 20 Great Birthday Party Ideas for Kids

Tired of the usual magician / puppet entertainer act? Do not fancy hosting a party at your home, and definitely NOT the cleaning up afterwards?

Of late, many friends have been asking for ideas to celebrate their older children’s  birthday. The first three birthdays are the easiest as the child is too young to make any demands or has any recollections of the parties, saved for the photos to testify that they actually happen.

The run-of-the-mill parties – an entertainer with the same or similar magic tricks, party games, pinata and bouncy castle, no longer satisfy the older children’s need for fun and excitement. It’s a challenge for parents to come up with new and fresh ideas year on year. So, we thought we’ll help you out and bring you 20 great away from home party ideas.

Most of the party ideas listed below offer great birthday packages that include invitation cards, goodie bags and refreshments.  Birthday cakes are usually not part of the package.  Click here for some fabulous places to order your birthday cakes. Also, check out these places for your party supplies.

Happy planning for your birthday party!

1. Indoor Playgrounds

These are the best places celebrate your child’s birthday party when they are below 4 years old.  Indoor playgrounds provide a safe environment for the kids to expend their energy, have tons of fun, and best of all, supervised assistance to help you manage and entertain 20 or more active kids at the party.

All you have to do is book the venue, order the cake and have it delivered to the party venue, and organized the goodie bags (some party packages even include goodie bags).  Plus, the kids are allowed unlimited play at the playground after the party, AND you don’t have to worry about clean up afterwards!  All that’s left is for you to relax and enjoy a stress-free, fun-filled party with your kids and friends.   Here are some of Singapore’s favourite Indoor Playgrounds that offers great party packages – Go Go Bambini, Figets, The Polliwogs, Kidz Amaze (SAFRA Jurong), The Atlantis @ Delta and Peek-a-boo.

2. Party at the Restaurants

Some restaurants offer great respite to parents who do not want to worry about the food menu, clean up or space constrain. In addition, restaurants usually come with servers to help you look after your guests.  And some even have party host who will entertain your guests with party games and activities.  Check out these venues for your party: Swensons, California Pizza Kitchen, Marche @ 313@Somerset.

3. Artsy Fartsy 

For the child who loves to draw and doodle, art parties are great fun for them.  Kids get guided help from professionals to paint, model, mould and create art pieces that they can bring home as souvenirs. Get creative at Abrakadoodle Art Parties, Art Boot Camp, The Art Room and Twinkle Art.

4. Adventures

For the ‘Indiana Jones’ in your child, he or she will love the excitement and challenge of an outdoor adventure party.  Your young adventurer and his/her friends can swing, climb, and zip their way through a fun filled 2-hour party.  Forest Adventure has a Kids Course for kids between 6 and 9 years old and a Grand Course for kids over 10 years old.  Also check out MegaZip Adventure Park on Sentosa Island.  Do take note that there is a age and weight requirement so do confirm that your kid and friends are within the requirements.

The Flying Trapeze on Sentosa will host birthday parties for aspiring acrobats as young as 4 year olds.  You can book the 1-hour package which allows you unlimited swings, which is more value for money than the standard rates of S$10 per swing and S$20 for 3 swings.  Each swing usually takes less than 5 minutes. The Flying Trapeze is also conveniently located next to the popular Trapizza restaurant that serves up a delectable of kid friendly menus.

5. Project Runway or the Princess Diaries 

Your little girl is growing up! She shares your passion for dressing up and loves to preen and pose.  What better way to celebrate her birthday than to let her be the princess or model for a day? Make over theme parties are all the rage for girls these days. Both Curly & Spike and Glamour Kiddies offer services to glamorize your daughter’s day and make her THE sensation on that day.

6. Mad Science 

This is one of my favourites!! The kids simply can’t get enough of the wacky discoveries and marvel at the chemical concoctions, launching model rockets, or exploring bubbling potions.  It’s fun! It’s educational! And it is different!  Spark their imagination today with Mad Science Kids Birthday Parties.  

7. Fast Food

It is a rare child who says ‘no’ to Happy Meal, games and prizes. McDonald’s and KFC are both experts at throwing a party that will make your little ones feel like they are in heaven.  And it is one of the most economical ways to throw a birthday party.  We’re lovin’ it!

8. Laser Tag Party 

Six to 10 year old boys LOVE this!!  For them, it is the “rush” of holding a “gun” and using it in “combat”.  For parents who are concern about the violent aspect of “guns”, most handlers assure us that they do educate the kids that a gun is not to trifle with.  They also stress that Laser Tag is about teamwork, strategy, camaraderie (having fun with friends) and getting a good physical workout.  In addition, most of the Laser Tag parties involve both the parents and kids – that’s bonus bonding time for the family! Read more here…

9. Beach Fun 

If the weather permits, the beach is a great place to host a party. Mana Mana Beach Club East Coast has wonderful birthday party options where the kids can choose to Learn to Sail, Kayak, Paddle & Splash! or Beach Fun.  Pasta Fresca East Coast Parkway has a little semi-private beach that is great for hosting birthday parties.  As is Trapizza at Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort, which boasts a great view of the South China Sea and an ideal chill out spot for both parents and kids.

10. Get Wet 

Kids love pool parties!  Throw in a few water games and just let the kids have fun swimming, splashing and frolicking in the pool.  If you’ve already done a pool party and want an alternative, head to these fantastic watering holes:  Wild, Wild Wet, Wavehouse @ Sentosa, and the waterplay at the Singapore Zoo’s Rainforest Kidzworld.

11. Junior Master Chefs

If the hit Australian show is anything to go by, kids can cook too.  If your child is a foodie, or simply enjoys kneading, baking, and hanging around in the kitchen, a pizza making party at California Pizza Kitchen or baking his /her own birthday cake may be up their alley. Call So EZ Cooking Studio, Kidd’s Kitchen and Expat Kitchen to find out more.

12. Performing Kids 

Some kids just love the stage.  If GLEE is your child’s favourite program, a party that ends in a performance may just be what the doctor orders.  Kids Performing is Singapore’s premier Performing Arts school and will help you host such parties.

13. Theme Parks

What better way to celebrate a birthday than a theme park with lots of thrilling rides and fun-filled games to play?  Gather a few of your child’s best friends or plan an entire family day together at these theme parks to celebrate your child’s birthday.  It will be an unforgettable experience for all.  Universal Studios Singapore at Sentosa or Explorer Kids in Pasir Ris are the places to be for these special occasions.

14. Rock Climbing 

No longer an activity confined to adults, rock climbing is a fun, yet challenging physical activity that encourages focus and strength development in young children.  Kids as young as 4 years old can try this activity.  They feel a tremendous sense of pride when they are able to scale the wall.  Head down to Singapore’s first climbing centre The Rock School or these other rock centres Kinetics Climbing Adventour and SAFRA’s Rock! Birthday Party for birthday packages.

15. Chill Out

Get out of the heat and head for the cold. Snow City is a 3,000 square metre centre with a snow chamber where you can snow-tube, snowboard and ski your way down the giant snow slide. There are party packages for kids (3 -12 years old) and teenagers (12 – 18 years old).   If the snow is too cold for you, try ice-skating at the Kallang Ice World. Do have an adult or two who knows how to ice-skate to be in the ring with the kids.  It also helps if the kids know how to rollerblade.  But if they don’t, there are walkers to help them along.  Remember to bring socks, warm jackets, gloves and a change of clothes.

16. Dance Parties 

This is a popular party choice as you can really let your imagination run wild.  Some popular dance parties include Disco, High School Musical and Pop Stars.  It is an easy concept to put together, but if the idea of entertaining 20 kids sounds daunting to you, hire professional dancers from Dance with the flo. For a fee of $450, the entertainer will bring all the games, music, music player, non-toxic face paint and tattoos for the kids, bubble machines and all the necessary accessories to entertain up to 20 kids for 2 hours.  Now, that’s what I call a great party deal!

17. A Party to Horse Around 

If your child is an animal lover, how about a party with pony rides?  Gallop Stable offers a private pony and handler for one hour of unlimited rides, a specially decorated section of the cafe for your party, food and beverages for your guests (30 – 60pax) and assorted party novelties. Or you can hold your party at Picotin (100 Turf Club Road, Tel: 68771191) and book the pony rides at Horse City.

18. The Young Athlete 

Sport games are always fun for kids with boundless energy. Some sports like golf, basketball, soccer and tennis are great party games for your kids and their friends.  Contact Golf, Sportball and Advantage School of Tennis to organize non-competitive sports parties for your kids.

19. Gaming Party

With technology so prevalent in our lives, why not have a gaming party for your tech-savvy child? Singapore’s first Video Games Cafe, St. Games offers customised activities and themed games to make your party a hit with your guests.  They even have friendly game masters to teach and guide your guests to operate and play the games throughout the party.

20. On Top of the World

Celebrate your child’s birthday on a private Singapore Flyer. The birthday child and his friends will be entertained by Captain Dazzle and his live magic and juggling show, receive balloon sculptures and enjoy party meals, cake and goodie bags.  It’s a party that will make him/her feel on the top of the world!

Which of the above parties have you organised?  We will love to hear about your experiences. Also share with us if you have organized or been to a party that is not on the above list?

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Till our next post, love yourself, love one another.

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