BIRTHDAYS on a budget
BY: AMANDA CIANI
I t is true—life with kids can be… expensive. At the same time, remember the fact that parents can buy their baby all of the fanciest toys in the world, yet theTV remote control or a simple set of keys may still end up being the little one’s favored toy. Money does not buy happiness, and planning a day to celebrate a child on their special day doesn’t have to break the bank! With a focus on having fun and spending time with their friends, kids have their priorities straight and their values in the right place when it comes to birthday parties. So check out these fun-focused birthday themes that kids will love, plus a few additional money-saving tips that are perfect for parties. Summer Campout Pop a tent, build a campfire and tell the kids that camp is in session! Activity ideas include playing games like capture the flag, Mafia (rules can be found online), four-square or even flashlight tag. Creative kiddos will enjoy super simple crafts like making beaded
decorating their bags and taking their mix home as a party favor. Making homemade buttercream for simple sug- ar cookies is memorable for party-goers and then guests can decorate their own cookies for dessert. Additional activities include pin the topping on the pizza and apron decorating! Gaming Party Board games, video games and back- yard games make for a fun party that is super easy on the pocketbook. Ask par- ty-goers to bring their favorite games to share. From classics likeTwister, Con- nect Four, Battleship, Uno and more, it is so fun to compete!To give everyone a chance to win, throw in some sim- ple games like cup stacking, balloon keepy-uppy (keep two balloons up for as long as possible by booping them) or cookie face (start with a cookie on the forehead and try to wriggle it down to the mouth–no hands allowed!). Sim- ple prizes can be purchased for game winners like slinkies, silly putty, tattoos, stickers and more—it isn’t so much about what the prize is, kids just like
bracelets, painting rocks or even putting on a talent show.Throwing water balloons at a target is a great way to practice aim, just like they do with archery and riflery at camp–it is also a great way to cool down. Hot dogs on the fire, corn on the cob, chips and s’mores can help parents stay on theme and within budget. Plus, most homes have lots of items that can be used to set the ambiance, such as lanterns, sleeping bags, tents and string lights. Chef Celebration Knock out the theme and the activities all in one swoop with a cooking party. This party theme is ideal for kids who love spending time in the kitchen making tasty treats. Pre-made pizza dough can be purchased inexpensively at most grocery stores, or go all out and make it from scratch! Party guests love personalizing pizzas with a variety of toppings, and a fun twist would be pair- ing off into teams and having a compe- tition to create the best-tasting pizza! A trail mix or candy buffet can also serve as an activity, with guests
14 JULY 2025 | CINCINNATIFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter maker