8 yo boy birthday party ideas
Yikes, I feel like I am fresh out of ideas for an upcoming 8 yo party! Coed, 8-10 kids, autumn, can be at our house with entertainment (? what, I don't know), at a park, at an indoors venue. Would like to keep cost under $200 (not counting food). Have people liked lately Albany Bowl, Bridges, a particular ($200 or less) magician/juggler type? What is that type of entertainer costing these days? Note, we have done Playland and it was great, but not considering it this year since we might do it for another sibling within 12 months!
I don't want or need to be fancy, I just don't want to bore myself or the guests! Thanks!
Jul 19, 2016
Parent Replies
Adventure playground is a lot of fun at this age.
Some ideas: owl pellet dissection (I've ordered mine through obdk), birdhouse decoration (buy the birdhouses from Michaels, buy the bird feed and nuts from Safeway, make your own "glue" with molasses and peanut butter) then the kids can also hang the birdhouse in their backyard, slime making (Scientific Explorer Sci Fi Slime kits from Amazon). I would recommend holding your party at a park if you are afraid of mess, but these activities would be a great hit for that age group, boy or girl. Have fun!
Hello,
Disclaimer: I'm a kid's entertainer and wanted to weigh in on your question. Below are some ideas to consider and you can check around in your area to find services that appeal to you.
As an entertainer, outdoor venues are not preferred and here's why. The elements and in particular the wind. Twisting balloons at a park is fun, but the wind can create problems if kids don't get a good grip on the design and it blows away. Also, kids like to touch balloon designs to the grass which is prickly and thus pops the balloon. Face painting is a good choice, but the wind, again, is troublesome as it blows wisps of hair into the child's face and messes with the design. You also need to have a shady area for your entertainer to work. Balloons do not do well in direct sunlight and no one likes the sun in their face or the child's face when painting them. The park can be a good choice if it's not windy and has shade, but definitely plan a backup in case of rain, etc.
As someone who's worked in both indoor and outdoor venues, I prefer indoor venues. First off, if a PA system is used it can be heard as the sound is contained within the walls as opposed to being diffused in a park setting. This way, everyone hears what's going on. There is no wind so twisting balloons and face painting is more comfortable for both the entertainer and the children. Balloon designs survive indoor venues much better than outdoor venues. Additionally, magic shows typically work better indoors although they, too, can be done outside. You also have the option of a balloon workshop which is an interactive balloon twisting experience that kids 5 and up really enjoy. Kids learn to twist some basic designs and then make their very own crazy hats. This is a winner for birthday parties because the kids won't be bored and the guests can get involved, too, or sit and enjoy the kids having fun. There are also non-elimination games that can be done for this age group with prizes either as teams or as individuals. The magic show and balloon workshop will engage the kids, keep them laughing, spark their creativity all while entertaining the parents so everyone will enjoy a wonderful time.
Good luck!
East Bay Swim Center has a party room for about $200. You get a certain number of wristbands for swimmers. Really fun place -- the kids swim and the parents can just hang out.
Parks work! No entertainer or rental necessary, just have balls, chalk, bubbles, finger food available. Maybe a park that has a semi-enclosed area, such as Castro or Cerrito Vista in El Cerrito, would work to sort of keep the kids in view.
If your son and his friends are into Harry Potter, our favorite 8yo birthday party was hiring the Cal Quidditch team to run a quidditch game for the kids. They provided all the brooms, hoops, balls, etc., and it was a blast. This was a few years ago, so I don't know if they still do it, but you can reach them via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/calquidditch/. The Adventure Playground someone else suggested is also a great idea.