It’s easy to plan a birthday party during the spring or summer — even when you’re planning for a child. Kids may be a bit pickier than adults, but usually you can bet that a party planned for the spring or summer will at least have good weather. The same can’t be said birthday parties held during the winter. There are a number of different reasons why winter can pose a few challenges for party planners, the weather aside. For one thing, while children don’t have to attend school during the summer unless their birthday falls close to or during winter break, you will have to contend with regular classes during the winter. Of course, you may also have to compete with a few holidays — Christmas, New Year’s, and Hannukah to name several — for attention.
At the same time, it’s not as if you can change your child’s birthday! You may not necessarily be able to celebrate their birthday party on the same day as their actual birthday. This isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the world, but it can be a little difficult for younger children to understand at first. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure that they get as much out of their birthday party as possible. Now, celebrating during the winter does eliminate a few different classic party ideas right off the bat. Barring some really out of the ordinary weather, you won’t be able to rely upon warmer temperatures — so a playground birthday party is out of the question, as is a pool party. But that doesn’t mean that you’ll have to stay inside for the entirety of the party. Nor will it limit the variety of activities that your child will be able to take advantage of! With that being said, let’s look into a few of the different ideas you might want to explore when planning a child’s birthday party during the winter!
1. Ice Skating
Ice skating is a classic winter activity, and depending on where you live, it may be something that your child isn’t able to take advantage of all the time. Most ice skating rinks are indoor rinks — so technically, your child could skate outside of the winter as well. However, there’s just something picturesque and cozy about ice skating during the winter. Furthermore, there will be plenty of photo opportunities for parents that want cute pictures of their children! Keep in mind that not every child is going to have the same skating ability as everyone else, and there is always the risks of kids falling on the ice. While it’s unlikely that they’ll be seriously injured, the experience can be a bit intimidating for younger kids. But you should definitely bring it up as an idea to your child! They may very well embrace the idea of throwing a birthday party with something of a winter wonderland feeling. Some skating rinks even include fake snow — and if you live in a warmer climate, this, in particular, could be a really special experience, not only for your kid but for everyone attending the party.
2. Skiing
Depending on how old the kids are, they may want to continue along with the idea of a winter sports-themed birthday party — but move it up to the next level. There are two many types of skiing — the classic slopestyle skiing, which is what most of us think of and involves skiing downhill. And cross-country skiing, which essentially involves going across flatter surfaces in skis, often over fairly long distances. Chances are that your children will probably prefer the somewhat more exciting downhill skiing. With that being said, you will have to consider, once again, the children’s ages as well as their general safety when planning this type of birthday party. Furthermore, if the ski slopes you’re considering are particularly steep, you’ll definitely want to consider utilizing a ski lift. But though a ski lift simplifies things, it will of course add to the cost of the trip. Not in an extreme manner — each daily pass for the lift costs around $100 — but it can add up over time. Therefore, make sure the investment is worth it!
3. Escape Rooms
Of course, there is more than the typical winter activities to choose from. You could also consider throwing a birthday party indoors, where they’ll be unaffected by the weather. And to keep your child from feeling bored or let down by a winter party, make sure that it’s something that they won’t forget! That’s what makes an escape room such an awesome opportunity. Though they’re growing more popular, not a lot children have experienced an escape room party. Furthermore, if you plan on going with an escape room party, there will also be an indoor space where kids can easily open presents and dig into some cake. No matter what kind of cake your child wants — even if they want chocolate cake, playing into the 11 pounds of chocolate eaten per person each year! Yes, a lot of kids would like to be a little bit more different and unique when it comes to planning a party, but lots of them still love a classic bit of cake and ice cream with a fun game leading into it.
The quality level of a birthday party does depend, in many ways, on the taste of the recipient. Don’t push your child into a birthday party they don’t want just because it sounds like a better to you. Let your kid’s imagination run freely, and rein it in just enough to create the ideal birthday party. It’s much simpler than you might think!
