Tea Parties Are an Inexpensive Birthday Hit

by Bethany Sanders (Subscribe to Bethany Sanders's posts) Jan 21st 2009 8:00AM

When my daughter told me she wanted to have her birthday party at the roller skating rink, I thought, "Sure! That sounds easy." Then I called the rink and had to ask them to repeat their fee twice, because I was pretty sure I heard wrong.

I hadn't.

When the kids in her class started having "friend" parties, my daughter started getting invited to places like the roller rink, Chuck E. Cheese, and the bowling alley. But I discovered after that phone call that not only am I unable to pay $200-$300 dollars for one of my kids' birthday parties, I'm also unwilling to.

How can I make an at-home party fun and affordable at the same time? I thought to myself. Then I looked at my soon to be six-year-old and the answer hit me: Throw a tea party. She was instantly on board.

Here are some ideas for a perfectly simple tea party, including some of the plans for our own upcoming party:

Hit the resale shop: My mom took my daughter to the resale shop to look for tea cups. They came home with 14 of them -- all different, all beautiful -- for a grand total of $3.50.
Keep the menu simple: Tiny tea sandwiches are the perfect finger food for little hands, just be sure to fill them with kid-friendly foods. Our guests will choose from peanut butter and jelly, ham and cheese, and cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches. More adventurous moms might try one of these delicious sounding recipes. We'll also have simple fruit skewers, sliced cheese, and pretty petit fours (bought frozen, naturally).
Use what you have: One of the perks of throwing a tea party is that you can decorate with items you already have in your home. A lacy table cloth, vases full of fresh flowers, and pretty plates with the aforementioned tea cups. Lollipop flowers and candy roses make a cute centerpiece and double as a gift for guests.
Pull out the dress up box: Put a box full of costume jewelry, dress-up clothes, tiaras, and boas out for guest to go through when they arrive at the party. Don't have a dress up box or don't want to share? While you're at the resale shop loading up on tea cups, pick up some dress up items too.
Plan a craft: A craft is a great way to quiet thing down when kids get rowdy. These foam teapot picture frames are easy enough for a young crowd, while making a hat (here's a cute one) or beading a necklace or bracelet are other simple, but cute ideas.
Give a goody bag: We don't do goody bags (our craft is our gift), but if you do, these tea bag party favors from Family Fun are adorable.

Finally, don't forget the thank you notes! How do you make birthdays special without overspending? Share some of your favorite ideas with us.

For more great party ideas, check out AOL's Party Central!

Comments (8)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

queenoqueens 1-21-2009 @ 9:23AM

I don't know how to throw a party without overspending. Although I hope to do better some day...

But one very simple thing (for the younger set) is to buy those punch ball balloons. They're just big balloons with big rubber bands. Kids go crazy for them, it keeps them busy for a while, and it's cheap, cheap, cheap. Available in any party supply store.

MarMarOhio 1-21-2009 @ 7:26PM

This is a wonderful idea - only wish I could implement it! My daughter's kindergarten class requires that all children in the class get invited, so not only would the little boys not really be into the tea party idea, my condo wouldn't be large enough to host 17 extra children anyway.

Any ideas for a cheap party idea in late April for that number of girls AND boys? Because I'm not doing Chuck E. Cheese again without heavy sedation...there's a reason they sell beer there, folks...

Bethany Sanders 1-21-2009 @ 10:03AM

MarMar,

Good point. We struggled with that too, but ultimately just ended up inviting the girls. (There are 7 girls, 13 boys, so it worked for us.) I do feel badly, because she's been invited to several of the boys' parties. We made sure to send the invitations by mail, to prevent chatter about the party at school. We considered a "Princess and Pirates" tea for a while, but it's just too many kids.

Thanks for commenting!

Bethany

ninainindia 1-21-2009 @ 11:28AM

Your children's school tell you who to invite to her birthday party?! Why? Well I can imagine why and I don't agree with it. I wouldn't abide by that rule. Stupid rules are made to be broken.

windex 1-21-2009 @ 1:08PM

It is a great idea - I may have to look into the Pirate and Princess theme though as my daughter is close friends with some boys - so not inviting them is not an option. MarMar I feel for you that is just not a good policy. What our Kindergarten teacher asks is that you place the invites in a bag addressed to the teacher and she will put them in their school bag....prevents lost invites and other kids feeling left out. But of course it does not stop them from talking about it....

As for ideas for that many kids what about a local museum that has a kids section - sometimes their group rates are pretty reasonable. Or some local movie theaters are reasonable (not the chain ones - they are way too expensive). We also have a place here called the Experimental Farm that does loads of kids stuff and they are partly government owned so the prices are fairly reasonable.

Melissa 1-21-2009 @ 1:22PM

I have to invite all the kids in my daughter's preschool (a total of 26), plus a few other kids in our family and circle of friends....this is the first year I have had to do this and I thought, "OMG, how am I going to fit these kids in my house!?" Thank God, I live near a park! Remember, not ALL those kids will show up, either. But my best idea, in order to keep it simple and inexpensive, and not exclude the boys, is to do the park. But beware the bouncers....they charge extra if it's at a park, because they have to get different licenses and whatever.

Pavlina 1-21-2009 @ 11:59AM

Great idea! I don't believe in spending hundreds of dollars on birthday parties either, so I'll keep this on in mind!

Melissa 1-21-2009 @ 1:25PM

P.S. to Bethany:

She is having a princess party, too, and I am telling all the girls to dress as their fave princess....what to do for the boys? Wear your fave pirate outfit! Just thought that was funny, we had the same idea lol.

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