Birthday Party Ideas – The Mommy Connections Fave 5!

01/21/2015

Amidst the excitement to watch your little one turn a year older, sits the overwelming task of where to host the party! Hand-in-hand with location comes trying to figure out the theme or main attraction to make it the most special day for your child, as well as fun for all of their friends. Well, we hear you! And we also want to share our list of our five favourite birthday party ideas to try and help you find the best option this year!

The Little Gym of Mississauga East

The Little Gym is conveniently located just slightly west of the 427 on Dundas Street, and they have a lot to offer your little ones on their big day. They specialize in birthday parties for children aged 1-12, and you have the entire venue at your disposal for the event. Their trained instructors handle the activities, which are all planned in advance and tailored to the birthday boy or girl. This means no awkward lulls to the party, and a safer place for your children to practice somersaults than your hardwood floors! The Little Gym was named Best Gym Party by Parents Magazine, and I can attest to their high quality equipment and business. My 15 month old daughter enjoys weekly classes at The Little Gym and it is a bright, clean, modern location with caring and knowledgeable staff. Their gym equipment is new and in perfect condition, and there is never a dull moment once you step onto the mats. Whether your child aspires to be the next Olympic gymnast or not, there is something for everyone at The Little Gym.

Children’s Urban Enrichment Centre (CUES)

They brand themselves as “Etobicoke’s hippest new, interactive, arts-inspired, play-based learning space”, and CUES does not disappoint. With 4000 sq. feet of kid-centred goodness, there are fitting activities or play areas for children of all ages and interests. Eleni, who owns and runs CUES, is such a caring and outgoing individual who goes above and beyond for everyone who visits her location. I have personally visited as both a drop-in play participant on numerous occasions, as well as a guest at a first birthday party for a friend’s son, and I have always been impressed with the level of professionalism and the quality of toys and activities for a wide range of ages. There are so many party options available that there is not enough space here to list them all. In addition to this, you can customize your theme, decorations, entertainment, loot bags, online invitations designed and sent to your guests, food & beverages, photo collage, and the list goes on. This is one of those places where the high quality of both the facility and the staff who run it are completely on par, and somewhere your child will remember their birthday for years to come.

Active Bodies Active Minds

The testimonials online all share the same sentiments; this is a place where there are activities and toys for everyone, a facility with high quality staff and service, and a birthday party location where no one wanted to leave! There are 7000 sq. feet of interactive space and activities, which your child and their guests will have full and unlimited access to for the duration of their event. A unique feature to Active Bodies Active Minds is that they offer both semi-private as well as private events, 7 days a week, and have a number of party packages under each of those options to choose from. In addition, they offer the birthday boy or girl a return pass to come back and enjoy the centre for free at a later date. Their signature offerings include a LEGO party, or their new addition called Party in a Box which offers guests the opportunity to choose one of five distinctive and exclusive themes. Located at the intersection of Dixie and Dundas, they are a very quick drive from Etobicoke.

Etsy

Now it’s time for a theme!  Etsy is hands down one of my favourite sites to not only purchase from, but to inspire creativity for your big day. If you are looking for fabulous DIY decorations, but don’t really want to DIY, Etsy has you covered! From banners, to custom-made outfits, to invitations, loot bag items, gifts, and so much more, you can find it all as you browse through the user friendly site. In addition, each vendor has ratings and reviews from past purchasers so you can get a sense for what their products are really like, and also what their shipping policies are. Instead of having a cookie cutter party with the same decor as so many other kids, this is your chance to really make it original and memorable. And even if you are on a tight budget and don’t have a lot of wiggle room, Etsy can provide the forum for you to see finished products and recreate them yourself as a true DIY!   One thing to keep in mind before you embark on an Etsy-inspired party is your timeline; make sure that you leave enough time for all of your fabulous new items to make it to your place for the big day.

The Superhero Company

So now you have your amazing location, creative decorations, and the only thing left is the entertainment.  Perhaps some of you are excited at the thought of getting dressed up in a spandex Spiderman costume and sweating like mad while you bounce around entertaining the little people.  For those of us that would find that a nightmare, The Superhero Company to the rescue! All of their performers are professionally trained actors with amazing acrobatic skills and uncanny resemblances to the most beloved children’s superheroes. Even subtle elements of the performance including facial appearance and voice are well-rehearsed to add authenticity to each character. Add theatrical quality costumes and a patented, structured ‘Superhero Training Party,’ program full of games, and your party goers are transported to a world where superheroes really do exist!  I was nervous that a Batman theme might only appeal to the 5 year old boys, but our Batman really knew how to engage kids of all ages. His biggest fan was the 3 year old wonder woman who didn’t leave his side! Even a skeptical 11 year old couldn’t resist the appeal, eventually dressing up in a Hulk costume 10 sizes to small for him to enjoy the fun!  The standard rate is $170+hst and characters include: Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Captain America, Wonder Woman, Iron Man, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Captain Jack Sparrow, Power Ranger and more!

– Written By Karin Hewitt & Karen Davey