By Stephanie Hasbrouck

Everyone loves a birthday party. It brings out the child in all of us. Perhaps that’s why parents always go to extremes when planning their child’s special day. It’s all about the birthday child.
And why not celebrate to the fullest extent? A birthday party doesn’t just mark a child’s new age, it celebrates their entire last year and the year on which they are about to embark. It’s a truly momentous occasion.
Parents often feel somewhat intimidated when it comes to planning their child’s big day. They want their child’s birthday party to be unique — a day to remember. What they may not know is, regardless of the extravagance, the day will be unique because it will be all about their child.

Crafty Critters
For children who love creating crafts, the possibilities are endless.
Scaled-up version: Let a crafts store do the work. Check out places like Bead It in Birmingham to host a bead parties for girls to make their own jewelry. Or local ceramics shops, like the new Ceramic Creations at the new Patton Creek Shopping Center, provide the location, the supplies and the clean-up.

Scaled-down version: Craft parties can be extremely fun and inexpensive to host at home. If your child enjoys making jewelry, craft stores offer inexpensive beads and equipment. Let the children make their own bracelet that they can take home as a party favor and something special by which to remember their friend’s birthday. Some craft instructors will even come to you.
The same theory applies to ceramics painting. Buy some inexpensive plates at your local dollar store and some paint and brushes at the craft store. Let the children paint a plate that they can take home and hang on the wall. Also, have them collectively paint one plate to give to the birthday child as a special reminder of the day.
If your child’s birthday is in November or December, and your child loves to paint, let partygoers paint their own ornaments. Local craft stores offer several inexpensive unpainted wooden ornaments.
The creative theme even can be carried into the refreshments. Make unfrosted cupcakes and let each child decorate their own.

Train Party
Little boys and their toy trains hold a special connection. Scaled-up version: The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera has a special passenger car on static display available for birthday parties. Arrangements must be made three weeks in advance. The museum lets children see what a real train looks like inside and out and can bring a train-themed party to life. For more information, call 668-3435.
Scaled-down version: Local party stores carry Thomas centerpieces, party favors and even piñatas. Many libraries also offer Thomas movies. Let the children watch a Thomas movie together. Parents can buy their child a Thomas soundtrack as a gift, and once they’ve opened it, play it and let all the children line up, pretending to be their favorite engine, weaving around the house to the music.

Make Believe
Most preschool children enjoy playing dress up. Why not have a dress-up party?
Scaled-up version: Let’s Make Believe in Cahaba Heights offers several different theme parties and the corresponding attire. Some of its most popular party themes are cowboy, circus, princess and space parties. Let’s Make Believe parties include dress-up, face painting and a magic show. Children’s Dance Foundation of Birmingham not only offers musical, dance parties, but also “Let’s Make Believe” creative drama parties.

Scaled-down version: For parents who want to have a dress up party at home, it’s easy to do. Many preschoolers love to dress up. So have a big trunk filled with clothes and accessories. Either use some of your family’s old clothes or visit your local thrift store for some outrageous finds. (Make sure to wash the clothes well before party time.) After the children have dressed up, put on some music and have a fashion show. The theme also can be incorporated into the party favors. Most local dollar stores carry dress-up items, such as hats, jewelry, tiaras, etc.

Playtime Parties
Children love to run and play. Instead of planning a theme party, just plan a play party.
Scaled-up version: Many play gyms are located in the Birmingham area. My Gym offers birthday parties for children ages 1-9 that include games, tumbling, Space Flight, puppets, ride and songs, where the birthday child is the center of attention and parents can enjoy the party rather than putting it together. Head Over Heels Gymnastics offers birthday parties in their gym or they will come to you for exciting, high energy parties for boys and girls.
Some offer inflatables in which children can bounce and play; others offer a variety of play equipment. Most offer birthday-party packages. Pump It Up, a longtime Birmingham favorite with locations in Pelham and Trussville, offers two massive private play arenas with four huge air-filled inflatables each. Jumpin’ Jax, also in Pelham, has the tallest indoor inflatable in Birmingham and boasts the largest inflatable party center in Alabama. The newer party place on the scene, Fun Factor in Bessemer, right off I-459 and Morgan Road, has an inflatable play area, party rooms and arcade and more than 30 themes available.
Area dance schools and gyms even get in on the birthday party scene with parties that involve music and movement. Kindermusik at the Pink house offers singing, dancing and instrument play especially for newborn to age 7.
The best part about many of these places is that the party is hosted by a trained professional, and the parents simply are required to play with their child. Check your phonebook’s Yellow Pages for the place that best suits your needs.
Scaled-down version: Simply have a playground party, where the children can run and play. Most playgrounds have picnic areas where children can gather for cake and refreshments and then work off the sugar rush on the jungle gym. For party favors, give the children some outdoor-friendly items. Bubbles, sidewalk chalk and bouncy balls are inexpensive and can make for hours of entertainment. Also, buy some inexpensive foam sun visors and a paint pen at your local craft store and make each child their own hat. You can put stickers in their favor bag that they can put on the hat, as well. This is a great party favor, and sun protector.
If you decide on a backyard party, many companies in the greater Birmingham area rent inflatables for parties at reasonable rates.

Other Specialty Parties
Consider other specialties that explore children’s interests. Mad Science offers hands-on science activities and demonstrations for kids 4-12, and they come to you. Viva the Chef, new to Birmingham and located in Cahaba Heights, coordinates parties where the children become chefs, cook their own food and eat it. Viva the Chef offers parties for all ages, even adults. Hidden Creek Ranch in Sterrett offers the young cowboys and cowgirls trail rides, horsemanship and rodeo lessons, along with great themed parties.

Whatever party you choose to give, and whether it’s at a local party place or in your own backyard, it’s important to involve the child in the party-planning process. Keep in mind what your child enjoys; birthday-party themes should follow suit. And almost any theme can be scaled up or down according to the parents’ party budget.

STEPHANIE HASBROUCK IS A BIRMINGHAM FREELANCE WRITER AND MOM.

Resources
· Birmingham Parent maintains a strong list of advertisers who offer birthday parties and party items/entertainment to come to you. Check out the magazine each month, and be sure to visit the Marketplace section for everything from specialty parties to pony rides.
· BirthdaysinBirmingham.com is a web site full of information about what is available in the Birmingham area for children’s birthday parties.
• The Web sites http://www.amazingmoms.com and www.birthdaypartyideas.com offer many birthday party theme ideas.
• The phonebook’s Yellow Pages can direct you to many different ideas for destination parties. Just look under “Party Planning Service.”
• Local dollar stores and craft stores offer many great and inexpensive options for party favors and craft activities.
• Also, talk to other moms at the playground or at preschool. They are sure to have some ideas you haven’t already thought about. Your child’s art teacher may have some great ideas for party crafts or homemade favors, as well.
• Above all, talk to your child and find out what he or she would like. It is, after all, the child’s special day.