We’ve all been there. Every year, in fact! It’s time to plan your child’s birthday party and the options and details are overwhelming, especially for busy parents who are zooming from work, to appointments and from one after-school activity to the next. Planning a kids’ party can be a daunting task for parents. The stress of planning every detail, from the guest list to the decorations and activities – is a lot! You want to find a balance between creating a fun and memorable experience for your child and their friends, and also keeping it manageable for yourself.
There are so many options out there these days, so it can be difficult to choose! Here are some key factors to consider when choosing an awesome venue for your child’s next party:
What You Want for Your Child’s party:
- A stress-free party: You want the party to be enjoyable for both you and your child, without a lot of stress or hassle. Choose a party venue that has a clearly defined party plan, and that they review it with you, so you know what to expect.
- A memorable party: Think about your own favorite birthday party. What made it special? Or maybe you didn’t have those experiences and want to create them for your child. You want the party to be a memorable experience that your child will look back on fondly for years to come. Make it their best birthday ever!
- A safe party: You want to ensure the party venue is a safe environment for all the children and guests attending. It’s important to do a walk-through before you book your party to ensure that the facility is clean and well-maintained, has the proper emergency equipment on hand (ex: first aid kit, AED, etc) and has clearly defined safety and emergency guidelines.
What you shouldn’t compromise on when it comes to your party:
- A trustworthy and trained staff: Many kids’ party places employ very young or inexperienced staff to run parties. This can be problematic. A reliable and experienced staff will ensure the party runs smoothly and safely. Additionally, it’s important to make sure that any staff working with children have been thoroughly background-checked and have additional safety certifications such as a SafeSport certificate.
*Many parents may not know this, but with regard to youth sports facilities and staff, if you are a member of a National Governing Body (NGB) recognized by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, you are required to complete the full SafeSport® Trained Core course and annual Refresher course, dedicated solely to ending sexual, physical, and emotional abuse on behalf of athletes everywhere.
- A well-defined party experience: A structured party experience will help keep the children engaged and entertained. Without a well-defined structure, parties can run off-schedule, get out of hand easily, and can leave party hosts and guests feeling anxious and unsure of what the next steps are, when the food is going to be served, and what time they can expect the party to end.
- An engaging and friendly party leader: An awesome party leader can make all the difference! An all-star party leader will be energetic, engaging with the kids, friendly, helpful, respectful, will know the plan and will do everything they can to make your party experience top-notch.
- An inclusive party: A party that caters to all ages and genders will ensure everyone feels welcome and included. Many times at parties there is a wide age range of kids when you consider siblings or family members attending. Choose a party venue that has activities and entertainment for all of your guests, from the little ones just learning to walk, to the oldest kids who usually feel “too cool” for most kids’ parties.
- A weatherproof facility or backup plan: There’s nothing worse than spending weeks planning every detail of a party for it to be rained out or too hot to enjoy. Choosing a weatherproof facility or at least a facility that has a solid bad-weather backup plan will ensure the party can continue even if the weather takes a turn for the worse.
- The birthday child feels special: The birthday child should feel like they’re the center of attention and have a truly special experience. It’s easy to get lost in the details, but the most important part of a kids party is that the birthday child feels truly special and celebrated. Does your party facility make it a point to do this?
What takes your child’s party to the “next-level” of awesome?
- Unique and exciting activities: Does the party venue offer unique and exciting activities like bounce houses, trampolines, or gymnastics equipment? Kids have endless energy and having exciting features that will also allow them to move their bodies will make the ideal party experience.
- A full-service party: A full-service party where the staff handles everything from setup to cleanup will make things easier for you. Look for a facility where the staff helps to set up the party decorations, leads the kids through fun and engaging activities, helps to serve food and cut cake, and of course helps with clean-up.
- A customizable theme: Allowing you to choose the party theme will ensure the party reflects your child’s interests. Don’t fall for a cookie-cutter party. Look for a venue that lets you customize your theme, decorations and food so your child’s party is exactly how you want it to be. A great party venue will often times have preferred vendors they work with, whose services and food are local favorites who have previously been vetted.
- A parent-friendly party: As much as the party is geared towards the kids, its’ important to make the parents’ experience enjoyable as well. A party where parents can relax and enjoy themselves will make the experience even more enjoyable for everyone. Choose a venue that prioritizes parent’s peace-of-mind and has space for everyone of all ages to enjoy.
We hope this has been a helpful guide when it comes to finding the perfect venue for your child’s next birthday. Following these guidelines will help you level-up your child’s next party experience and send your party guests home with a smile on their faces.
Twisters is one of South Florida’s premier facilities for fun and safe kids’ parties. With locations in Boca Raton and Coconut Creek, Florida, Twisters has been helping to build happy, healthy, responsible kids for over 25 years. Visit our website today to learn more about our epic kids’ parties, gymnastics classes, open gym, competitive gymnastics team and more!
