Just wondering if any of you have a great idea for a 9 year old boy's birthday party. He didn't get a party last year so I would be willing to spend $10/kid for him.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

What does he like?

Will you do this at your house or go somewhere?

I have a business plan for starting a business doing birthday parties. I can help you with food, games and activities if you give me an idea... Cowboys, spiderman, John Deere. I just did a really cool retro party for a friends little guy.. Stuff we grew up doing, Jacks, sack race, water balloon catch, stomp the balloon.

FamilyFun: Fun stuff for Kids, Parents - and More Family Fun has a ton of cool ideas. Once you come up with a theme.

For this time of year, the backyard is a great place to have a party. Grill hot dogs, chips, baked beans, watermelon and birthday cake. Then play games and let them run through the sprinkler, toss in some water balloons.. they will love it at 9.

He likes anything sport related. Especially Nascar, baseball and basketball.

Thanks

My ds has had his at the bowling alley the past two years. He really enjoys bowling and they have a late night glow in the dark bowl on Friday nights. We usually bowl about 3 games then go home for cake and icecream and a sleep over. I know boys aren't really into sleepovers, but mine didn't seem to care. He really enjoyed it.

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~Jodi~

Do you want to do it in the house or somewhere outside of the house???

When DS was around that age we had a party at a Karate studio. He never took Karate but it was a fun place to do something. Another time We went to a store in the mall that sold Pokemon Cards and they set up a table where the kids could play the game.We did o it on a tues nite so they weren't that busy. One of the guys from the store sat with them and talked stratagy and gave them tips. It was great! The store had never hosted parties before but I worked it out with the manager and it was really cheap and then we all walked to the food court for ice cream!!!

If you want to do something at home....pick a theme and run with it! What does he like. I bet we could all come up with suggestions based on a theme!

I haven't decided wheter or not to do it at home. I am leaning towards outside of the home. What did they do at the karate studio. That sounds like a fun idea!

Our boys are the same age. Mine is turning 9 soon too. But they sound like different personalities. Mine wants to go to a museum! Oh, well to each his own. The thing I love about this age is that they know what they like.

Around here you can rent a movie theatre for $100 and bring in your own (or rented) game system. They could play Nascar on a playstation on a HUGE screen.

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Some things we've done for that budget- paint your own pottery place. Also, minor league baseball tixs are about $6 each - you could maybe bring a few friends and have pizza/cake afterwards? Also, take just a few kids to a maintnee - could see Shrek 3 or something for about $6 if you go b/4 noon... just some random thoughts...

Last year for my sons nine birthday we had a "Birthday Olympics" Party. I made the invites on my computer. The theme was red, white and blue. I ordered items from Oriental Trading Company look at their web site. I got sacks for sack races they had flags on them. We had relay races, 3 legged races toss they egg, wheel barrow race. I had some of my husbands work shirts, pants and boots (3 of each) and had a dress up relay. We made 3 teams and the kids put the clothes on and run down and around a cone came back, traded off the clothes and first team to finish won. That was soooooo funny we all were laughing so hard. We also had a ring toss game. Most of the party items I was able to get at the dollar tree. I also stopped doing goodie bags because they get so expensive. So when I do an outside party I have a pinata and give every kids gets a bag for the goodies. That is their goodie bag... Good luck and have fun!

hey...

just wanted to follow-up on the Karate party question. I am sure it depends on the studio..but the guy that did my sons was awesome! He had them do varies fun relays and taught them a bunch of basic karate moves. The guy from the karate studio really kept them challanged and moving!

also...if your son is into sports...are there any minor league teams in your area...my son went to a local AAA ball game for a birthday party and it was a huge hit!!!