We just celebrated our dd's 7th birthday. Instead of buying a pinata, games/activities, and making treat bags -- we kept the cost of the party down by:
1) using coloring pages printed from the internet. We then held a coloring contest (everyone won, of course);
2) played simon says;
3) played "Musical Polka Dots" (the party decorations/theme was polka dots), numbered dots on the floor & when the music stopped, the children stopped. If their number was called, they were out;
4) played "Mystery Box" -- I took a big box & wrapped it up with several items of my daughters (e.g. a headband, a flip flop, a stuffed animal, etc). The children were blindfolded & had to guess what they felt inside the box, PLUS remember as many as they could.
With all of the games the children were able to pick from a "prize basket" which was filled with kid-friendly items from the Dollar Tree (e.g. crazy straws, pencils, hair barrettes, etc.).
By the end of the party everyone had a treat bag filled and smiles on their faces.




