Rice Krispie Treats

One of the easiest desserts you and the family can make are rice krispie treats. Not only are they gooey and delicious, but they are made with simple ingredients you may already have around your house. If you aren’t sure plain squares fit your party theme, try to make the treats into shapes. The marshmallow glue allows you to easily shape your dessert into fun animal characters or even letters to spell out your kiddo’s name, a great way to personalize the dessert just as you would on a birthday cake.

Cookie Cake

Not all people are a fan of a traditional cake, so why not give them a cookie cake? Giant cookies are always a crowd-pleaser that is fun and unique. If you want just one big cookie, go ahead and choose a more popular flavor that most people will enjoy, like sugar or chocolate chip. If you want some more variety, bake special flavors but as a smaller “cake” so that your guests can pick and choose which cookie they would like to eat.

You can also make the cookie cake a part of your birthday party activities by having each child pick their favorite flavor and then having them decorate their cookie however they please!

Donut Tower

Maybe you are looking for birthday party dessert ideas for kids that aren’t going to take a lot of time or effort to make, due to a busy schedule. One solution is to create a donut cake tower. There are plenty of local donut shops you can run into or order delivery from that will have dozens of flavors at a reasonable price. Then grab a tiered centerpiece, place the donuts, and voila! You have yourself a delicious donut tower.

Not only will this please your guests, but the tower makes for a great photo-op to share on social media or your scrapbook. The tower adds a modern twist on a traditional cake and will be the most “Instagram worthy” piece of your party.

Birthday Cannoli

You may not think of cannolis when you think of birthdays, but they make for a festive party dessert. These crunchy and creamy sweets are fun to make and fun to present to your guests, as many won’t expect them as your dessert. You can even add your own twist on the traditional cannoli by adding chocolate coating and sprinkles. The best is they are a fairly simple DIY project. Find out how to make a birthday cannoli with this recipe!

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

These cupcakes are no average cupcakes. Instead of having sticky fingers, cupcake wrappers, and melting ice cream all over your home, why not take the best of both worlds and put them together! With ice cream cone cupcakes you get the cupcake and ice cream cone without the mess. This way the children will easily be able to hold the cupcake without getting icing all over their hands. Follow this guide to put these cones together.

Pancakes

Breakfast isn’t only for the morning, so why not make some pancakes for dessert. Although pancakes can be simple to mix up, they can take up a lot of time and effort while baking, depending on the number of pancakes you have to make. For the birthday dessert, make sure you consider the number of guests coming to the party, the children’s age, your budget, and more.

Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Ice cream sandwiches offer a wide variety of combinations and flavors, making it great for a birthday party full of different taste buds. These can be messy so it may be best to consider if your kiddo is turning five or older. That way you don’t have melted ice cream all over the house! Another perk? Easy to make. Just go out and buy some of your favorite ice cream flavors and cookies and have the guests put their dessert together.

Brownies

Brownies are always a crowd pleaser and can still be decorated like a birthday cake! Similar to rice krispie treats or cookies, you can bake brownies into different shapes to fit your party theme. Several recipes can be found on the internet or you can buy mixes at any local grocery store.

S’mores Table

If you are looking for a fun activity to do with your child’s guests, a s’mores table is a great idea. Once again, make sure to consider the age of your guests with this one as little ones may not be so careful with fire. You can find a small heater and skewers to roast marshmallows with and then lay out all the goodies you want for the kids to try. You can do traditional s’mores or add some frosting and sprinkles to the mix, to add a birthday twist.

Cake Pops

Similar to the ice cream cone cupcakes, cake pops can be an easy to eat and easy to clean-up birthday dessert. There are molds you can buy to help you make your own or you can go to a bakeshop to discuss different flavors and toppings you can order. Either way, homemade or store-bought, cake pops are a fan favorite.

Finding birthday party dessert ideas can be tough, but with these top 10 options, you will be sure to have sweet treats that will not only taste great but look great too. For more party ideas and family fun, visit https://www.pumpitupparty.com/

Your Own Haunted House

Halloween decorations can make or break your party. Cobwebs, dry ice, and creepy crawlers are all traditional party decorations, but not all parties need to have a spooky theme. There are plenty of different store-bought or homemade decor options to choose from when setting the scene of your party. If your children are younger, it may be better to skip the scary and go for a more upbeat atmosphere filled with candy and cheery pumpkins. But if your family likes a good fright, you may go all out with zombies, skeletons, and ghosts…oh my!

Invite Friends (Virtually!)

During times when you are used to celebrating with others, it’s important to still connect while staying safe. An easy way to do this is by having your kiddos invite some friends to join a Zoom party. This way they can show off their costumes to their pals and maybe even throw a Monster Mash dance party!

Making Your Own Costume

From TV characters to animals to even food items, kids’ Halloween costume ideas come in all shapes and sizes. But costumes can get pretty spendy, so why don’t you make it yourself? You can make so many costumes from things just lying around the home or by purchasing some inexpensive items from the party or fabric store. A homemade costume gets the whole family involved and helps your child express their creativity.

Sweet and Scary Treats

Halloween treats can be the most fun to make but the scariest to eat. There are so many recipes that allow you to make tasty food and arrange it to fit your party theme. White chocolate covered Oreos, with an M&M center and gooey red gel makes for a yummy eyeball. Or maybe you want to bake some ghoul and goblin cookies. And of course, don’t forget about beverages. A refreshing fruit punch in a cauldron is perfect for the kids, while the adults can make a special potion all their own.

Trick or Treat

If you are looking for a way to trick or treat without having to leave the comfort of your own home, try setting up your own trick or treat stations around the house. Each family member can create their own station with their own theme to get their imagination going. Fill up a bowl of their favorite candy and take turns going around the house to the different stops.

Scavenger Hunt

A fun game that is great for all ages is a scavenger hunt. Make up some clues that lead to different Halloween themed parts around your home or backyard. Finding candy is always exciting, but is even more fun if you have to play a game to get it! Maybe you have a candy-filled pumpkin hidden under the bed or a friendly witch holding a basket of goodies. Wherever you hide the treats, make sure to throw in a few tricks as well.

Local Events

There are plenty of local events to enjoy Halloween weekend, with socially distancing and safety measures in place. Trunk or Treats are a great way to go since the cars full of candy will be outside and there will be more room for you and your family to walk around. Trunk or Treats also usually have some fun Halloween crafts and games for the kids. Some other great events are being held at your local Pump it Up such as the “Not-so-scary Jumps”! Halloween-themed and loads of fun, Pump It Up is ready to help you celebrate in a secure environment. Find your local Pump It Up for event information: Click Here

Halloween 2020 may look a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. No matter what type of Halloween celebration you and your family decide on, our team at Pump It Up wish you a safe and happy Halloween this season.

We’ve done some research on the history of this famous tune and here’s what we’ve found out.

Where it Began

The beginning of the happy birthday song has a bit of controversy behind it, with more than one artist being credited with its existence.

The song’s melody originated from a school teachers’ greeting song titled “Good Morning to All”, composed by American sisters Mildred and Patty Hill in 1893, although this accreditation has been questioned.

The first time the combination of the “Happy Birthday to You” lyrics and melody appeared was in 1912. These first appearances did not include any credits. Updated lyrics that make up the popular tune we sing today was published in a songbook by Robert Coleman in 1924.

Then in 1935, The Summy Company registered a copyright for the song, crediting the Hill sisters as the authors. The value of the birthday song at the time was $5 million.

What About Before the Song?

There is no record of any other specific songs being used at birthday parties or celebrations before the classic “Happy Birthday to You”, but plenty other traditions were celebrated! The Germans created the traditional birthday cake as we know it today in the late 18th century and it became popularized around the world during the American Industrial Revolution.

The entire idea of birthdays started with the Egyptians after they noticed the effects of aging. From celebrating the birth of powerful religious figures, it grew into celebrating “the common man” and we now celebrate our birthdays with gifts, cake, song, and sometimes special birthday party venues!

Are We Allowed to Sing it?

Many people may not have realized that up until the year 2016, “Happy Birthday to You” was actually illegal to sing publicly unless you paid a hefty fee. Singing it publicly could include on T.V., radio or just at a party place. This was due to the copyright that was registered in 1935 and not set to expire until 2030. This changed though once a U.S federal judge ruled that the copyright claim was not valid and the song had no other claim to copyright, placing it in the public domain, and making it free to sing for all.

Celebrating Across the Globe

The traditional way “Happy Birthday to You” is used is by the song being sung to the birthday boy/girl by other guests at the celebration while they present a birthday cake. This tradition has reached across the globe and the recognizable tune has been officially translated into 18 different languages!

Now it’s Your Turn!

The great thing about the birthday song, besides that it usually means the cake is coming, is that it is also very easy to memorize and learn on almost any instrument. Most people will sing the catchy tune at their home or at a kid’s party venue if they have rented a great spot for friends and family to celebrate together. But you don’t just have to sing! You can learn “Happy Birthday to You” by knowing just a few simple notes, on piano, guitar, violin, or any instrument.

The party pros at Pump It Up have seen some amazing renditions during birthday parties and can’t wait to see more. If you would like to share your version of the birthday song with us, connect with us on Facebook or email us today!

1. What Do They Like?

What drives your child to do their best and make them eager to learn? Nobody knows better than the student himself or herself! Even though you might know their answer already, go ahead and ask what they’d like to do while at school. Perhaps they enjoy playing outdoors or baking in the kitchen. Using baking to learn fractions or using outdoor games to learn new skills will bring those enjoyable experiences into your classroom. Much like adults, if it’s something that they have fun doing at the same time, kids may want to concentrate on it more.

2. Ensure Routine

During school days, it is important to develop a sense of safety and routine. Also even if you are aiming to make their workspace enjoyable, they also do need to realize that it’s intended for learning. Consider setting up a particular location for backpacks, books, and laptops so they know exactly where things are, and the setup is close to their school classroom. Doing this also helps keep the house tidy all day long!

3. Have all the Classroom Goodies

Take out games, books, crafts, and more that suit your child’s age group that you find around your home and put it in the learning center. This gives them easy access to supplies which promotes creativity and commitment to projects. This task can be much simpler if you have younger kids learning from home because they can use more creativity with fewer items but you can find plenty of resources that work for all ages just by doing a quick online or in-store search.

4. Find the Right Lighting

Try bringing a window or patio door into your classroom. The natural light, as humans, energizes us and can fuel our imagination and motivation, making it easier for the children to learn and not want to watch TV or play video games. This isn’t going to be a simple task for every home, particularly if most of the natural light is in the home’s busy rooms but no worries, just make sure you take breaks and get outside!

5. Stay Calm and Learn On

In these crazy times, we’ve all needed to adjust quickly and function efficiently. So don’t be harsh on yourself! Not all will go to plan as children study at home much as they do not in a school building. The highest priority is to have a healthy learning atmosphere and allow the children to continue communicating with their teachers. As time goes one, all the little things fall into place.

It can be difficult to study and work from home but with these tips, you can make sure that your child or children make the most of their experience with virtual learning.

Luckily, following steps can make it a whole lot easier – and fun. Here are the seven steps to planning the perfect birthday party for your kid!

1. Choose a Theme

The first step to planning a kid’s birthday party is choosing a theme. While not all parties have to have a theme, it’s encouraged to think of one to make the party more unique and align with your child’s interests. Think about your child’s favorite activity or movie as a starting place. These can make great party themes. Other areas to think about when choosing a theme are favorite places to visit, toys, or characters they look up to. Some themes will be easier to find party accessories for, more than others, but it makes for a good opportunity to get creative and get the whole family involved in the brainstorming process!

If you’re having trouble figuring out a theme your child will love, here are some popular party ideas to consider for your kid’s birthday party:

1. Unicorns
2. Superheros
3. Mermaids
4. Video Games
5. Llamas
6. Princesses
7. Dinosaurs
8. Pirates
9. Favorite movie or TV show

2. Determine the Guest List & Send Invitations

The next step is to determine who you’re inviting and then to send out invitations. While this may seem like a fairly easy step, it can actually be rather difficult. The best way to decide who is on the guest list is to determine a budget and how many children can come within that budget. This makes it easier to start choosing the main guests, such as close family and friends. From there, if there is some wiggle room, go ahead and add others. Also, some parties may be for friends only and others may be a family party. It’s important to know what kind of party you want before you make your guest list.

Things to consider when making a guest list are:
1. How many guests does your budget allow?
2. How big or small you prefer it to be.
3. Will the party be for your kid’s friends or only family members?
4. Does the party venue or your house have enough space for all the guests you want to invite?

It’s also important to determine what kind of invitations you want to use for the party.

Three invitation types to consider are:
1. Store-bought: Store-bought birthday invitations will be fairly cheap, however, there are a limited number of options. There may not be invitations available that suit your party theme if you do choose to have one.

2. Custom made: Custom made invitations can be made on a number of different invitation-making websites. You can make the exact invitation you want with design, color, and theme. However, these tend to be a little more expensive than store-bought invitations.

3. DIY: Sometimes with custom made invitations, they may not have what you’re looking for in their options. Making DIY invitations will give you the exact invitation you want and at a fraction of the price of custom made invitations. You do, however, have to make these yourself, which can be time-consuming but also a ton of fun!

3. Pick the Location

There are plenty of great places to have a kid’s party, but there are also many things to take into consideration before deciding on a location. The first thing you should decide is if you’ll throw the party at home or if you want to hire a venue. Throwing a party at home can sometimes save money (other times more once you add it all up), but most party venues include things like games, activities, take pictures, plus set up and clean up, which can save a lot of time and stress. A party at home can also make it impossible for you and your family to enjoy the party and spend time with the birthday boy/girl because you are busy hosting and getting things ready for the next activity. Hiring a venue that includes a host will allow you to relax and take in the special moments.

If you choose to go with a venue, it’s important to take into consideration the season and weather. Both of these will determine where your party will take place. If your child has a winter birthday, an outside venue isn’t the best idea, but a climate-controlled venue with indoor party rooms would be a great option. As a tip, it can be important to choose a venue that has indoor and outdoor areas available, in case of unexpected weather.

Once you determine the type of venue, there are a few more decisions to make.

1. Budget: It’s smart to set a budget because this can help eliminate options out of your price range.

2. Private or public: Some will be private party venues and others public (this means more than one party might be going on in the same room). Private venues are the safer choice because there’s no chance a child will run away or get lost in another party, but public venues could offer lower prices.

3. Age: Lastly, check age requirements for venues. Your child might be too old or not old enough for some venues due to rides or activities they offer, so it’s important to check the limits before reserving.

4. Order Food

The next step is ordering food. Most parents might think this is simple, however, there are many allergies and dietary restrictions that you should be aware of before feeding other parents’ children.

Before deciding on your food for the party, it’s important to ask yourself these questions:
1. Do any of the guests have food allergies or dietary restrictions?
2. Do I need to provide options for different dietary restrictions?
3. What time should the food be ordered for?

If you answered yes to the first two questions, it’s smart to contact the parents who have children requiring a specialized diet. If you have food in mind, for example, pizza, ask their parents if their child can have dairy or certain types of meat usually found on pizza. If they say no, ask them what food is safe for their child to eat. This will ensure all the children will be able to safely eat food and not feel left out.

Can’t forget about your dessert too! Because who doesn’t want to end a great party on a sweet note. You can do cake or cupcakes – cupcakes are so much easier to manage plus you can have two flavors while most single tier cakes are only one flavor. Just be sure to have the birthday kiddos favorite flavor.

Ordering the food in advance for a certain time will also prevent delays. If you call ahead by a week or at least a few days to order your birthday party food, this ensures that it will be ready at the proper time.

5. Purchase (or Make) Decor & Party Favors

If your party is at a rented venue, there’s a good chance that they will decorate for you – and might even supply party favors. However, if you need to supply favors and decorate yourself, you can do that a couple of different ways.

Buy decorations/party favors

• Balloons
• Streamers
• Tablecloths
• Centerpieces
• Birthday banner/sign

Make decorations/party favors

• Centerpieces
• Birthday banner/sign
• Party hats
• Confetti
• Ribbons
• Other DIY decorations

Making decorations can save you some money and let you get creative with your theme, but some decorations will have to be purchased, such as balloons or party horns. If you have less time, buying is a great option, just a bit more costly.

6. Choose & Gather Materials for Games

Whether your birthday party is at a venue or at your house, it’s important to pick out some fun games to entertain your guests!

There are plenty of party games to choose from, but before deciding on which games to pick, take into account the age of the kids and make sure the games are suitable for them. It’s also important to choose games that are designed for a group of children to play. You wouldn’t want to pick out a game that would leave out half of the party guests.

Where your party is located can have an effect on which games you play too. For example, if the party will be at a jump park, there probably isn’t room to bring a game that requires a large setup – stick to games that don’t need materials or little materials. Also, keep in mind the amount of effort it will take to set games up.

Lastly, it’s important to supervise the kids while playing games to make sure no one gets hurt or nothing gets out of hand.

7. Create a Checklist for the Day Of

Creating a checklist for the party can help ensure you don’t forget anything the day of. Here’s a list of five helpful things to put on a checklist to make sure you have everything ready!

1. You know the number of guests
2. Food is ordered and will arrive at the correct time
3. Decorations are set up
4. Games are set up
5. Party favors are ready

Of course, not all of this has to go on your checklist and you might include other things as well, but it’s a great starting place to make sure everything is ready.

These seven steps will help you plan the best birthday party for your kid and your wallet! While these steps can be a good outline for you and your family, make sure to do what works best for you and reach out to party planners for any extra advice.

To learn more about party planning, visit Pump It Up’s birthday party page.

Having hosted the best birthday parties on the planet for decades our Party Professionals share their perfect plots to put the super in your superhero birthday party. And while our fun centers are closed to make sure everyone stays safe, follow the guide below to throw your own superhero party at home.

Select a superhero. Does your 5-year-old boy go bananas for Batman? Is your 6-year-old girl wild for Wonder Woman? Focus your theme on a superhero and invite his or her siblings and, perhaps, pets to participate.

Create a cake. We’ve seen some creative cakes and cupcakes over the years. From that hulking green humanoid to the webbed wonder, put your super subject on center stage, and build from there. And while supplies can be limited, many grocery store bakeries are churning out cakes and are happy to help with advance notice.

Pick out party supplies. Plates that say Pow! Cups emblazoned with the caped crusader. And even placemats created with copies from comic books. We’ve seen it all. Some of the largest selections are available online or can be ordered over the phone and picked up curbside.

Prepare to play. Action! Parties are nothing if not time to play. The kids might not be able to run wild in our huge arenas, but they can plot to stop the toppling of Megopolis in the backyard. This is where you moms and dads really shine.

“Kids love it when their moms and dads act silly – especially in front of their friends,” says longtime Party Pro Caitlin Richards. “They love it when mom puts down her phone and jumps into action.”

Be the bad guy or gal. Every superhero needs a villain. Rather than turning kids into kryptonite-wielding bad guys, parents can play the part – bonus points for anyone donning a mask. Maybe Momvex has discovered blueprints to Megopolis Merchant Bank and plans to empty the vault. Before the heist, she’s hiding near the oleanders. Send the good guys to capture her before it’s too late! But watch out for her sneaky escape!

Keep The Action Going. Thankfully, Momvex was captured. Your gang of superheroes can use cardboard boxes to keep the villain locked up. But wait! It looks like Dadoom has escaped across the river with the blueprints. Send the superhero squad through a homemade obstacle course in hot pursuit!

Prepare to party. As the kids wind down, prep your super party space. Order some pizzas and load out the lemonade. A little imagination can go a long way.

Time for food and fun. Chasing down Momvex and Dadoom burned a lot of energy. But with hot pizza or cool sandwiches and cold drinks awaiting, your superheroes will be ready to spring into cake-eating action in a flash!

Leave the mess to us. With the action winding down, you and your caped crusaders should be ready to call it quits. After all, throwing birthday parties is hard enough – even for super parents of superheroes!