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Great Birthday Party Ideas for Your Grade-Schooler
Planning a kids' party will be a breeze with these easy birthday party ideas

By Katherine Lee, About.com

For many parents, the prospect of having to come up with birthday party ideas is an anxiety-provoking experience. Will the kids get bored? What if you run out of activities? What if the party is a disaster and your child never forgives you???

Fear not: Here are some great party ideas to consider for your child’s next birthday party. No matter what your budget or time constraint, you’ll be sure to pull off a successful party with one of these no-fuss ideas for birthday party themes. Plus, you'll be able to use these ideas for any other kind of kid party.

1. Field Day Birthday Party

Kids love relay races and obstacle courses. All you need is some outdoor space (a park or a backyard -- whichever is handy) and a few props such as hula hoops, batons, and sacks, and voila! You have the makings of a low-budget, raucous, and fun-filled birthday party that’s sure to be a hit.

2. Cookie Decorating Party

It’s amazing what a little sugar and butter and flour can do. Take some sugar cookies to use as a yummy canvas, mix up some colorful icing, and let your child and her friends use their imaginations to create beautiful treats they’ll be proud to show off -- and eat.

3. Game Night Birthday Party

Kids love to play games. They love challenging themselves and competing with each other. If you have a Wii, classic board games, or even just some pencils and paper and a little imagination, you can set up some fun activities for kids. And while they have fun, your child and her friends will build important skills such as good sportsmanship, hand-eye coordination, or even math and language skills.

4. A Backyard Stargazing Sleepover Party

This is a great way for your child and his friends to enjoy a warm summer night. Sleeping outside in the back yard can be an exciting adventure. The kids will have so much fun that they won’t even notice how much they’re learning about stars and space. And parents will enjoy themselves, too, if they decide to join the festivities.
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