Top 3 Places To Throw a Kids Birthday Party

Tired of hosting kid parties at the local fast food resturaunt? Try these places out:

#3- A Sports Center. Get physical! Large centers like Chelsea Piers in New York City offer birthday party packages with everything from bowling to ice skating. Too big? Try a fitness center. Same great play with a much smaller setting. Visit www.my-gym.com for the kiddie fitness center nearest you.

#2- The museum. Many parents opt for this creative outlet for fun and hands on learning. Both the Children's Museum of Manhattan and even the Scholastic bookstore in Soho (NYC) have private rooms booked for kid parties. For the recession friendly route, try your local public library. For $25 +$3 per child, the Cambridge Springs Public Library in Cambridge Springs, PA offers your kids story time, arts and crafts and a gently used book (for keepers) to the birthday kid.

#1- Home! If you live in an apartment complex, rent the community room. Since it's in your neighborhood, your guests won't have trouble finding it. Best of all, you can put together whatever theme you want. For less. If you live in a private house, why not a backyard adventure theme Backyardigain style? If it's cold outside, try a mystery theme. Both can be executed with a scavenger hunt.

Remember- all it takes to throw a successful kiddie party are the theree F's. Fantasy, Food and Fun. And if you're lacking the fourth F (funds) get creative. If you can't book Uncle Magic this year (www.hiphopmagician.com), there's nothing wrong with booking your Uncle Leroy.

Tip- One game that kids (and adults) all love is jump for George. Tape a line of singles together, lay it accross the floor and whatever the lucky jumper hops- they keep. Then at the end of the party YOU pick up the rest of the money and add that to the money you saved being creative and go to the spa.