It’s that occasion that every parent comes to dread… It’s birthday season!
You’ve spent all year going round to other people’s houses, drinking other parents’ coffee, and sneaking illicit extra slices of other children’s birthday cake from the kitchen counter when nobody was looking. It was fun whilst it lasted! You’ll look back on these as your golden months! But now the time has come where you have to return the favour and play host yourself. Your young one has come gallivanting into your bedroom at 6am on the first day of the month asking what you’re going to be doing for their birthday. ARGH! Already? But didn’t we just have your last birthday?! How can it have been 12 months already?? Oh father time, why must you continue to be so cruel...
All the glossiest and most high-powered parenting magazines will tell you that your child’s birthday party is a once-per-annum opportunity to showcase the best and most glamorous parts of your DC’s personality to a select group of your most impressive friends and neighbours. Anyone who is anyone knows that what a birthday party actually involves is you and several mebers of your extended family running a shuttle-bus service to a smelly branch of Laser Quest on some godforsaken ring-road retail park, ferrying dozens of well-wishers about in a car which you will then have to spend the next week deep-cleaning.
So why not try something different this year? Something fun, something creative! Something guaranteed to leave the kids worn-out, which you will not have to participate in, drive to, or spend hours stitching elaborate costumes for the purposes of. Here are 5 suggestions for FANTASTIC creative kids parties in London:
Do your kids love to dance the night away? School discos, packets of crisps, glow sticks, etc. Go one better than the usual Cha-Cha-Slide/Las Ketchups/Macarena fayre, with a dance party built specifically round your child’s favourite music and dance styles!
Moving Waves offers a ‘Just Dance’ package for kids parties, which is sure to get your little ones moving. Suitable for ages 4-16, our dance teachers can tailor a party exactly to your needs. We have experienced teachers and dancers ready to share their skills in: street, commercial, contemporary, ballet, Bollywood, and creative dance. Your child even gets the chance to select their favourite songs to dance along to, with a signature choreography designed just for the party to be taught to your child’s favourite song at the end of the session!
With our two-hour long parties, we have the option to work with the party group to choreograph and film a music video in which your party guests are the star dancers - a special experience which your guests will be able to keep forever! A much better party bag filler than one of those party blowers and a slice of stale cake.
www.movingwaves.org/parties/just-dance
We all remember what it was like to be young, carefree, and OBSESSED with the Star Wars Trilogy (substitute in your own childhood obsession here). If your 4-10 year old is a fanatic superfine (or just loves to curl up with a good book), why not make their dreams come true with an immersive Moving Waves storytelling party?
Tell us your child’s favourite book, fairy tale, film, or musical and we will do the rest! One of our experienced storytellers will arrive in character and perform a retelling of the story for the party, inviting the guests to join them on this unique adventure, and bringing it to life with a series of fun and interactive games.
www.movingwaves.org/parties/storytelling-performance
Is your young one showing a flourish for art, craft, or design? Are they tipped to be the next Jean-Michel Basquiat? Or are they just drawing all over the walls, and you’re looking for a more productive outlet for their crayon-based ambition? Well, for all the arty weans out there, Moving Waves has the perfect thing - our Arts and Crafts parties!
Moving Waves’ experienced arts and crafts facilitators will guide your party group through two makes of your choosing, with fun and games thrown in along the way! Your child can choose between designing and decorating t-shirts, pencil cases, mugs, hats, necklaces, or many more. Best of all, every party guest will leave with two of their makes to take home and keep.
www.movingwaves.org/parties/arts-crafts
For 4-10 year olds looking to spend their birthday party travelling to the innermost reaches of their own consciousness in a quest to find inner peace, why not try a Moving Waves yoga adventure?
Our Yoga Adventure parties combine storytelling with a number of yoga poses which are tailored to the groups’ abilities. The fun storytelling element makes this a great introduction for and yoga newbies, as well as a special twist for any seasoned yoga pros amongst us. The class can cater to all abilities
And of course, the relaxing and calming benefits of yoga make the perfect antidote to the fructose and adrenaline related high that comes with any kids party - a parent’s dream which ensures every party guest goes away with slightly higher blood sugar levels, but still ready for bed.
www.movingwaves.org/parties/yoga-adventures
For any young Elaine Paige and Paigettes in your lives, why not try a musical theatre party? Get your kids and all of their classmates acting, singing, and dancing the day away to the tune of their favourite musical (which, let’s be honest, is probably Frozen).
All our facilitators need to know if your child’s favourite musical, and they will do the rest! Expect a heady concoction of drama games, music, and dance which will be sure to leave everybody singing “LET IT GOOOOO” at the top of their lungs for days to come!
www.movingwaves.org/parties/musical-theatre-bash
And of course, for plenty more inspiration for great kids' parties, you can always check out the Moving Waves parties page!