There are few things in life more exciting than a child’s birthday party. It’s a day that will probably stick in your memory for years to come and it’s also a time when you get to see just how much your child trusts you as their parent (because let’s face it, they won’t trust you again after this day). Birthday parties in ski centers are memorable events that your kids will talk about long into adulthood. But organizing the perfect kid’s birthday party at the local ski center isn’t always straightforward. From sneaky parents who want to avoid playing the role of elf or snowman to getting everyone on-site and back home again safely, there are plenty of potential pitfalls. Here are our top ten tips for throwing the perfect birthday party at the ski center.
Research before you book
Before you even think about booking your ski center birthday party, you need to do your research. First, you need to know the size of venue you can hire for your party based on the number of guests you plan to invite. Most ski centers have different price points for birthday party packages based on the size of venue you book. Next, you need to understand what is and what isn’t included in your package. Some packages will include access to the ski center and lift tickets for the children, others will not. Some packages will give you access to a dedicated party room, others will not. The last thing you want is to have to cut your favorite piñata in the middle of the ski center’s cafeteria with ten excited kids watching on.
Book accommodation and transport together
Some ski centers in Europe will allow you to book a group party and then transport the group to and from the venue in one bus. However, if you want to make sure that everyone arrives at the same time and that you don’t get stuck in traffic, you’ll want to book accommodation and transport together. Ideally, you’ll want your ski center to recommend a nearby hotel or guesthouse, but if they don’t, try Booking.com or Hotels.com for the best deals.
Don’t rely on the caterers to provide games
When you book a party at a ski center, you’re taking advantage of the fact that there are all sorts of activities available for kids at ski centers. You’ve probably heard about the snowman building competition and the cookie baking class, but there are plenty of others you may not have heard about. Some ski centers have indoor climbing walls and others have obstacle courses and zorbing. At many ski centers, you can even arrange for the children to be taken out on sledging or tubing excursions or go skiing, boarding, or snow tubing with an instructor. You can also book a visit from a real-life snowman or elf who will take the kids on a special adventure.
Don’t forget the snowflake waffles!
Snowflake waffles may sound like a made-up treat, but they are a must-have at any ski center birthday party. They are the perfect combination of sweet and savory and they can be made in advance, wrapped, and put into a freezer. If you are pressed for time, they are a good option. You can also make many other types of waffles at home. You can also have other sweet treats available such as hot chocolate, hot apple cider, cake, and, of course, cookies. There are a number of other savory foods you can have on hand as well such as chicken nuggets, chips, and other finger foods.
Set a cap on how much your guests can spend
The best way to avoid a kid going overboard on their spending is to set a cap on how much they can spend. You can do this by having the children bring a gift card to your party which they can then use to buy a gift from you and from the other guests. This way, you’re not the only one who gets gifts and there is no risk of one child spending too much on you. If you want to avoid giving out gift cards, you can arrange for the children to be given tokens as a symbol of their friendship with you and each other. This can be something as simple as a badge or sticker that has your child’s name on it.
Ensure your child is comfortable with their role/duties
Some ski centers will assign your child a special role for the party such as “elf” or “snowman” and they will be expected to fulfill that role during the party. While this is a great way to get the kids involved in the party, you need to make sure your child is comfortable with their role. If they’re not, you need to be prepared to step in. You can also assign your child a special duty such as taking gift cards or tokens from other party guests. But be mindful that they’re not being placed under any extra pressure at the party.
The day before: Double-check everything
The day before the party, you should give the ski center a call and double-check everything is scheduled to go according to plan. Are all the facilities you booked for the party clean? Are the names of your party guests on the booking list? Have you been given a time for drop-off and pick-up? These are all things you need to know. You also need to make sure that you have the names, numbers, and addresses of your child’s party guests. You’ll also want to make sure you have names and numbers for the parents of your child’s friends in case there are any problems during the party.
Conclusion
Birthday parties are a special occasion and there is no better place to celebrate than a ski center. With a few tips and tricks, you can make sure that your party goes off without a hitch. From booking the venue to picking out gifts for the guests, there are plenty of ways to make your party special. With a little bit of preparation, your child’s birthday party will be one they remember for years to come.