Sprog and Sprocket

Tag: Calgary Kids Party

  • I’m Planning My Kid’s Birthday Party – HELP! (Part 2 of our birthday party planning tips)

    I’m Planning My Kid’s Birthday Party – HELP! (Part 2 of our birthday party planning tips)

    I’m Planning My Kid’s Birthday Party – HELP!

    (Part 2 of our birthday party planning tips)

    There are some fantastic birthday party options for kids in Calgary (including one of our awesome soft play parties, of course!). But no matter what you choose for your child’s birthday, this two part series on birthday party planning should help you pull off a fabulous event without all the stress!

    In Part 1 we covered timelines and tips for guest lists, Calgary venue selection, birthday party themes and party invitations. If you missed it, you can read part 1 here.

     

    5. Activities

    (4 weeks)
    Don’t want to have to spend the birthday party day in full time party host mode? Having a Sprog & Sprocket birthday party is all the activity you need!

    We create birthday party spaces like no one else in Canada – let alone Calgary –  and every client we’ve had has said the same thing – how much the grown-ups got to enjoy the birthday party because the kids were entertained the ENTIRE time! Leave the cat herding to the professionals >>> watch them here. It’s some of the best 60 seconds on the internet!

    Just because you don’t have to host birthday party activities, doesn’t mean you don’t want  to.

    If you’d like to have some birthday party activities start the planning at least 4 weeks in advance; this gives you plenty of time to plan and source any materials.

    When it comes to entertaining kids at a birthday party, there’s no shortage of choice. A quick pinterest search and you’ll find a ton of ideas!

    • crafts
    • cooking
    • cupcake decorating
    • and of course the games!

    So how do you keep all your little people having fun and stay relaxed enough to enjoy the day yourself?

    For the four and unders especially, if you’re doing a craft, remember at this age it’s about the process more than the product.  Don’t be crushed if the little’s aren’t producing the works of art you’d dreamt up in your birthday party plan.  Also, be ready for a few non-crafty types and have a plan to keep them out of trouble.

    For party games, generally the less explanation you need to give the better, so think musical chairs, red light green light, pin the …something on the …anything.  Over at Celebrate the Big and Small they’ve done a great tutorial for a ‘punch box’ – a really fun alternative to the classic bat-swinging piñata.

    Twister, scavenger hunts, marco polo, and egg on spoon obstacle courses are some other great activities for the 5 and overs.

     

    6. Decor

    (3 weeks)
    There are so many options and choices when it comes to birthday party decorations these days.

    Do you use so much Disney it makes you dizzy or catalogue ready petit-chic? Trying to find a happy medium of kid-friendly style? Take inspiration from your child’s favourite toy/character/show at the time (they probably gave some input here when you decided on your theme) then pull it together with stylish décor from the same colour palette.

    Don’t feel too much pressure, there isn’t a right or wrong with this, a birthday party that you’ve poured love into is a birthday party that your child will love and remember.

    If you’re going to pull out some DIY Pinterest mastery, decide on those projects as early as you can and get started! Or call on your favourite crafty person and delegate a few projects their way.

     

    7.Treats and other yummy eats

    (2-3 weeks)
    Give yourself AT LEAST 3 weeks before the birthday party to plan or order the cake – whether you’re ordering it or baking it yourself, you will want time to shop around, be it for a baker/bakery or for your own supplies.

    I must confess, I love making my son’s birthday cake and I always will, but for his very first birthday party – I got soooo excited planning this two-tiered alien cake that I didn’t have time to BAKE THE ACTUAL CAKE and still have enough time to decorate it! SO my inner problem solver hightailed it off to Costco and bought a couple of their pre-made cakes. I came home, scraped all the shop icing off and went on to re-ice and decorate as planned!

    The cake tasted delicious, I got loads of compliments, and I managed to just about look like I knew what I was doing….until now.

    Whether you do the food yourself or get outside help, think easy eating. Birthday party food should include stuff that can be picked up with fingers and eaten in a bite or two. It’s the perfect way to keep tummies from growling as the kids play and adults mingle.

    I usually keep it simple and do sandwiches cut out into shapes with cookie cutters (cucumber, ham & cheese, chicken, tuna mayo, egg salad, smoked salmon…), a veggie platter with a couple of different dips and a few different bowls of chips. A few other ideas from things I’ve done in the past include apple slices with single serve caramel cups for dipping, chocolate dipped banana pops (I’ll do a short post on how to do these so that you don’t end up serving your guests these phallic ones), mini pizzas, my mama’s amazing nuts & bolts, mini veg samosas, meat and cheese platters, little quiches and fruit skewers…

    Custom cookies are also getting some major party attention lately…

    and rightly so, they are beautiful! The talented Poonam of @sugarshimmer is an incredible cookie artist right here in Calgary so if you want to add something extra special to your desert table I’d recommend you check her out here on Facebook or here on Instagram.

    keep in mind any allergies – you might want to skip the PB+J for example, unless you’re confident your guests are allergy free – better yet, ask your guests to inform you of severe allergies when they RSVP.

     

    8. Don’t forget the Music

    (2 weeks)

    For sure this is Simon’s domain in our house.  I love music but I have absolutely zero music literacy; the only thing I do know is that it ain’t no party without it! Keep everyone bopping along by including a mix of kids songs and some upbeat kid-friendly stuff that the adults can enjoy. (Simon is working on a post with some non-cringey, happy-parent playlists for kids parties, so watch out for that one if you’re like me and need some musical guidance).

    Until then, check out this post from Fatherly for enough kid’s songs to get you through your birthday party!

     

    9. Favors

    (1-2 weeks)
    I’ve seen a few questions roaming around about whether favour or party bags are still a ‘thing’ or if parents can skip over them. Maybe it’s nostalgia but I can’t help thinking a kid’s birthday party isn’t complete without a little goodie bag for the wee ones.

    You’ll have to decide what works best for your birthday party – but one things is for sure; the excitement the kids feel when they receive their little bundle of treasures is undeniable!

    Give yourself time to think about what you’d like to put in your goodie bags, if you’d like them to match your party theme, how you’ll package them and of course, time to shop around for any supplies and all the goodies!

    I’d recommend not going too sweet heavy – parent’s won’t thank you if they have to police candy consumption for the next several days – but a few little sweets are ok. As with everything else in the birthday partysphere there is a ton of choice, so here are a few ideas to get you started:

    Candy necklaces or watches, pop rocks, suckers, tootsie rolls, button candy, pixie sticks, stickers, temporary tattoos, novelty erasers, crayons, mini pencil crayons, bouncy balls, slap bracelets, bubbles, notepads, music makers, sticky hands, mini yo-yos, mini rubix cubes, spinny tops, putty and slimes, masks and stamps…just to name a few!

    One more tip – if your guests are really young, where most of this stuff is either a choking hazard or totally beyond their scope of play (think up to 18 months) consider a party favour that is nice for the little one and that the parents might find useful – a novelty silicon teether, some skin friendly baby bath or a mini soother/security blanket to name a few.

     

    I hope you’ve found this two part blog to be a useful tool as you take on planning your next birthday party.  Check back soon for Sprog & Sprocket’s FREE printable Party Planning Checklist!

    Just finding out about us – be sure to check out our portable playground or have a look at our cool softplay spaces.

    Still feel a bit stuck with your birthday party plan? Please get in touch! Simon and I have been helping people make their events memorable since 2011 and we look forward to helping all of our Sprog & Sprocket customers create parties and memories that will last a lifetime.

    You can fill out our contact form here or call us on 403 719 7776.

    Happily serving Calgary, Cochrane, Airdrie, Chestermere & Okotoks

     

     

     

     

  • Planning Your Kid’s Party Without Losing Your Mind – Part 1

    Planning Your Kid’s Party Without Losing Your Mind – Part 1

    Planning Your Kid’s Party Doesn’t Have To Be Stressful

    Parties are meant to be happy – so why stress yourself out when planning your child’s next birthday bash. These few tips will have you planning your kid’s party like a pro!

    Staying stress-free during the party planning process starts with a long hard look in the mirror:
    • Are you a craft queen or a DIY-did-I-bother?
    • More botch than boss when it comes to cake making?
    • What’s your budget (don’t just think about money here – how much time do you have available?).
    • Playing to your strengths and budget is half the battle.  Stick to what you’re good at and get some help with the rest!

    1. Create Guest Lists For Your Kid’s Party

    8-12 Weeks Ahead

    There used to be this old rule that the number of guests you invite to your kid’s party should be your child’s age plus 1.

    But let’s be real here – what kind of party is it with just 2,3, or 4 kids?

    Kids entertain each other, so while more than a handful can sound daunting, with a bit of direction and some good activities they’ll pretty much look after themselves.

    Our Rule of Thumb:
    • For a kid’s party aged 4 and under, anything from 5-9 guests is enough to make it feel like a party – but not a circus
    • For a kid’s party aged 5+, 7-14 is ideal for keeping the atmosphere (and yourself!) alive

     

    2. Equipment Rentals for your Kid’s Party

    (8-12 Weeks Ahead)

    If you are going to be renting equipment for a party, get it done as soon as possible (we are booking into Christmas already!).  Ideas for kids’ party rentals that you may need or want to consider are:

    • Entertainment such as the Sprog & Sprocket Portable Playground or one of our Softplay packages
    • Tables & Chairs
    • Catering or food equipment – think chafing dishes, tableware, linens, cotton candy or popcorn machines, etc.
    • Tents or gazebos
    • Kids’ party props & décor items

    It’s good to know what equipment you’ll be having at the party so that you can select an appropriate venue. For example, our Portable Playground can’t be taken up or down stairs.

    Anchor Event Rentals out of Cochrane and The Rental Guys in Calgary are two great businesses that supply event equipment rentals

     

    3. Decide When And Where Your Kids’s Party Will Take Place

    8-12 Weeks Ahead

    Outdoor spaces such as your backyard or another venue that allows you to move the party between indoors and outdoors is ideal when weather permits. This also gives you the choice to move things entirely indoors if inclement weather totally takes over – a good option for the early Spring/late Autumn – especially in Calgary!

    Your house & backyard is the obvious choice but also consider a relative’s house if yours isn’t an option.

    In Calgary you can also host kids’ parties at:
    • A community centre (read our post about Calgary community hall rentals here)
    • Cultural clubs around Calgary are also good choices and most of the time they offer really fair rates
    • One of Calgary’s beautiful parks make for family-friendly party spaces (though for the younger kids, I’d make sure you have parents stay so that you have the extra adult supervision).  In some case you’ll also need a city permit so don’t forget to check that out!

    If you’re going to be planning a summer birthday make sure you get the contact details of your child’s school friends before they break up for holidays!

    BONUS TIP: Wondering how long you should expect to host for?

    • 2-3 hours seems to be the sweet spot

     

     

    4. Settle On A Creative Kids’ Party Theme

    4-6 Weeks Ahead

    It’s a good idea to decide on your kid’s party theme early so that you can build your party plan & make your shopping lists.

    If your child is old enough to contribute, ask them what they would like – or for younger children give them a couple of choices to choose between.

    Helping them feel special through the process will increase their excitement about their special day!

    Our Event Planning Tip:
    • Start early and leave yourself the time to shop around and wait on shipping times. Sites like ETSY have some seriously talented folk making amazing décor, but you’ll want to get orders in early so you aren’t panicking just before party day wondering if everything will arrive.

    Come the big day your kid’s party will be ready for that perfect Instagram post and you’ll be looking as cool as the cucumber in one of my favourite summer cocktails (thanks Minimalist Baker!)

    4. Create And Send Out Party Invitations

    4 Weeks Ahead

    Aim to get your invites out about 4 weeks before your kid’s party. This gives people enough notice that most won’t already have plans. At the same time, it’s not so far ahead that people put the invite out of the way and forget about it.

    Paper invites going hand-to-hand are a great way for kids to personally invite their friends (check back soon for some free printable Sprog & Sprocket invites).

    When it comes to snail mail vs. email, my go-to for invites is always the electronic route; I love the additional features that you get with email invites! Plus,

    • I can manage it all from my phone
    • They get delivered immediately (no wondering about lost post)
    • It’s FREE (or very nearly)

    Our Picks For Electronic Kids’ Party Invitations

    Three sites that are worth considering for email invite include Punchbowl, Paperless Post and Evite.

    Punchbowl:

    I think Punchbowl is awesome for kids party’s because:

    • They have a wonderful variety of free designs for kids
    • Party invites can include lots of great free features
    • If you want some exclusive designs, premium features and to eliminate any adverts in your invite you can upgrade to their premium plan for $6.99/month (1 year plan) or a single month for $29.99
    Paperless Post:

    another great site, again with great features and they offer some truly beautiful designs.  They offer:

    • Collaborations with well-known designers such as Riffle Paper Co., Littlecube and The Indigo Bunting
    • They also have a Disney collab that looks very chic if your trying to get the best of both child pleasing and style savvy together
    • Paperless Post works on a coin system that you buy in bundles; they’re anywhere from $0.07 – $0.30USD depending on how many you purchase and a premium invite will cost on average between 2-7 coins per guest.

    Keep in mind, they’re a bit sneaky with how they advertise some of their ‘free’ invites because while the ‘card’ is free the envelope will sometimes cost a couple of coins per guest. They give 25 free coins to new sign-ups.

    Evite:

    I’ve included Evite in here because it is often what pops to people’s minds when they think electronic invitation, and because it also has some great features:

    • You can change the RSVP style to have it better match your party theme
    • Set more than one event reminder (3 max) for your guests
    • Collect your guests’ photos at the end of an event

    Pricing is pretty simple – it’s either free or its premium. For premium invites you’re charged based on the number of invites going out (sort of); packages of 15, 50, 125, 300 and 750 are available and you can’t transfer any unused invites to your next party (so if you have 20 guests it will cost you the same as if you had 50).

    Do you have a favourite invite site that I haven’t mentioned? Share it with us in the comments and I’ll be sure to check it out!

     

    Starting the planning process 8-12 weeks ahead may seem early but this allows you time to secure any party rentals before your special day gets booked by someone else!

    If your kid’s party falls on a weekend that might be busier than normal – like Canada Day weekend for example – then get your party rental booked as early as possible so that you aren’t disappointed! Booking one of our playgrounds or soft play spaces is super easy! Fill out our contact form here or call us on 403 719 7776.

    Happily serving Calgary, Cochrane, Airdrie, Chestermere & Okotoks

    Stay Tuned for Part 2

  • Sprog & Sprocket vs Bounce House & Inflatable Rentals

    Sprog & Sprocket vs Bounce House & Inflatable Rentals

    So… it’s like a bounce house, right?

    Did you know bounce houses have been around nearly 60 years?! That’s quite a long time to not have a real alternative to choose from! One question we get asked a lot when people haven’t seen any pictures of our Soft Play or Portable Playground is – “so is it like a bouncy castle rental?” It happens quite a bit! So we thought it would be a good idea to explain briefly why Sprog & Sprocket is different to a Calgary bounce house rental company.

    We Don’t need Electricity or Noisy Blowers like a bounce house

    Whether it’s a bouncy castle, inflatable obstacle course, inflatable slide, moon bounce (whatever that is!), they all need a noisy blower which also requires access to a power point (or a generator). You’ll also need a BIG space!

    Now, a bounce house is fun, don’t get us wrong – we love them too!
    BUT…
    • have you ever seen 15-20 kids on one at the same time? If so, how safe did you feel watching them? Were the little ones able to play safely alongside the older ones?
    • Were they able to bounce non-stop for 4 hours without tiring?
    • What about children with a physical limitation or a delay in their physical development – a bounce house or inflatable generally excludes this group entirely!
    • And if you haven’t yourself tried to climb up the side of a big bounce house you have probably witnessed someone else doing it!
    Aesthetics

    Something else to consider. What was the view like at the event? Did the inflatable take away from the aesthetics of the party venue? Let’s be honest, large inflatables aren’t exactly subtle!

    Here’s where Sprog & Sprocket differs from your regular party rental company and may give you something to consider when looking at birthday party ideas in Calgary –

    • We have rental options for crawling age babies up to 9 year olds
    • Our Soft Play rentals are specifically for the 5 and under age range
    • Our Portable Playground will safely allow up to 20 kids play!
    • We don’t need any electricity to operate our play equipment
    • There are no noisy blowers!
    • Our Portable Playground is on two levels but still fits in any standard height (8ft) room!
    • We can set up indoors (even in your home) and in many outside locations around Calgary
    • Birthday parties are the obvious choice – But! We’re also perfect for wedding rentals, big family gatherings, corporate event rentals, stampede breakfasts
    • There is no stop/start play like a bounce house, once the kids get playing, they’re entertained for hours on end with just minimal supervision needed.

    I hope this helps explain the major differences between our play equipment and more traditional bouncy castles and inflatables!

    Pop over and see a ton of photos of our setups over on our Facebook page!  Instagram more your thing? We’re over there too >> SproSpro Instagram

    Find more information about our Portable Playground HERE and information about our Toddler Soft Play Spaces HERE.

    If you have a party or a family friendly event coming up give us a call on 403 719 7776.  We’ve already started booking up for Christmas 2018!

    Serving Calgary, Cochrane, Airdrie, Chestermere & Okotoks.

    Thanks for reading,

    Simon 🙂

     

     

     

  • You’re Mental If You Don’t Read Our Blog Series On Community Hall Rentals! (Scenic Acres)

    You’re Mental If You Don’t Read Our Blog Series On Community Hall Rentals! (Scenic Acres)

    So you’ve decided to host Calgary’s most awesome kid’s party and don’t fancy holding it at your house – Now what!? Choosing a Calgary Community Hall that fits your needs!

    As if you don’t already wear enough hats through the week (cleaner, driver, bum wiper, negotiator, etc..!) –  you’ve now taken on the job of being a kids party planner. Yay!

     

    You’ve made the wise decision (we might be biased here) to not book a bounce house rental or get stressed out in one of the crowded indoor play places. Congratulations! By hosting a Sprog & Sprocket Soft Play Party or being one of the first in North America to have your very own play centre with our Portable Soft Play Playground, you have taken step one in kids party planning enlightenment!

     

    Now, what about where to host the party? Well, Calgary’s Community Centres have fantastic hall spaces and are a great option for hosting a kids birthday party! Luckily for you, we have the inside scoop from each hall we set up in! We’ll be documenting our findings in a series of blog posts, with the idea of helping you select the perfect calgary venue and making planning your kids birthday party as easy as possible.

     

    The series starts in the North West of Calgary and we begin with Scenic Acres Community Association…

    Scenic Acres Community Association
    8825 Scurfield Dr NW
    Calgary
    T3L 2A8
    Tel: (403) 547 9589
    www.scenicacres.ca

     

    What Is The Access Like?

    The first thing we look at when viewing a community hall is what the access to the space is like. It should be important to you too as it’s not just us bringing in our play equipment, you will also likely be bringing in birthday cake, party decorations, food and a herd of excitable party animals!

     

    Not having any stairs to climb here is super helpful, and when planning your party equipment rental whether with us or another event rental company, it is something we always look out for. Parts of the soft play equipment can be very heavy and not able to go up/down staircases.

     

    Community Hall Features:

    Mountain Views

    As soon as you walk through the door at SACA, you can see the community hall space to your right and you may also be slightly distracted by the INCREDIBLE mountain views across the back. The hall’s large and panoramic windows show off the view and really elevate the space into something quite special.

    Kitchen

    Another great feature of SACA is the kitchen attached to the mail hall. From the kitchen, there is a large open hatch into the hall and all utensils and cooking equipment are clean and in good working order. It is important to note that the kitchen is ‘residential’ and so you aren’t able to prepare meals from scratch due to fire regulations, but you are welcome to bring in any prepared foods and use the cooker to heat them and maintain their serving temperatures.

    • Residential kitchen: all major appliances
    • Basic mixing bowls/utensils/serving trays
    • 12, 36 or 100 cup coffee makers
    Amenities

    Next to the kitchen is the storage room where you will find tables and chairs – all good quality and clean with very easy access to bring them in to the hall and move them out at the end of your rental.

    • 24 rectangular tables 6 feet x 2.5 feet
    • Chairs for 125 people
    • Built-in sound system: CD/Cassette/MP3 capacity (speakers in ceiling)
    • Microphones
    Size

    Depending on the size of your party, you may also wish to use their boardroom as an additional party/cake/present opening room. The main hall is 1600sqft (12m x 13m) so you would need to be throwing a pretty big bash to need that extra room, but it’s good to know that it’s available!  It’s also bright and spacious with lots of wall space to put up your party decorations and accomodates up to 36 people!

    Other info

    Some other features of SACA which makes for a good choice as a birthday party venue are fantastic access from Stoney Trail and Crowchild Trail, a large parking lot and friendly and helpful staff. They are a very busy community hall and we recommend booking your birthday party or event with lots of notice.

    In fact, when you’re looking into your soft play rental or playground rental with Sprog & Sprocket, we advise reserving your date with a minimum 3 month notice. It’s April at the time of writing and we do have Christmas party bookings in the diary).

     

    Can we easily set up the Portable Playground at Scenic Acres? YES

    Can we easily set up a Toddler Soft Play Package at Scenic Acres? YES

     

    Have you hosted an event at Scenic Acres Community Association? Leave us a comment, we love hearing your thoughts and ideas on what makes a good birthday party location!

     

    Thanks for reading : )