ideas please for 6 year old girl's birthday celebration - NOT PARTY

[ScarletA]

My dd will be 6 soon and after the disaster of last year's party (and every other one before that) I vowed never to do it again. She is not the centre of attention type of child and finds her parties very stressful and overwhelming and is utterly miserable throughout.

This year I was thinking of taking just her and a few choice mates and doing something (not too expensive) - the 'something' is where I get stuck. Then all back home to make their own pizzas, candlelit dinner and being waited on by Mum and Dad.

We live in SE London so many things are within easy reach - have checked IMAX website and the films are too grown up or not girlie enough for the dates I need. Aquarium we have done and although it was enjoyed, not tremendously so.

Any other suggestions? She likes all things typical to her age - bikes, dollies, skipping, cuddly toys, painting, sticking etc.

Please help - only 3 weeks to go!

Paint a pot type of place? Our local one lets you take a cake and will even get takeaway pizzas for you!

Not sure if there's a teddy bear factory (or Build a Bear) near you, but we went to one in chester and I'm now thinking of it for our dd's 6 birthday next year. It's quite low key, nice and girlie, take a few close fiends into town pick a bear, fill it and name it etc. And then off home or off to eat somewhere.

Do you need to go somewhere at all? I think the pizza making/candlelit dinner sounds lovely on its own. They could decorate their own little cup cakes for afters too? Maybe a couple of simple games (I have some suggestions) or watch a dvd? I do think sometimes we make these celebrations too difficult for ourselves and she is going to feel very special with what you already have planned.
Do like the paintapot suggestion too by the way.

I was thinking as I wrote it that the candlelit dinner sounded quite nice just on its own... With a few games and a dvd it could be quite nice? The bear thing she would LOVE but it is too expensive for us I'm afraid. There is a place not too far from here where you can paint a plate - can't remember its name otherwise I'd google it.

What about adding a princess or fairy theme to your candle lit dinner?

Sounds lovely - so long as none of them scared of candles which at that age is actually a possibility (ok, so I've got a DD who didn't even want candles on her cake when she was 5, 6 or 7 )

Why IMAX, normal film is fine if theres an appropriate one on (DDs friend took them to Mr Bean followed by pizza next door). But good DVD would work well too...with popcorn of course.