Help, please. Ideas for 12th b'day "party" for DS

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Problem is, we've exhausted all the usuals... Quasar, bowling, aquasplash + pizzas, cinema. Considered aerial ropeway but DS couple of cms too short, unlike his mates, which might put a bit of a dampener on proceedings. What else could we do? We have from now until early September,. really. Would probably invite about half a dozen, max 9.

Popular ones around here at the moment amongst older boys include Quad-Biking and Grassboarding (although both quite expensive I believe)

Ooh! DS likes the sound of that. Just googling it.

Did you find anywhere near you?

There is a grassboarding place near us but as DS is only just 4 we haven't had the pressure to go yet

There was a thread recently on days out about an ariel adventure place that takes children from 8. Might find the height restrictions aren't so tall either.

Now where was it...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/1395/543168

Oh it's from 6 and 110cm. Might fit your bill if there's one near enough to you!

I am hoping that next year he will just invite a couple of friends to come away with us for a weekend or a 'grand day out' (Alton Towers that sort of thing).

gillybean, I know it says 110cm, but that is only for the 1metre high ropeway. To go on the higher ones (5m and 10m), which DS managed perfectly well 2 years ago before they changed the rules, you have to be 140cms now. DS is about 137, but with trainers we might push him a bit higher. Would be awful, however, if we turned up there with a group, and DS was refused while all his mates were allowed.

Hmm, their website says it goes up to 3m above the ground. But then I am only looking at one site, not sure which is your closest, I guess they're all different.

Are you near to a center parcs? Could you get day passes and go on the arial adventure there? Would be a lot more expensive per person but they take them from age 8.

No center parc near, although I believe there's talk of building one. Not much help for next month, however!

What about paintballing? Am thinking of doing that for ds's 14th birthday, also early sept. Otherwise, could you do something like a BBQ/waterfight party at home or maybe in the school field(hall for use of loos, kitchen etc) if they rent it out?

but height as well as age restrictions

If you're near a snowdome (not sure where you are) you could go tobogganing!

where abouts in uk are you

if near shropshire i know somewhere

or in north london schlextrix track

Loads of ideas to investigate here. Thanks everyone. Am currently looking at 'Go Ape' in Wendover Woods which is very local....... (Boysarelikedogs link).

Bother! Same height restriction as Aerial Walkway thingy. SnowDome maybe.....?

My ex-friend had a tobogganing party in Milton Keynes snow dome and the ages ranged from 6 to grown ups, so don't think there is a height restriction.

They do an ice slide party, which does have an age restriction.

Have no idea how much they cost, but it was fun & grown ups can do it too

there is one near milton keynes which takes younger (so shorter) kids. the go ape ones are from 10 i think so would be ok. othersie what about an outdoor one with water guns and cricket and so on? our ds 12 loves that kind of thing - and it's cheap!!

go for paintballing if he's too short for aerial extreme type things - very successful indeed with boys of that age ime.

we are doing camping in the garden parties now - v popular and great fun (and cheap, i know i keep saying it)

Oooh following on from the camping party, my DD went on a picnic for a party a few weeks ago. They went to a nearby field (on a public right of way) & did a treasure hunt and a few other running around games then had a picnic & back home.

It was such a simple, cheap, yet fantastic idea. They all loved it.

Go ape does say from 10, but also 1m 40cm. DS is tiny for his age (coming up 12 and only about 137cm). And it was the MK one I phoned up about. Paint balling... will check that out, and I love the camping idea. I spent most of my childhood in a tent in the garden!

cooking sausages on a little camping gaz stove? burning potatoes in a camp fire and toasting marshmallows? yum yum yum. you just need to supervise them with the fires obviously but its great fun for them. beg steal or borrow tents! oh and boys love being allowed to wee outside in the night..

Depending on what DS is into, you could try making a movie at his party...I got sent a link to this a few days ago...www.movieparties.co.uk

Indoor climbing wall.
Canoeing/sailing.
Birds of prey.

Think anything involving tents and campfires would go down well and be fabulously cheap.