Kids Love "Little Pizza Chefs" Birthday Parties

"I know I couldn't have been the first person to think of this," Adam says, with a laugh.

However, Mangia Bene has since become a kids' birthday party destination. Parties typically have 8 to 12 kids. However, as many as 30—and occasionally more!—kids have enjoyed pizza parties at the restaurant. Parents book the parties 3 to 4 months in advance.

Here are the ingredients in Mangia Bene's 90-minute "Little Pizza Chef" parties.

• Invitations for parents to send out
• A "welcome" activity—the kids decorate their own pizza boxes using crayons and stickers
• Chef hat for the birthday child
• Make-your-own pizza—the kids get a choice of two toppings (pepperoni, broccoli, tomatoes, olives, spinach, and mushrooms)
• Party games while the pizzas are baking (a variety of activities, including dancing, coordinated by a children's party entertainer)
• Pizzas served to each child with their choice of soft drink or apple juice
• Party favors—mostly small toys.

Cost--$375 for the first 12 children, then one additional child free; then $18 for each additional child.

Mangia Bene also offers optional party upgrades. The options and cost per child are:

• Upgraded crafts--$2
• Make-your-own sundaes dessert--$4
• Additional party favors, including pizza plate, stickers, miscellaneous candy and a surprise--$5
• Make-your-own stuffed animal craft--$10

How to make your child's pizza party perfect

A make-your-own pizza birthday party can be a great way for kids to enjoy culinary creativity. And if activities are well thought out, the kids can have a wonderful time while their delicious pizza creations are baking.

Adam offers some tips for parents who are planning similar parties in their own neighborhood restaurants:

• A make-your-own pizza birthday party is great for boys, girls, and groups containing both.
• The optimal age for this type of party: between 5 and 8 years old. Kids as old as 10 enjoy these parties. However, younger children are completely fascinated, says Adam.
• Be sure to ask every parent about any allergies their child might have, and communicate that information to the restaurant owner, to be sure kids with allergies are accommodated, and safe.
• Let the other kids' parents know what you expect, in terms of their participation. Parents of party guests under age 5 or 6 should plan to stay and help their kids make the pizzas. If kids are at least 8 years old, it's probably OK for the parents to drop them off and pick them up when the birthday party is over.
• If you're the host, plan to have food available for the parents who do remain.
• Be sure the restaurant owner has lots of activities planned for the kids. "There must be activities every second," says Adam. "As soon as the kids have nothing to do, they start running around." Activities are the key to keeping the kids happily occupied and the parents less hassled.
• Don't bring in extra entertainment; the kids have short attention spans, and there's no reason to risk overload.
• Be sure the restaurant owner lets the pizzas cool down before serving them to the children—you don't want kids burning their mouths.
• Don't buy a lot of cake for dessert. "Kids get full from the pizza. Also, in our experience, they prefer cupcakes," says Adam. "Just put candles on one of the cupcakes. That way, the birthday boy or girl feels special, and everyone is happy."

You might also enjoy:

• Martial arts birthday parties for a kicking good time
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• Birthday parties for future ballerinas
• Baby's 1st birthday party ideas
• Top kids' birthday party questions answered

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