Hands-on Birthday Parties

Coming up with the perfect birthday party is never an easy task. My 5-year-old likes the type of birthdays that involve hands-on or learning and creative activities. There are a few businesses out there that help you plan exciting and educational hands-on parties for ages 5 and up.

• Play-Well TEKnologies offers engineering parties for ages 5 and up centered around building with LEGOs, which allows the kids to keep busy, be creative, and offers hands-on learning. Free play with LEGOs begins, and then instructors lead the kids in a 1- to 2-1/2-hour project. Some of the projects include a simple belt and pulley car, race cars, battle track, catapults, and robo bots. Parties can be either at your home or other party location, or at their site at Marin Engineering Center in San Anselmo. Prices range from $200 at your home or $260 at the store location. For more info, call Steve at (415) 460-5210 or email steve@play-well.org. Their website is www.play-well.org/.

• Another cool and hands-on birthday idea is a Mad Science party for ages 5 to 12 in Marin. A certified Mad Scientist will introduce the spectacular side of science with fun experiments that include cool chemical reactions, indoor fireworks, and a dry ice bubbling potion. Choose a party theme: Air Blast, Electrical Excitement, Reactions in Action, and Fiery Potions & Wonders. They also offer extra “Grand Finales” to wrap up parties in style, including a hovercraft, a laser show, and a dry ice show. Parties are 45 to 60 minutes and are held at your home or other location. Prices start at $230. For more info, call Peter at (925) 687-1900 or go to their website at www.madscience.org/mtdiablo/.