Do you know what else a birthday needs? Gifts! Get tried-and-tested favorite gift suggestions including Best Toddler Gifts and more in the Mommy Poppins Gift Guide for Birthdays and Holidays.

Which Indoor Birthday Party Places Are Best for Toddlers and Preschoolers in Chicago?

1. Kids' Work Chicago Riverview—Roscoe Village

Featuring a 4,000 square-foot private playground, this bright and airy child care and early education center makes a perfect party destination. Choose from three different packages, with the option to include goody bags, craft projects, the help of a party coordinator, services from preferred vendors, and more.

2. Purple Monkey Playroom—Bucktown

This play space is perfect for a first birthday party if you plan on hosting one somewhere other than your house. With climbing structures and toys best suited for preschoolers, Purple Monkey offers packages with 2.5 hours of private playtime with coffee, tea, and soft drinks. Packages also include pizza, a sweets table, cake, custom handmade decorations, staff-led games, goody bags for guests, and more, depending on which package you choose.

3. DuPage Children's Museum -- Naperville

This is my favorite children's museum for little kids because it's big enough to be fun, but not so big that you can't cover the whole place before nap time. Enjoy a party room and full access to the museum starting at $290 for up to 20 guests-- this is great if you're hosting a party where you want a parent to stay with each child. The museum allows you to bring your own cake or have the party catered by their in-house cafe. Kid can build, make crafts, or explore the museum exhibits on their own or together. My kids have always loved the bubble area and the water play zone, which are both super fun for the up-to-six crowd.

4. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago—Schaumburg

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago is the perfect party spot for Lego lovers ages 3-10. The two-story indoor Lego playground offers a number of interactive and imaginative Lego-themed rides and attractions. All-inclusive party packages are available, which include a festive private party room for your celebration.

 
Active kids will love a birthday party at a climbing gym. Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Boulders

 
Cool clay creations at an artsy indoor birthday party. Clay Party project photo courtesy of Kid's Clay Room

What Are the Best Indoor Birthday Party Places for Elementary-Age Kids in Chicago?

5. Brooklyn Boulders Chicago—West Side

The cool climbing walls for all levels at this spot sure beat climbing the walls at home. Bring your own food and drinks; they provide party staff, climbing instruction, and an exhilarating challenge active kids will love. This allows kids to get plenty of energy out without totally breaking the bank. Five to 10 kids can climb for under $500, and you can bring your own food. The low kid-to-instructor ratio helps kids actually learn something, and kids get a day pass so they can stay after the party to climb more.

6. Kids Clay Room—Lincoln Park

The parties here are a step up for kids who enjoyed (or still enjoy) play dough. Parents can select from a gallery of different clay projects for instructors to teach kids; little kids will build by hand, while bigger kids can learn to throw clay onto a wheel. The instructors will fire and help glaze projects for kids to take home that day or pick up later. Choose a longer workshop with food or save a little money and time by forgoing the food element.

7. Ultimate Ninjas—Ravenswood Manor, Naperville, Glenview, Elmhurst, and Libertyville

Ninja warriors in training can tackle this indoor obstacle course and play area with guidance from friendly and encouraging staff. Entrees must be ordered through the venue, but other outside food is also allowed. Parties come with decorations, tableware, setup and cleanup, and drinks. All parties are completely private, so only kids in your party will have access to those obstacles. 

8. Pow! Gym—West Loop

It's time to party at Pow! The super-affordable packages at this martial arts gym come with 90 minutes of programming, and instructor-led activities such as relay races and obstacle courses. Super-fun optional add-on themes include Jedi training, martial arts, ninja warrior skills, and secret agent training. You can bring whatever food and cake you want (a nice alternative to the force-fed cheese pizzas at most birthday party venues), but be sure to bring tableware. They do setup and cleanup.

9. Enchanted Castle—Lombard

Kids can feel like royalty on their birthday at this arcade and fun center. Each guest receives a game card, rides on the bumper cars and catapult rides, chances to play laser tag and indoor blacklight mini-golf, playtime in the Quest II Playland, and a pizza and soda feast. The guest of honor can spin the prize wheel to win up to 5,000 prize tickets. 

10. Funtopia—Glenview and Naperville

Climb on everything from a spider web to a dinosaur skeleton at each location. Kids under eight can also enjoy a soft play area with a ballroom, obstacle course, and maze. Party packages range from basic to ultimate and include varying amounts of pizza and access to features within the center.

11. Kids' Science Labs - Roscoe Village, South Loop, Northbrook

You provide the food; they do the rest. The 90-minute party packages include an hour-long science activity (fun themes include a slime party, chemical reactions, and color and light exploration), plus entertainment, materials, tableware, and staff. There are lots of cool add-ons in lieu of a goodie bag, like KSL lab coats for just $8

12. Naperville Yard - Naperville

Naperville Yard features a large indoor sports complex perfect for burning off some energy and celebrating a birthday with friends. Birthday parties come with attendants, pizza, drinks, and the ability to bring your own dessert or cake. In addition to your private party room, you'll have private access to the climbing and play space, sports fields for games, ball play, and more. This is great for a sports-loving kiddo. 

 
Little girls enjoying a birthday party. American Girl® photo courtesy of Mattel

RELATED: 30+ Free Ways to Celebrate Your Kid's Birthday at Home

Where Can You Host an Indoor Birthday Party for Older Kids in Chicago?

13. DIT Workshops - Elmhurst

Do It Yourself Workshops (DIT) is perfect for a crafty birthday kid. They offer a private space and instructor-led crafts or art projects. Make slime, pots for plants, wood signs, and more. Birthday party workshops are always private for you and your guests. Bring your own food, snacks, cake, or dessert. We had birthday parties here for our kids when they were younger, but there's new crafts and projects that are especially for older kids, like making your own purse, shower steamers, or a pinata.

14. Activate Game Room-- River North, Oak Brook and Naperville

Activate is like being inside of a giant video game where you're the player. There's lots of mini games that last one to three minutes and are played in groups of 2-5. Some games are active, like shooting baskets, bouldering across a wall, or trying to step on the right color square before the buzzer sounds. Other are more cerebral, like trivia or trying to find a way to get a ball from one ends of the room to the other using tubes. Parties start at $26.99 per person on weekdays and $36.99 per person on weekends and include use of the Activate lounge. You bring your own food, making this an opportunity to throw the kind of party you want with a built-in tween and teen friendly activity.

15. The Great Big Game Show-- Oak Brook

Has your teen ever wanted to be on a game show? Make it happen at this Oak Brook Center venue. Divide the party into two teams and pick from a variety of game show type games. They can be mindless, like Plinko, funny, like Pictionary, or brainy, like trivia. You play for about an hour, and it's a great time for competitive kids. Contact a party planner to customize your own experience, and hit up the District food court across the hall for some fun eats afterward.

 
Kids of all ages will have a good time at Funtopia. Photo courtesy of Funtopia in Glenview

Which Indoor Birthday Party Places in Chicago Are the Most Affordable?

16. Peppa Pig World of Play Chicago—Schaumburg

This vibrant, indoor play center welcomes kids into the whimsical world of Peppa Pig complete with 14 themed areas that bring the animated show to life. Book the party package for the exclusive use of a themed birthday room for 2 hours, plus pizza, drinks, endless playtime, and other add-ons to choose from. We love that this is priced per kid at $30, and includes two free adults or more adults for $5 apiece. If you have a three-year-old that really only has eight friends, this is an affordable party that includes food and fun.

17. American Girl Doll Store—Water Tower District

It might surprise you, but the base party package at the American Girl Store for a birthday party is just $25 per kid, with a minimum of four children. Kids who love their American Girl dolls will be in heaven with a party just for them at the American Girl Place store on The Magnificent Mile. You can choose from multiple themes, a table activity, cake and ice cream, goody bags, doll crowns, and a special birthday gift for the guest of honor! Don't forget to bring your dolls to join in on the fun. 

18. Funflatables -- 12 Chicago area locations

What kid doesn't love a room full of bounce houses? These inflatable stores in Chicago area malls offer non-private parties starting at $225 for up to 10 kids for three hours on weekdays, adding $50 for a weekend party. It's a little more expensive to add pizzas or host on a weekend, but you can still get plenty of party for under $300. Kids can jump, slide and shoot hoops in all of the inflatables for the duration of the party, and ask for a wristband to come back the same day to continue the fun.

19. Get Air Trampoline Park -- Downers Grove and Des Plaines

This is our go-to for trampoline park parties because you can find a party for as low as $200. It includes two hours of jumping, and a little upcharge for pizza. You can bring your own cake, veggie tray and fruit tray. I would recommend booking a 4 p.m. party on a Friday after school. It was so empty that our guests thought we had rented out the whole place. 

Which Indoor Birthday Party Places in Chicago Are Worth the Splurge?

20. iFly-- Lincoln Park, Rosemont, and Naperville

One of my son's more daring friends recently had a few of his besties try out indoor skydiving in the air tube in Rosemont. Almost all of the kids were hesitant at first, but once they warmed up to the idea of being blown up into the air, they had a blast and were all thrilled to get to try a new experience. The party includes preflight training, two flights, and a certificate for 6 or more kids starting at $115 each, but it's worth the experience if your kid wants to try it with a handful of friends.

21. The Color Factory-- Downtown

I thought this was going to be too babyish for my kids, but my selfie-loving tween loved it! You get two hours to roam through the exhibits, plus access to the party room where you can bring your own food. There's more than a dozen color themed exhibits and lots of photo stations with studio-quality photos. My son loved the ball pit, which has two slides and cameras in the ceiling so you can take your picture from above. It's also fun to see if you can guess what color pop rocks you're eating in the candy exhibit. The party fives you the chance to run through the rooms multiple times so you can redo your favorites.

22. The Second City -- Old Town

This is about as Chicago as it gets! Get a professional Funprov class from a Second City instructor in a private party space with the option to add on a No Grown Ups Allowed sketch comedy show for up to 12 people. You can bring in your own food and beverage (and there are plenty of great pizza places nearby) or have the party catered. If your kid has caught the comedy bug, this one is for them. 

What Are Some Birthday Party Venues to Skip?

SkyZone-- Multiple Locations

I've priced out many a trampoline park party over the years, and Sky Zone is consistently the most expensive. I'm not sure why. We had a great time at SkyZone in general when we had little kids, but it doesn't have the frills of some of the other trampoline parks, and I don't think it's worth the extra $50-$100.

Pinstripes -- Northbrook and Oak Brook

Starting at $45 per kid for a 90 minute party before 5 p.m., this also just isn't worth the money. There are other places for kids to have a bowling party for a much cheaper price, especially if your kid is one of the majority that cares less about the ambiance than the activity.

Goldfish Swim School-- Multiple Locations

I get that the winter birthday kids get ripped off on their inability to have an outdoor pool party in Chicago, but there are other more fun and less expensive venues for indoor swimming. Check out local park districts with indoor water park facilities like Oak Brook, Schaumburg, Carol Stream or Bolingbrook. They offer similar packages for 30-50 percent less, and many have a couple of water slides to boot.

What Should Parents Know Before Booking an Indoor Birthday Party Place in Chicago?

• Every venue has different rules on what kinds of food you can bring in and what you have to purchase from the venue itself. If that's going to be a dealbreaker for you or your kid, pick a different venue.
• Some birthday party places have minimum guest counts. For preschoolers who have just a handful of friends, make sure you're not paying extra for people who aren't attending by picking a place with a low minimum threshhold.
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