Gone, it seems, are the days when children are content with just a birthday cake, balloons and presents.

Even a magician or a clown is considered run-of-the-mill these days, as more parents pull out all the stops to throw parties with a twist, a few even spending five-figure sums on a bash.

Party planners believe the trend started about three years ago and there are now at least 15 companies here organising creative bashes.

Ms Tanya Quinn, 30, who owns entertainment company Fizazzle, which specialises in dance, pool and princess parties, says this could be because children are going to so many parties that some are starting to look the same and parents want something different.

She adds: "Some older kids are also eager to impress their peers."

A standard birthday party includes activities such as face-painting, balloonsculpting and musical chairs.

Mr Jericho Tan, 27, supervisor at laser tag event company Combat Skirmish Live, agrees. He thinks some parents are looking for interesting activities for their children and will spare no expense to expose them to different experiences.

He says: "As word spreads, parents are more receptive to creative activities. Plus, Singaporeans have more spending power now."

Ms Quinn says party packages start at about $500 for a basic party, where two entertainers will come dressed as characters from a show and organise game and dance activities for 15 kids.

Parents with deep pockets can splurge up to $10,000 for a fancy bash for 100 kids, where everything is taken care of, including decorations, food catering, stage shows as well as photography and videography packages.

Life!Weekend checks out some of the creative themed bashes available here.

Fairy tale come true

Almost every girl dreams of being a princess. Eight-year-old (above) Deon Liew's fantasy came true last October when her mother threw her a lavish birthday party with a prince-and-princess theme at two ballrooms in Carlton Hotel in Bras Basah Road.

Ms Mak Huey Fen, 35, took her daughter to get her hair done at a hair salon and dressed her in a white gown with a pink belt, complete with a tiara.

Party planner Tanya Quinn, 30, who owns entertainment company Fizazzle, decorated the hotel ballroom with a large canvas painting of a castle, used cardboard shields as table centrepieces and came up with activities such as crown- and sword-making, glitter tattoo and face-painting.

There was also a circus show, which involved fire-breathing and knife-throwing.

Ms Quinn and five helpers ran the event and managed the 50 children.

Deon says: "It was the most fun birthday party. I enjoyed myself."

The party was a combined birthday celebration for Deon and her three siblings - Jevies, six, Nigel, four, and Nathan, two. All four were born in September or October.

Held from 5 to 9pm, the bash included a buffet dinner for about 110 guests, who included the children's classmates, teachers, private tutors and paediatrician.

Ms Mak spent about $12,000 in total, but she says she does not consider it a splurge.

She used to hold smaller, separate birthday parties at other venues such as Downtown East, which cost $2,000 to $3,000 each and included the hiring of a clown or magician, 3-D character birthday cakes, a buffet and goodie bags.

"When you think about it, $12,000 is not very expensive considering that this was a four-in-one party," she says.

It was also a farewell party of sorts for the two girls.

"Jevies, who was then in Kindergarten 2, wanted to say goodbye to her kindergarten friends. Deon was also moving to a different class for Primary 3.

"I wanted them to end the school year with nice memories," says Ms Mak, who helps out with her husband's business which makes aluminium sandwich panels. Both girls are studying at Raffles Girls Primary School.

She picked the theme because the girls like to watch Disney princess movies, such as Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, and wanted a chance to dress up as princesses.

Their bags, clothes, shoes and even bedsheets all sport the princess theme.

But they did not get to dress up in princess costumes at the party as their mother thought it would be more practical to get them frocks that they can wear on other occasions.

Ms Mak has promised to throw a similar party if Deon does well in her examinations and it will have a Frozen theme, based on the Disney animated film, because it is the "in" thing among kids now.

She does not think these bashes are extravagant as she says a birthday happens only once a year.

"In Singapore, parents are always working and do not spend as much time with their kids as they should. I want to do something special for them on their special day," she says.

What: Bespoke prince and princess party

Ages: 0 to 12 years old

Price: $6,600 for decorations with balloons and table centrepieces, art and craft workshop, tattoo and face-painting, invitation cards, two emcees, audio equipment for emcees, circus performer, videographer and photographer, game prizes and 55 party bags, for about 50 kids for four hours

Info: Go to www.fizazzle.com or call 8121-4922

Give it your best shot

Bang. Bang. Hiding behind a barrel in a dark tunnel and holding onto his laser tag gun, 12-year-old Mukund Rangaraj fired two shots at his "enemy". His mission? Eliminate all six "soldiers" from the other team.

The shoot-out was part of the birthday celebration that Mrs Veena Rangaraj, 46, had planned for her son. It took place in a tunnel about 100m long that was used during World War II at Fort Siloso in Sentosa on April 27.

His team emerged victorious one hour later.

"I felt like I was in a movie. I didn't expect it to be so much fun," recalls the Secondary 1 student at Global Indian International School.

His mother, a Singapore permanent resident, says Mukund is not very outdoorsy and usually prefers to play computer games or watch YouTube videos in his room. Mukund's father is Singaporean and an operations manager at an international bank.

"Holding the party outdoors was my way of getting him out of his room and interacting with his friends," says the stay-at-home mother.

She hosted 17 children aged six to 12, who are schoolmates of Mukund and his younger brother, Jayant, seven, a Primary 2 pupil at the same school.

While Sentosa is considered out of the way for most people, Mrs Rangaraj says what drew her to the place was the fact that the tunnel in Fort Siloso is sheltered and the game can be played rain or shine. Laser tag can also be played by children of different ages.

"My boys are six years apart. What appeals to Mukund might not appeal to Jayant. But a game of laser tag is a fun activity that everybody can enjoy," she says.

The party was organised by Combat Skirmish Live and the $600 package included equipment, vests and face-painting. The company provided tentage and drinks at an extra charge of about $250. Three facilitators took care of the kids, which freed her to chat with other parents.

The company has a mobile team that can go to any location to hold the game. It organises about 20 to 30 children's birthday parties a month, usually for boys.

Mrs Rangaraj spent an additional $200 on food for 30 guests in all, which she catered. She took along a cake she ordered from an online bakery with a Beyblade design, which cost $100.

What: Combat Skirmish Live birthday party package for kids

Where: Fort Siloso, Sentosa

Ages: Six to 12 years old, adults are welcome to play

Price: $600 for exclusive use of tunnel for up to 18 children for one hour

Info: Go to www.combatskirmish live.com or call 6272-4649