Valley Parenting : Plenty of Places for a Party : Parks, the zoo, craft stores and restaurants can provide fun and entertainment for birthday bashes.

The dozen or so 8-year-old boys have finished their birthday treasure hunt (trampling through the newly planted garden) and are throwing corn chips at the girls. The dog is cowering under the kitchen table and little Joey has just thrown up on the new couch.

Next year, this mom vows, the party will be out of the house, in some kid-proof spot designed to take the punishment.

Having birthday parties out not only relieves parents of cleanup and supervision chores, but also sets a time limit on events that are as exhausting for kids as they are for grown-ups.

Luckily, there are plenty of places in the San Fernando Valley that offer creative options for children’s birthday bashes, from the very simple to the elaborate.

At the simple--and inexpensive--end, parents can pack a blanket and a cake and head to local parks. For varying fees, some parks will reserve picnic areas or even baseball diamonds (during the off-season). Check your local park for individual policies.

If money is no object, pony rides are another outdoor party favorite. The local telephone book can point you toward stables that rent ponies.

At the Bitterroot Ranch in Moorpark, for example, prices start at $150 for a two-hour gig that includes unlimited turns around the track for up to 20 party guests, plus use of the picnic tables, play equipment and petting zoo. Hayrides and other festive options are also available.

Animal lovers who would rather see the beasts from a safer distance might consider the Los Angeles Zoo, where prices range from $9.95 to $12.95 per person and include food. Sunday-morning parties feature a 1 1/2-hour docent-led walking tour.

Down the road from the zoo, a host of party options are also available at Travel Town, where young Engineer Bills can ride the miniature trains and clamber over the real models.

For sports-oriented parties, most bowling alleys, miniature golf courses, skating rinks and gymnastics studios offer facilities that usually include a room in which to have your cake and eat it too.

If your child has an artistic bent, craft stores feature everything from ceramic painting to T-shirt decorating. At Kids N’ Paint in Northridge, for example, children paint a variety of plaster objects, from wall hangings to figurines, and take them home as party favors. A $25 party fee covers the first 25 children, not including paintable plaster items, which begin at $5.50. The minimum age for party-goers is 5.

At Kids at Heart in Northridge, birthday parties include a 1 1/2-hour art lesson in decorating acrylic items, such as jewelry boxes and clipboards, as well as doing rubber stamp and sticker projects. Prices start at $6.50 for the acrylic goods, plus a $50 party fee.

If you’re looking for drama, various theater companies offer weekend entertainment geared toward young patrons. At the Moorpark Melodrama, for example, kids can cheer the hero and boo the villain. Or they can watch fairy tales and other productions at the Glendale Centre Theatre.

Glamour parties are still popular with some girls. Check with local hair salons and beauty schools to find those that take groups. For boys’ parties, batting cages and slot car raceways are favorite spots.

Kid-oriented restaurants, such as McDonald’s, offer various deals that come with food and a party game hostess. Fast-food restaurants with play yards are among the least expensive party options, and are especially popular with the preschool set.

“What makes a good party is having a group activity where all the children participate,” said Doreen Kaye of West Hills, whose daughter, Blair, 7, has had bashes at home and at other locations.

Susan Avila, a Northridge mother of two, agrees. “Have something that involves the kids right from the moment they come in,” she advises. “Kids don’t do well just standing around.”

Also advisable is keeping parties on the small side. The conventional rule of thumb is to let children invite one friend for every year of their age, plus one extra.

Finally, she says, “do things that will keep them occupied. The busier they are, the better your party will be.”