My son likes to get his hands dirty.

Set up a soiree at COLOR ME MINE(116 Franklin St, 212-941-0120, tribeca.colormemine.com; $400 for 20 kids, plus $10–$80 for each pottery piece). In an hour and a half, kids will learn different painting techniques and get the chance to paint their very own piece of pottery. Cake, juice and temporary tattoos are provided, and there’s a DVD player on hand so you can throw on your tot’s favorite film.

Ali is my ten-year-old’s favorite flick.

Hit up the CHURCH STREET BOXING GYM(25 Park Pl, 212-571-1333, nyboxinggym.com; $700 for 15 kids) where children ages 8 and up can get an hour of group instruction from a certified trainer, plus two hours of messing around in a private boxing room. Catering is available on request, but more often than not, parents bring their own snacks and cake.

My kid plans to audition for American Idol.

During its hour-and-a-half-long parties, HANDS ON(19 Warren St, 212-227-7375, handson4music.com; $500 for 12 kids) offers a music lesson, and an  opportunity to warble tunes with the on-hand  music teacher. Then kids play a variety of  instruments before celebrating with cake and ice cream.

Upper East Side

My preschooler is obsessed with Cinderella and her Disney cohorts.

Take your girly-girl to LET ’S DRESS UP!(345 E 85th St, 212-879-0956; $20–$40 per child). At this quaint spot, tots adorn themselves in lavish gowns, jeweled tiaras and feather boas (plus a hint of makeup and sparkling faux tattoos) before sitting down for cheese sandwiches and grapes—served on bone china, of course. For the second half of the party, guests play games like Pin the Heart on Cinderella and finish off with chocolate cupcakes.

My little one would love the nightlife—if he were allowed to stay up past 8pm.

KOALA BANANA (328 E 61st St, 646-216-9506, koalabanana.com; $650 and up for ten kids), a laid-back loft, offers three different party packages: the Cosy Party, where kids make arts and crafts or disco dance; the Bobby Doowah package, in which singer-songwriter Doowah rocks out for birthday guests; or the Ultimate Package, essentially the Cosy lineup along with personalized party favors and food (think mini sandwiches and veggie platters) for up to 25 people. All three packages include pizza, cake and face painting, and a complimentary beach towel for the birthday kid.

My boy weeps when I tell him he can’t wear a cape to school.

At the A-HA LEARNING CENTER(1624 First Ave, 212-517-8292; $599 and up for eight kids), boys and girls can morph into superheroes, princes and princesses, or cowboys. Parties feature a variety of play stations such as dress-up, games, puzzles, and arts and crafts, all of which are themed according to what your little partyer wants—so if he’s into The Incredibles, you can be sure there’ll be capes galore. For a bit extra, the center will provide pizza, snacks and cake.

My child can’t stop listening to “Bouncing Around the Room” by Phish.

Head to 74TH ST MAGIC(510 E 74th St, 212-737-3070; $500–$675 for 12 kids), where parties run an hour and a half and allocate at least 45 minutes to learning gymnastics, running through obstacle courses and jumping on the in-ground trampoline in either the baby gym or the big gym (depending on your child’s age). After the workout, kids can adjourn to the party room for refreshments and cake. Don’t want the kids cooped up? Ask to have the party on the rooftop, which is open during the summer.

Upper West Side

My kid is all about being hands-on.

Check out MAKE(506 Amsterdam Ave, 212-579-5575, makemeaning.com;$6 per kid per half hour, pieces $6–$65) for a pottery-painting birthday. Tykes can paint either figurines, cups or plates, and afterward, staffers glaze and fire the pieces to make them functional. Balloons and a party plate for the guest of honor signed by his friends are included in the fee. BYO refreshments.

My eight-year-old lives  for Project Runway.

At the CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE DIVINE(1047 Amsterdam Ave, 212-316-7530; $350–$410 for ten children), kids can try out a climbing wall, play games, move through an obstacle course or use the facility’s cool gym equipment in any other way they see fit. Additional themes include a Cathedral Hunt and Artsy Antics, where kids have the opportunity to take part in a bit of sculpting, doll-making and fashion design. Setup, cleanup and use of the Cathedral’s kitchenette are all included, though you have to bring your own food and cake.

My daughter went crazy after seeing Cirque du Soleil.

For an hour and a half, your kids can tumble at the CIRCUS GYM(2121 Broadway, 212-799-3755, circusgym.com; $525 for ten children). Let the little ones explore the rock-climbing wall, trampolines, balance beams and padded gymnastics apparatus. You provide the food and cake; three staff members make sure the kids don’t break their necks.

Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens

My boy actually reads our coffee-table art books.

Make your way to THE ARTISTRY PROJECT(185 Sackett St, 718-858-0217, theartistryproject.com; $25 per child), where parties have six different themes, including “3, 2, 1, Blastoff,” in which kids use watercolor and pastels to create imaginary outer-space scenes, and “Teddy Bear Tea Party,” in which children create a portrait of their favorite stuffed friend with chalk pastels. Artists from the center will work with you to create a specific theme for your mini-Monet.

My kid wishes she could live like her cousins in the suburbs.

With two huge play spaces and full access to the kitchen, it’s easy to create a homemade kind of party for your child at the BROOKLYN PLAY SPOT(399 Atlantic Ave, 718-852-2494; $175 for 2 hours, plus an additional $9 per child). Choose a handful of games (i.e., pin the tail on the donkey, musical chairs, hot potato); bring materials the kids can use to color, create paper crowns or partake in another form of arts and crafts. The kitchen area allows for easy setup and cleanup of the birthday cake (yes, you bring it).

When she grows up, she wants to work for Crunch.

Let her spend her birthday at 2,600-square-foot (and inappropriately named) THE LITTLE GYM(221 Atlantic Ave, 718-488-7744, thelittlegym.com; $445 for ten children). After taking on an obstacle course and learning a gymnastics trick or two from the staff, kids adjourn to a party room for cake and food (which you provide). All guests leave with a complimentary balloon, and the birthday girl gets a free T-shirt.

Park Slope

My son knows his Bartók from his Beethoven.

Party at the BROOKLYN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC(58 Seventh Ave, 718-622-3300, bqcm.org; $400 for 12 children) for his special day. The two-hour event includes a lesson by a “Musical Adventures” program instructor, who will spend 45 minutes teaching kids songs through a combination of movement, dance and banging on drums that the program incorporates into all its classes.  Kids play musical games and learn how to tell stories through singing in the conservatory’s auditorium before eating the snacks and cake that you bring along.

Alas, the prom can’t come soon enough for my daughter.

At KIDZ CUT ZONE(447 Sixth Ave, 718-369-4700, kidzcutzone.com; prices vary, call for details), she and up to 13 friends can get their hair, nails and makeup done. If your boy is less interested in manicures (we’re not judging), the stylists will work with you to create a party around a theme, such as superheroes or SpongeBob. All parties include pizza, cake, a party bag, and arts and crafts.

My kid believes that art should be functional.

THE ARTFUL PLACE(171 Fifth Ave, 718-399-8199, theartfulplace.com; $250 for 12 kids for a basic party, $300 for a deluxe party) will put on a soiree where kids create crafts such as jewelry boxes and treasure chests or even make their own stuffed animal. Party packages are either basic (i.e., decorating a T-shirt) or deluxe (i.e., painting a velvet-lined cigar box handbag), depending on the activity, and include a goody bag and juice box for each child (you bring the cake).

Flushing

My kid loves the Knicks, but thinks the Garden could be more swank.

If he’s a design freak, spend his special day at ARCHITOTS(64-64 Dry Harbor Rd, 718-894-7777, architots.net; $295 for 12 children). Activities range from tracing and drawing to mock city planning to interior design, and all are set around one of the play spot’s 13 party themes. The parties run two hours and include face painting, pizza and cupcakes for all, with a T-shirt for the birthday kid.

My child dreams of being the next Twyla Tharp.

Take her to DANCE FACTORY NEW YORK(20-21 College Point Blvd, 718-358-3369, dancefactorynewyork.com; $250 for 12 kids). While the school suggests themes such as belly dancing or hip-hop, it’s happy to cater to the birthday boy or girl’s desires. During the party, an instructor teaches the kids a routine or small lesson, and the staff provides  pizza, cake and party bags.

My kid and his pals need serious romping room. 

Head to the FLUSHING YMCA(138-46 Northern Blvd, 718-961-6880, ymcanyc.org; $275 for three hours), where rooms are available to rent for up to 40 kids. You provide the entertainment and refreshments; they provide the tables and chairs.

Our daughter plans to win the Westinghouse Science Competition once she’s older.

Tech geeks should flock to THE NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE(47-01 111th St, 718-699-0005, nyscience.org; $500 for 24 children), which offers a variety of party themes. Extreme Science allows kids to play a number of different sporting games while learning about physics. In the Gross-Out Science package, children watch a dissection of a cow’s eye and then, um, make their own slime—out of provided materials...not the cow’s eye (thankfully). Parties run up to two hours and include pizza or chicken fingers, cake and a gift bag.