Kids Birthday Party Ideas- Fun Ways to Celebrate

kids birthday party

Let’s get this party started! One problem– kids parties can easily rack up a huge bill before you know it. We have some ideas to make your next kids birthday party as special as possible – even on a budget.

*This article contains affiliate links. It doesn’t cost you anything, but if you click on the link and buy something, we’ll earn a small commission to help our writing team create more great articles.*

Kids Birthday Party Ideas

There’s a lot to think about when you’re planning a birthday party, but it doesn’t have to be a stressful experience! Even a special dinner for your child’s birthday is low-key and a perfectly wonderful way to celebrate.

But, if you do want to plan a party, here are some questions to consider before you get started.

How Long Should The Party Last?

The answer helps you to set a time frame for the party. Most small children can’t concentrate very long and need some time to re-charge (trust me, even if they SEEM like they’ll never run out of energy, a crowd of over-tired kids is not what you’d like experience). So a party for them should not last longer than a couple of hours in the afternoon, or even an hour and a half is great. Older children might want the party to last a little longer and might also require less parental supervision and coordination.

How Many People Should I Invite?

This question is important for your shopping list and raises some more questions: How much food and drinks do you need? Does the party fit into the living room or do you need a larger space? Can you have it outdoors? And are there still enough party hats in the cabinet?

One good rule of thumb: aim for the same number of friends as your child’s age. So, a 5-year-old can handle 5 guests, and a 10-year-old can handle 10. Make sure everyone knows beforehand how many kids are expected to be in attendance, and guests can choose whether they’re comfortable attending considering the size of the group.

You may be wondering whether you should have parents stay for the party or drop their kids off. This depends on the age of the kids. If the child is older than 5 and a party without parents seems appropriate, make sure that every kid gets home safely by the end of the party.

Kids Birthday Parties During COVID-19

This year, many people might want to forego a big birthday bash, due to concerns with novel coronavirus, and that’s ok! But if you’re comfortable with a party, it’s still a great time to celebrate! This might be the year to plan a party outside where you can enjoy the fresh air. A pool party could be a great option if possible. Just be extra sure everybody washes their hands and practices good hygiene!

Themes For Kids Birthday Parties

In general, the theme for a kids birthday party mostly depends on gender and age. You probably know your own child and know what their favorite types of things are. Whether it’s a popular TV show, movie, or pop culture icon, or even just a favorite animal, your child probably has at least one thing they’d enjoy as a birthday party theme. Keeping a theme gender-neutral can be especially thoughtful if your child is having guests of both genders. Ideas for this include:

  • under the sea
  • sports
  • science lab
  • adventure

Also, more general themes work for guests of all ages. So you can also involve children of different age groups as well as adult guests. However, when your child is old enough to request a birthday theme, talk about it, and compromise. You should respect that it is their special day, not yours.

Decorations And Activities For Kids Birthday Parties

When throwing a kids birthday party with a special theme, most parents like to decorate the place accordingly. If you don’t have any ideas for birthday party decorations, go to a local store with party supplies like Party City or even a craft store. Check online first to see what’s available and you may even be able to do curbside pickup. If you have a tight budget, the Dollar Tree and Five Below have some options for party decorations! There are also many online shops like Oriental Trading Company that help you out with the perfect accessories for birthday party places.Here are some ideas for activities for kids birthday parties at home:

  • Treasure hunt
  • Olympic-style games
  • “What’s in the bowl?”
  • Make paper bag puppets and have a show!
  • Minute-to-win-it games

You don’t have to do anything too crazy, but it’s always good to plan party activities. Need ideas? Revisit the classics that you might remember from your own birthday parties as a child: Musical Chairs, Piñata, Treasure Hunt, Pin the Tail on the Donkey… Of course, you can also hire someone to keep the children busy: A balloon artist, a magician, or organize a pony ride or petting zoo.If your child has a TV show or movie-themed party, set up blankets and popcorn for a little entertainment! I wouldn’t recommend more than 15-20 minutes, so highlights or a clip would be best.

Kids Birthday Party Ideas on a Budget

We get it- most of us aren’t going to spend thousands, or even hundreds of dollars creating a perfectly magical experience for our child’s birthday party.

Kids are learning the ins and outs of relationships with friends and birthday celebrations can be a large part of that experience. But just because you have a limited budget doesn’t mean you can’t throw a great party!

Instead of buying expensive birthday party decorations, make your own… or even go to the Dollar Tree! Their $1 mylar balloons are fantastic! Pinterest can be a fantastic resource for brainstorming ideas, and even creating DIY decorations on a budget! As a mom who’s more likely to create a #pinterestfail than awesome craft everyone copies, look at Pinterest boards with an open mind and sense of humor.

More Kid’s Party Ideas

Jungle-themed birthday party with all the bells and whistles.
  • Follow a color scheme to create a beautiful party- make simple decorations.
  • Make it a dress-up party where costumes take center stage.
  • Make it a craft theme, where kids make their own creations.
  • Let the children decorate their own birthday cupcakes or make their own mini pizzas instead of buying a birthday cake or hiring a caterer. They’ll love the creativity and personalized touch!

Planning a Birthday Bash to Remember

All in all, it’s about having fun and making memories, even if every idea doesn’t make the cut. Whether it’s low key or an enormous birthday bash, they’re sure to appreciate feeling celebrated. And be sure to share your favorite photos with friends and family on FamilyApp!

Similar Posts