Children’s birthday parties inspire us to be creative and think outside the box when it comes to planning. But it isn’t always easy to come up with cool, innovative ideas that will really grab kids — especially when you have to keep the hits coming, year after year. These 20 children’s birthday party ideas are unique, super fun and, in many cases, easier than you think to pull together.
Pottery painting party
Got a crafty kid? A colorful, creative pottery painting party like the one thrown by See Vanessa Craft gives energetic children something to do from the moment they arrive on the scene — and they’ll get to take home one of their creations. There are so many tips on this imaginative mom’s website for how to throw the perfect rainbow-and-paint-splatter theme party — one of which involves the cutest centerpiece idea in the world: glue paint splatter-shaped vinyl to empty paint cans you pick up at the hardware store and tie colorful balloons to them.
Monster birthday party
There’s nothing too scary about the adorable monsters at Spaceships and Laser Beams’ monster birthday party, but they’re cool enough to get critter-loving boys and girls very excited. Cool ideas for this party theme include dressing up the chairs as monsters, creating a very simple googly-eyed chandelier and offering a monster eggs DIY craft.
Baseball birthday party
You’ll score a home run with young baseball fans when you follow Liz on Call’s example and throw a cool baseball birthday party. Put out some hot dogs and Cracker Jack boxes, set up the eating area to look like a concession stand and — assuming the weather is cooperating — host a baseball game in your backyard or a nearby park. This savvy mom got every detail right — down to authentic, old-fashioned ketchup and mustard dispensers.
Earth Day birthday party
Your environmentally conscious youngster will appreciate Me and My Insanity’s Earth Day birthday party, which features recycled materials for invitations and crafts (like magazine butterflies) and adorable party-food ideas like compost pudding.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar birthday party
What little reader isn’t a fan of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the adorable Eric Carle book in which a caterpillar eats his way through several sweets and meats? Kara’s Party Ideas used the book as inspiration and cleverly incorporated it into amazing snacks and the bug-themed decor for her very own The Very Hungry Caterpillar birthday party. How great would it be to have a story hour right around cake time to help children wind down and relax?
Under-the-sea birthday party
Turn your birthday venue into a magical under-the-sea universe by following a few easy tips courtesy of Catch My Party: add purple octopus cake pops, sand dollar cookies sitting on a bed of brown sugar, dangling jellyfish decorations and “crabwiches” (made from croissants) that are so cute you’ll think twice before eating them. Your little mermaid or fish enthusiast will get a kick out of an under-the-sea birthday party.
A day at the carnival/circus birthday party
It’s easier than you think to organize a sweet carnival/circus-themed party. Driven by Decor used Oriental Trading Company and Party City to create cool carnival game stations like spin-a-prize and a duck matching game — guests then got to select prizes at a separate table. A treat station obviously included candy peanuts, cotton candy, and popcorn served in old-timey bags.
Construction birthday party
Little builders and hands-on kiddies can don personalized hard hats, get to work developing a toy construction project and, after they’ve built up an appetite, chow down on “rocky road” brownies, “spare tire” mini chocolate donuts and “safety cones” bugle chips. Visit the Chickabug Blog for more photos and cool tips on how to create a construction birthday party.
Under the stars tween birthday party
Here’s a great idea for a tween girl or boy who is past the age of wanting a traditional birthday party, but still excited to share the big day with friends. Kara’s Party Ideas set up a movie screen in the backyard, pulled the couch outside for the night and gave guests a chance to decorate their own telescopes, shoot marshmallows at “stars” for prizes, give themselves star treatment manicures and enjoy sweet treats like “star”berry cakes in mason jars as part of a cool tween under the stars birthday party theme.
Space birthday party
From spacey invitations to party favor labels and even cupcake toppers, Crazy Little Projects offers a number of ideas for how to turn your home into Mars (or any other intergalactic destination of choice). After you have the decor and treats set up for a perfect space birthday party, visit Oriental Trading for party favor and activity ideas — color your own rocket ship, anyone?
Camping birthday party
Take your guests (and maybe even their parents) on a mini camping birthday party adventure — Me and My Insanity shows you how by teaching you how to make a s’mores cake and blue bug juice and giving cute little tips like hiding the birthday boy or girl’s gifts around the woods. If you’re within reach of a woodsy park, you’ve got almost everything you need to make this cool theme work.
Inside Out emotions birthday party
The new Disney Pixar film Inside Out features five colorful characters who represent different emotions. Inspired by the movie’s theme, Kendra at Me and My Insanity had a unique idea: Throw an Inside Out emotions birthday party that celebrates our many moods, including anger, disgust, joy, fear and sadness. Dividing the party into five sections, she then played with creating a distinctive menu for each character — Hot Tamales for anger, sparkling lemonade for joy… This might just be the funnest birthday party an adult can work on.
Superhero birthday party
If your child keeps vacillating between Batman and Superman (who can blame him?) why not throw a more universal superhero birthday party that lets you get in snippets from all of the greatest superheroes? Kendra from Me and My Insanity served kryptonite Jell-O and hard rock candy, doled out capes and organized games like Hulk Smash. The best part: She didn’t DIY everything and provides tips on where you can buy cool superhero supplies.
Shopkins birthday party
Shopkins are the latest and greatest little-girl craze (just try finding them in toy stores — I triple-dog dare you), so naturally, Stefanie at Girl. Inspired. realized a Shopkins birthday party was a fantastically fun idea. Her cool ideas include Shopkins cupcake toppers, coloring pages and sweet bath bomb favors.
Frozen birthday party
It’s been a few years since Frozen captured children’s hearts, but that doesn’t mean some aren’t still itching to invite Elsa, Anna and Olaf to their next birthday shindig. U Me and the Kids offers 20 super-cool Frozen birthday party ideas. Expect lots of Elsa-blue treats (including hard rock candy), game ideas and a beautiful DIY tiered cake that we hear isn’t too difficult to make.
Star Wars birthday party
It seems like everyone has Star Wars fever these days — which gives you a perfect excuse to throw your child a Star Wars birthday party. U Me and the Kids provides 21 tips on how to make Star Wars cupcakes and mousse pots, light sabers and even a DIY Death Star piñata.
Spa birthday party
We all love a relaxing spa day — if your child is the type who likes to be pampered, a spa birthday party theme will quickly become a favorite. Over at The Little Style File, a group of little girls got to enjoy manis, pedis, hair tinsel and DIY facial treatments — while wearing the most comfy white robes and slippers. Smart Mama set up little beauty stations for the guests and everyone had the time of their lives.
County fair birthday party
What’s better than an autumn day at the county fair? An autumn (or spring or summer) birthday party at the county fair that includes an art exhibit, awesome DIY fair games like ring and ladder toss and a popcorn/cotton candy/tater tot concession stand. Me and My Insanity will set you up with all of the information you need — including details about renting an actual petting zoo and rides.
Mad science birthday party
Grab a few eyeball beakers and lava lamps and prepare to bake mini chocolate monkey brains (they look way better than they sound) — hosting your own Mad Science birthday party is as educational as it is fun and slightly gross. Me and My Insanity has an amazing list of ideas that will appeal to your future scientist. Your little guests will even learn something as they party the day away!
Book club birthday party
It’s difficult to come up with birthday themes for older children, but this one scores major points for encouraging children to explore their love of books and reading. A book club birthday party, created by Me and My Insanity, is a super smart idea, complete with guests dressing up as their favorite characters, DIY “book worm” bags, and even dainty cucumber sandwiches.
Party on!
From a mad scientist to Inside Out, birthday party themes that will knock their socks off.
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