Planning Your Child's Birthday Party
We've all heard about big budget kids' birthday parties that involve pony rides, juggling magicians and gourmet food.
An extravagant party can be a blast, but don't feel you've got to hire a professional to entertain your little guests. A, do-it-yourself party can be even more fun (not to mention a lot less expensive!)
Here are some fun ideas for relatively easy birthday parties that kids are guaranteed to love:
report abuseAn extravagant party can be a blast, but don't feel you've got to hire a professional to entertain your little guests. A, do-it-yourself party can be even more fun (not to mention a lot less expensive!)
Here are some fun ideas for relatively easy birthday parties that kids are guaranteed to love:
- Slumber parties are super for kids old enough to spend the night away from home. But if you don't want to host an overnight, you can throw an "Almost Sleepover" party instead. Ask guests to wear pajamas and bring pillows (in case of a pillow fight!). From "Truth or Dare" to late-night movies, the activities can include all of the things they would do at a sleepover—except spend the night.
- Decorate a cupcake party: Bake the cupcakes in advance and then set up a cupcake decorating area with frosting, sprinkles, jelly beans and other toppings.
- Throw an 'Old-Fashioned' birthday party where the kids play classic party games such as Pin the Tail on the Donkey, hot potato, musical chairs and Duck Duck Goose. You can adapt all of these games to your party theme. So if you're throwing a princess party, make it 'Pin the Tiara' on the Princess or musical thrones.
- Scavenger Hunts are also fun — especially if you've got a big backyard or nearby park for kids to search. For older kids, assign them to teams and send them around the neighborhood with a list of things to find and do. The first team who makes it back with everything on the list wins.
- A pinata can add some excitement to any party—not just a Mexican-themed one. Think outside the box: you can fill it with other things in addition to candy. Small toys work particularly well.
- Dance/Karaoke party: Kids boogie down (freeze dance, anyone?) and take home their own CD of the party playlist.
- Make Your Own Pizza Party: Let the kids decorate the pizza with their own toppings. They'll have fun playing mini-chef and you'll appreciate not having to make dinner!
- Sports Party/Olympics: Set up different sports stations around the park (basketball, tennis, hula hooping, sprint races, football toss, etc.). Have the kids decorate their own jerseys at the beginning of the party and then send the out to the stations in teams. It's a good way for them to work up appetite for the birthday cake!
- Arts and Crafts Party: Have the kids decorate flower pots, picture frames or t-shirts. You provide the art supplies and the kids supply the creativity.
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