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8 Easy Steps to Throwing a Perfect Birthday Celebration with Kids

Posted by Lauren Petrullo on
kids party

What better way to celebrate the awesomeness that is your child than by throwing them an exciting party with special treats? The possibilities are limitless when you get creative with ideas!

So, if it's finally your kid’s special day and you want to throw them the best celebration ever, but don't know where to start. We get it, birthday parties seem like a lot of work. From organizing to decorating, to cooking and following family tradition, it can feel like a daunting task. But don't worry, we're here to help! 

So before you sing happy birthday, here are eight easy steps to throw an unforgettable celebration for the birthday kid!

So sit back and get ready to plan the best birthday party ever!

How to plan a birthday celebration for kids in 8 steps

Whether you are going for a family birthday celebration or a small party, we know it's not always easy to plan a kid’s birthday party. Most celebrations feel overwhelming and stressful, especially if you don't have a plan.  But don't worry, we're here to make the process easier and seamless for you.

Here are some easy steps to follow for birthday ideas that will be sure to please everyone.

#1 Define the budget. 

Setting a budget will help you to reduce your options!

For example, depending on your budget you will have a certain number of locations to choose from. Some parents go mini golf or rent a skating rink, others prefer to organize a spa day if they have a birthday girl or go to a bowling alley. 

Also, you will be able to set how much money you want to spend on food and drinks or if you can afford to give birthday freebies- like party favors and gift bags. 

#2 Decide on a date and time.

This is probably the most important step. You need to figure out when everyone can come, and when you want the party to be. Saturdays are usually the best day for a party, but it really depends on what works for you and most of your guests' schedules. Consider knowing the schedule of the whole family and friends before deciding on a time.

Best to choose a time that the younger kids will enjoy as well. If you're thinking of an outdoor birthday, afternoon time would be much ideal for the kids to play and enjoy. 

Here are the best ideal time for kids birthday party:

  • Ages 1 to 3: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Ages 4 to 6: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Ages 7 to 10: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

#3 Pick a Theme.

Once the date and time are set, it's time to choose a theme.  

The possibilities are limitless when you get creative with birthday party ideas. Maybe their favorite color is blue, so try incorporating some aspects from water themes like raincoats or boats at celebrations in general. So you should think about their favorite things and then choose a theme. 

If they love playing outside explore different natural landscapes such as forests for camping-inspired events instead of using typical indoor inspiration only seen on TV shows about children’s birthday parties.

This will help you plan the decorations, food, board games, and everything else for the party. So make sure you decide on a theme first before sending invites.

Here is our top list of themes you can choose from:

  • All things unicorn
  • fairyland/ wonderland
  • Princesses
  • Superheroes
  • Jungle Safari
  • Children’s museum
  • Jurassic World (Dinosaurs)
  • Racecar driving team
  • Pirates
  • Under the Sea

#4 Location.

Once you've figured out the date, time, and theme of your party, you should decide on a location. 

The place where you celebrate the birthday child depends on the theme of the party and your budget. 

The first thing you should decide is if you’ll throw the party at home or if you want to rent a venue. Outdoor venues are great for summer parties, but if you have it in the winter months you might want to consider an indoor venue with a heated space.

If you're having the party at someone's house, make sure you ask them first and clear out any dates they might have already planned. If you're wanting to have it somewhere else like a park or a dinner at a restaurant, make sure to book in advance.

Once you already got the venue, here are a few more steps you need to do:

Will it be private or public? 

What do you prefer? On one hand, intimate places are the best choice because you can ensure the safety of the kids, but public locations, like parks or public pools, could be more affordable.

Age restrictions. 

Lastly, ask for the age requirements of your chosen location. Your kiddo and their friends might be too young or not big enough for some of them, like amusement parks, so it’s best to ask for age restrictions before renting.

#5 Guest Lists and Invitations.

Now that you know the date, time and theme of the party it is time to start thinking about who to invite. As parents, this is the general role you should take care of when planning birthdays.

The general rule of thumb is to invite two or three times as many guests as you expect to attend. This will give you plenty of breathing room in case someone can't make it at the last minute.

When sending out invitations, be sure to include the date, time, and theme of the party. It is also helpful to give a sneak peek of what type of activities will be available at the party. 

If you have no idea how to pull that off, here are some of our tips: 

  • Use a photo of the birthday person as the invitation
  • Get creative with an Evite that has all the details about the party
  • If you want to hand out physical invitations, try using different shaped paper like circles or stars
  • Write the party information in a unique font or color that matches the theme of the party

#6 Food & Drinks.

Now it is time to start thinking about what type of food and drinks you will be serving at the party. 

Again, this depends on your theme. If you are having a pirate party, serve up some pirate-themed food like fish and chips or mini sandwiches. If you are doing an outdoor picnic party, then serve up some traditional picnic food like hot dogs, hamburgers, and fruit salad. 

For drinks, you can either serve sodas or juice boxes, or go for a more festive option and have a beverage bar with different types of drinks like lemonade, iced tea, or water. You could also have a festive drink like a Shirley Temple or a fruit smoothie.

But of course, don’t forget the birthday cake. Singing happy birthday won’t be as happy as you think if you don’t follow one of the most important birthday traditions: the cake. 

#7 Decorations.

Decorating for a birthday party can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a lot of work. 

For example: If you are doing a superhero party, you will need to buy some blue and red streamers and balloons to decorate the place. If you are doing a pirate party, you will need to buy some pirate flags and streamers. 

The best way to save time is to buy decorations that match your fun happy birthday theme. This will save you from having to buy multiple types of decorations on the big day. 

When decorating, be sure to use lots of balloons and streamers. These are a quick and easy way to make a party look festive. You can also use crepe paper to create streamers in different colors and shapes.  

Pro-tip: it is your child’s birthday, so you could let the birthday boy or the birthday girl choose their own decorations!

#8 Planning Activities.

Once you have your guest list, it is time to start planning out activities to entertain the kiddos and their parents!

If you planned an outdoor party, a fun activity could be roasting marshmallows or, if you went for a pool party, water activities are your best option. 

Get creative, your child’s birthday only happens once a year and this is a special day to shine!

kids playing at the birthday party

Unique Activities for children holiday party ideas

The birthday party game world is always changing, but there are some classic play games favorites that never go out of style. Whether it’s running around outside playing "Sardines" or bashing a piñata to reveal all the sweet treats hidden inside, kids just can't get enough fun from these types of interactive games!

We dare you to find any kids that won’t get on board with at least a handful of these entertaining and fun happy birthday activities with their friends!

1. Scavenger hunt 

A birthday scavenger hunt is one of the most classic games around, and it’s still a favorite for good reason — it’s part of any birthday traditions. Split guests up into teams or have them work together to find all the items on the list. The best part is that you can tailor the hunt to any age group, interest, and location.

2. Balloon Drop 

This is perfect for a large group of kids and can be done indoors or outdoors.  It’s sure to create some laughs and giggles as kids scramble to grab as many balloons as they can.

3. Water Balloon Fight

This one is perfect for a hot day or when you have a large group of kids. Fill up water balloons ahead of time and let the kids take turns throwing them at each other. Make sure that you decorate the place that’s okay to get wet as well, during a water balloon fight, this might get messy. 

5. Movie/Watch Party

A movie or watch party is perfect for a group of kids that want to relax and have some fun in the celebration. All you need is a large screen and some comfortable seating. Pop in a movie or let the kids choose their favorite TV show to watch together.

6. Pool party 

Turn your backyard into a pool birthday party and let your kids and their friends splash around all day long. Make sure to use reusable swim diapers for kids to swim in to avoid any messes if they’re not yet potty trained.

Other amazing birthday ideas 

Do you want to fill the whole day with memorable surprises? Here are other birthday ideas to make kids feel special:

1. Prepare their favorite breakfast

From pancakes to a deliciously sticky PB & Jelly sandwich, go an extra mile and prepare your kid’s favorite food. 

If you can’t surprise them with breakfast, then cook their favorite dinner or take them out to their top restaurant. 

2. Decorate their bedroom door

If you are not going to do a kids birthday party with a theme, you could decorate their door with notes, letters, and images of their favorite cartoon!

Just imagine the face of the birthday child when they wake up and see how beautiful their door is! 

Get ready for your kids' birthday celebration!

There you have it, that’s all the birthday ideas you need to know before planning the most awesome celebration with kids!

We hope that this list has given you some ideas for your next kid's birthday celebration. No matter what type of party you’re planning, we’re sure that there is something here for everyone to enjoy. Have a blast and here’s to wishing you the best birthday wishes!

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