Organizing a birthday party for your children can be a fun and memorable experience for both you and your child. A birthday party for your children can be overwhelming and stressful, especially if you don’t have a plan. You might be thinking to yourself: where do I start, the decorations or the food? If you are stressed about organizing the party, it’s likely you might forget some key parts of the party. Luckily, You can be following more steps can make it a whole lot easier – and fun.
Planning a child’s birthday party can be a joyous yet daunting task without a clear strategy. With a structured approach, organizing becomes easier, ensuring a fun and memorable celebration for both you and your child.”
7 steps to planning the perfect birthday party
1. Choose a Theme
One of the first steps to planning a kid’s birthday party is choosing a colorful best theme. While not all parties have to have a theme, it’s encouraged to think of one to make the party more unique and align with your child’s interests. Think about your child’s favorite activity or movie as a starting place. These can make great party themes.
Other areas to think about when You choosing a theme are favorite places to visit, toys, or characters they look up to. Some themes will be easier to find party accessories for, more than others, but it makes for a good opportunity to get creative and get the whole family involved in the brainstorming process
If you’re having trouble figuring out a theme your child will love, here are some popular party ideas to consider for your kid’s birthday party:
- Unicorns
- Superheros
- Mermaids
- Video Games
- Llamas
- Princesses
- Dinosaurs
- Pirates
- Favorite movie or TV show
2. Determine the Guest List and Send Invitations
The next 2nd step is to determine who you’re inviting and then to send out invitations. While this may seem like a fairly easy step, it can actually be rather difficult. The best way to decide who is on the guest list is to determine a budget and how many children can come within that budget. This makes it easier to start choosing the main guests, such as close family and friends. From there, if there is some wiggle room, go ahead and add others. Also, some parties may be for friends only and others may be a family party. It’s important to know what kind of birthday party you want before you make your guest list.
Things to consider when making a guest list are:
1. How many guests does your budget allow?
2. How big or small you prefer it to be?
3. Will the party be for your kid’s friends or only family members?
4. Does the party venue or your house have enough space for all the guests you want to invite?
It’s also important to determine what kind of invitations you want to use for the birthday party.
Three invitation types you can consider are:
1. Store-bought: Store-bought birthday party invitations will be fairly cheap, however, there are a limited number of options. There may not be invitations available that suit your birthday party theme if you do choose to have one.
2. Custom-made: Custom-made invitations can be made on a number of different invitation-making websites. You can make the exact invitation you want with design, color, and theme. However, these tend to be a little more expensive than store-bought invitations.
3. DIY: Sometimes with custom-made invitations, they may not have what you’re looking for in their options. Making DIY invitations will give you the exact invitation you want at a fraction of the price of custom-made invitations. You do, however, have to make these yourself, which can be time-consuming but also a ton of fun!
3. Pick the Location
There are plenty of great places to have a birthday party, but there are also many things to take into consideration before deciding on a location. The first thing you should decide is if you’ll throw the party at home or if you want to hire a venue. Throwing a party at home can sometimes save money (other times more once you add it all up), but most party venues include things like games, activities, taking pictures, plus set up and clean up, which can save a lot of time and stress.
A party at home can also make it impossible for you and your family to enjoy the party and spend time with the birthday boy/girl because you are busy hosting and getting things ready for the next activity.
If you choose to go with a venue, it’s important to take into consideration the season and weather. Both of these will determine where your party will take place. If your child has a winter birthday, an outside venue isn’t the best idea, but a climate-controlled venue with indoor party rooms would be a great option. As a tip, it can be important to choose a venue that has indoor and outdoor areas available, in case of unexpected weather.
Once you determine the type of venue, there are a few more decisions to make.
1. Budget: It’s smart to set a budget because this can help eliminate options out of your price range.
2. Private or public: Some will be private birthday party venues and others public (this means more than one birthday party might be going on in the same room). Private venues are the safer choice because there’s no chance a child will run away or get lost in another party, but public venues could offer lower prices.
3. Age: Lastly, check the age requirements for venues. Your child might be too old or not old enough for some venues due to the rides or activities they offer, so it’s important to check the limits before reserving.
4. Order Food
The 4th next step is ordering food. Most parents might think this is very simple, however, there are many allergies and dietary restrictions that you should be aware of before feeding other parents’ children.
Before deciding on your food for the birthday party, it’s important to ask yourself these questions:
1. Do any of the guests have food allergies or dietary restrictions?
2. Do I need to provide options for different dietary restrictions?
3. What time should the food be ordered?
If you answered yes to the first two questions, it’s smart to contact the parents who have children requiring a specialized diet. If you have food in mind, for example, pizza, ask your parents if their child can have dairy or certain types of meat usually found on pizza. If they say no, ask them what food is safe for their child to eat. This will ensure all the children will be able to safely eat food and not feel left out.
Can’t forget about your dessert too! Because who doesn’t want to end a great birthday party on a sweet note? You can do cake or cupcakes – cupcakes are so much easier to manage plus you can have two flavors while most single-tier cakes are only one flavor. Just be sure to have the birthday kiddo’s favorite flavor.
Ordering the food in advance for a certain time will also prevent delays. If you call ahead by a week or at least a few days to order your birthday party food, this ensures that it will be ready at the proper time.
Amazing Games for Children Birthday Party
Once you’ve figured out the kinds of games that are ideal for your children’s birthday party, you can take your pick to plan for a wonderful day. Here are some fun ideas for birthday games for kids.
1. Prize Walk: This game is similar to cakewalk and it is ideal for kids between two and four years of age.
How to Play the Game
Write numbers from 1 to 30 on square charts stick them on the ground, within make a circle. Make smaller chits with the same numbers and shuffle them up in a basket. Play some music and have the children walk around the circle. Instruct them to stand on a number when the music stops. If their number is picked up from the basket, they will win a prize. The game can continue for a set number of rounds.
2. Bubble Wrap Race: This simple game is undeniably fun and appropriate for kids over 3 years of age. What better? It only requires some space and a lot of bubble wrap.
How to Play the Game
Roll out a large sheet of bubble wrap on the ground in an open space. Now instruct the children to cross over the bubble wrap without popping any of the bubbles. The kid who crosses without any noise wins the game.
3. Photo Scavenger Hunt
This game is one that kids of all ages can play, and it can be played anywhere. The difficulty level needs to be changed based on the age of the children. Young children can have a simple version of the game whereas older kids can have a slightly more challenging version of the game.
How to Play the Game
Sketch out a map for the children, indicating where they may need to go, and give them picture clues of what they need to find. Keep rewards or chocolates along with each of these clues. If you are conducting this game in a public space, ensure to send an adult to chaperone your children.
4. Balloon Bursts
This game is great for kids over 4 years of age and is sure to get you a lot of laughs.
How to Play the Game
Write some challenges on chits paper and insert them into different balloons before inflating them. The kids will have to bop the balloon in the air for as long as the music is playing. When the music stops, the person who was the last to touch the balloon has to pop it and perform the challenge within it. It could be anything, like dancing, licking their elbow, etc. Get creative with your challenges.
5. Paper Boat Race
This interesting game is ideal for kids over the age of 5 and needs only some paper boats and a tub of water.
How to Play the Game
Make paper boats and hand one, along with a straw, to each kid. The kids will have to use the straw to blow air onto the boats and propel them forward on a plastic tub. The first person to successfully take the boat to the other side wins the game.
6. Pin the Tail on the Donkey
This is a classic game that can be played by kids of different ages.
How to Play the Game
Put up a picture of a donkey without a tail. Ask the kids to line up some distance away from the picture, and give each of them a tail with their names on it. Blindfold each kid, point them in the direction of the picture, and ask him/her to pin the tail as accurately as possible. Once each kid has had a turn, select the kid who pinned the tail closest to the donkey, as the winner.
7. Musical Chairs
This is a game that never gets old and can be enjoyed by kids of all ages. Adults can play the game too, if they’re up for it!
How to Play the Game
Place the chairs with the seats facing out in the form of a circle. The total number of chairs should be one less than the total number of kids playing. Turn some music on, and ask the kids to run around the circle. When the music stops, every child has to find a chair to sit on. The one without a seat is out of the game.
Continue this game until only one kid remains. Make the game exciting, by asking the kids to dance around the circle of chairs until the music stops.
8. Balloon Pop Game
This game can be played by both, the kids and the adults attending the birthday party.
How to Play the Game
Using strings, tie inflated balloons to the ankle of every player. Now, play music and allow the entire birthday party to have a fun dancing session. The moment the music stops, they must try to pop the balloon of the person next to them, by stomping on it, while keeping their balloon safe. The person whose balloon bursts is out of the game. The last person standing with an intact balloon wins.
9. Passing the Parcel
There is nothing better than a good old game that has been passed on for generations. This is a game you would’ve definitely played and enjoyed during childhood. If you’re looking for indoor games for your kid’s birthday party on a rainy day, this game is just right.
How to Play the Game
Tell your children to be seated in a circle and give them a pillow or softball to pass on as the parcel. The objective of the game is to pass on the parcel to the person next to them as soon as possible. Play some music and instruct the kids that as long as it plays, they will need to continue passing it. The kid who has the parcel when the music stops, is out. This person will have to entertain the group by performing a dance or singing.
10. Carrying Marbles with a Spoon
This version of the lemon and the spoon game can be so much more fun, and the kids can get competitive as well.
How to Play the Game
Place two tables some distance apart and keep several bowls with marbles on a table. The other table should have empty bowls. The kids must transfer the marbles to the empty bowl on the other end. To do this, have to hold spoons in their mouth and balance the marbles on the spoon, from one table to the other. The kid who transfers the most number of marbles wins the game.
11. Bowling Alley
Who doesn’t love games that involve knocking things down? This game recreates a simple version of a bowling alley for the kids, using items that can be found within the house. Alternatively, you can purchase a bowling playset.
How to Play the Game
Use tape to create a bowling lane that measures two feet in width and about five feet in length. You can also alter the measurements, based on the age of the kids attending the birthday party. Arrange the pins or some same-sized bottles or cans on one end of the lane that you have created. Place some throwing balls or kid-sized bowling balls on the other end. Instruct the kids that they will need to roll the ball so that it hits the pins. The kid that makes the highest number of pins fall, wins the game.
12. Three-Legged Race
Do you have plenty of space that can be used for fun outdoor games? Here’s one of the outdoor birthday party games for kids that can be interesting and hilarious to watch.
How to Play the Game
This classic game has teams of two members each. Tie together the legs of two kids in a team, so that they can only move forward if they move in sync with each other. Now, the kids will have to race against the other teams and reach the end of the line, as fast as they can. The winning team is the one that crosses the finish line first.
13. Obstacle Course
This game is great for kids of various ages and can be set up easily with household items. All you need to have is enough space to spread out an engaging obstacle course.
How to Play the Game
You can pretend like the ground is the river and have items like pillows, mats, and chairs set up around it, to form a course that children can walk on, to reach the end. All the while, they need to ensure that they do not step into the river. The kid that completes this obstacle, without stepping into the river, wins the game. If the children are older, you can set up more complex obstacle courses to increase the challenge.
14. Escape the Monster
This game can be exciting for kids over three years of age and involves every player, until the absolute end of the game.
How to Play the Game
You will need a lot of space for this game. Ask the kids to spread around and choose one kid to play the monster. The objective of the other kids is to not get caught by the monster. If they get caught, they turn into a monster too. Kids who are caught can also begin to play monster and catch the other kids until the last kid remains.
15. Minute to Win it
This is based on the hit show of the same name, where players have to complete a series of challenges, with a minute to finish each one. You can make fun tasks, based on the age of the kids and watch as each of them tries their hardest to win.
How to Play the Game
Stack a few tables together and set up a task on every table. Get as creative with the tasks, but keep in mind the age group of the kids. Some games can be Cookie Face, where the kids must place a cookie on their forehead and eat it, without using their hands, and Suck it Up, where the kids must transfer 20 MnMs from one plate to the other, using a straw. Divide the kids into teams, with one team performing at a time.
Each kid is assigned a task, which must be completed in a minute. The first kid sets off the timer and must finish the task within a minute, after which the second kid can begin his/her task, and so on. In the end, the team who took the least time to finish the relay, wins.
FAQs
1. Which Activities Do Children Usually Like To Do On Their Birthday Party?
Children usually love playing fun games and activities that they would not usually engage in otherwise. You should make them play birthday games for kids, and you can also include the adults!
2. Which Games And Activities Can Adults Play At Children’s Birthday Parties?
Adults can play just about anything! You can also host a few games just for the adults who will be attending the birthday party.
3. How Can You Keep Children Busy At Parties?
The best way to keep children busy at parties is by engaging them in birthday party games and toys!
4. What makes a birthday party successful?
Vibrant party decor and a cheery table setting are key elements to a standout birthday party. But there’s no need to go all out with elaborate, expensive decorations. Even simple, plastic plates and utensils in bold, solid colors can create a festive setting.
5. What is the best time for a child’s birthday party?
Late morning is a good birthday party time. That way, your children are still pretty fresh. Although nap time is a thing of the past, some five-year-olds can still be tired and irritable in the afternoons. A morning birthday party means you won’t have to serve a full meal, either, so it’s easier to cater for and less expensive.
Conclusion: Kids’ birthday party can be a fun event where you can interact with the kids your child is friends with. It can act as a social function for parents to meet and interact, as well. However, planning a fool-proof birthday party for your little one can be a long and tiring process. The key is to prepare well in advance and incorporate these little fun games and ideas in order to keep them occupied and excited, throughout the party.
