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Clowns, magicians, and bouncy houses– oh my!
Planning a child’s birthday party can seem overwhelming if you’ve never done it before. But the truth is, getting things ready can be fun and fast, as long as you know what you’re doing.
When you know the answers to a few key party details, every other choice will be easy. For example, should you throw an indoor or outdoor party for your child? We’ll answer that questions, and a few more in this birthday planning guide.
Read on to learn the best kid birthday party planning tips.
In This Post:
Indoor vs. Outdoor Birthday Parties for Kids
Indoors or outdoors? It’s the famous kid birthday party question. If you’re throwing an indoor party, and your budget allows, try throwing it at an indoor jungle gym for kids!
If you’d rather keep things at home, outdoors is usually the preferred choice. One of the biggest appeals of throwing an outside party is that they’re a lot easier to clean up.
Spills are going to happen, and when they happen outside, clean-up is a breeze! Plus, outside, there’s plenty of room for the kids to run around and play.
Consider the time of year when making your choice. Fall and spring or prime times for getting the kiddos outside.
Did you have your heart set on throwing an outdoor party in the middle of the winter or summer? Then you’ll need a plan to keep guests comfortable.
Outdoor Winter and Summer Parties
You can throw a child’s party outside, even if there’s snow on the ground. You just have to know how to keep your guests toasty.
It’s helpful if you have a designated fire pit and somebody to supervise it. If you’re throwing a party at a municipality, you can rent a fire pit.
Get the kids moving with games like capture the flag and Red Rover. You could even have a snowman-building competition!
Serve cupcakes instead of birthday cake. The little cakes will be easier to handle with gloves. Outdoor winter parties should be short and sweet, lasting no more than 2 hours.
Outdoor Summer Party Tips
Does your child have their heart set on an outdoor party in the middle of summer? Pick a party time right around sunset. As you party into the night, you’ll be able to enjoy the cool evening temperatures.
Find ways to create shady areas where kids and adults can relax. Provide plenty of water too. Seriously, have multiple water stations, you’ll need them.
The water stations can be coolers filled with ice, bottles of water, and other fun beverages. You should also read up on the latest sun protection tips.
Finally, set the mood with music! The right tunes will bring the party to life.
Keep it simple
Do yourself a big favor right now, and make a commitment to keep this birthday party simple. Remember, you’re throwing a party for children.
As long as you hit the mark in a few key areas, you’ll be able to impress all of your little guests! You’ll also be able to guarantee that the birthday boy or a girl is the star of the show.
Did you buy fun food, treats, and games? Then the party will be a big hit.
When choosing decorations, don’t go all out. Instead, pick a color or a theme, and stick with it. If you overdo it with the decorations and have to spend hours setting up, you won’t have a lot of energy for the party scene.
Next, choose foods that are popular and familiar. Are you planning on serving pizza? Don’t go to the fancy pizza place in your neighborhood.
Pick the name-brand pizza place the kids are already used to. Choose simple pizza toppings, and be sure to include a few cheese-only pizzas.
Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate
Think back on the children’s birthday parties you’ve attended. What was the host acting like?
Were they calm and collected? Or were they busy and frantic? When the host of a party is being torn in different directions, it’s difficult for the guests to enjoy themselves.
When you’re throwing a birthday party for children, it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to do everything yourself. The only problem with that is that you’ll find yourself scrambling from one part of the party to the next.
What’s the solution? Delegate!
The other Moms at the party would love to help out. If there are Dads there, recruit them too.
Delegating little to-do’s will free you up so you can enjoy the party too. Your guests will enjoy being able to chip in so everyone can have a good time.
What type of things can you delegate? Pretty much anything you can think of. Supervising children, taking photos, serving the birthday cake, cleaning up after pizza time; there are a lot of things you can delegate. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Games to Play at Kids Birthday Parties
What are the best party games for kids? The answer depends on how old your child is turning. Here are some of our favorite games for kids who are 5 years and older:
- Pin the tail on the donkey (or mommy)
- Musical chairs
- Wheelbarrow races
- Treasure hunt
- Limbo
- Charades
- Nerf war
- Water balloon fight
- Pinatas
- Cookie decorating station
As you can see from the list above, you don’t have to spend a ton of money on games. A lot of the games don’t require you to buy anything at all. Depending on how long the party is, you’ll want to have at least 2-3 games prepared.
Plan the games so that you play the most exciting one first. Save the calmest game for when you’re wrapping things up.
Treasure Hunt Tips
The treasure hunt is a great game to play at the end of the party. You can hide each of the guest’s treat bags and make them hunt for the goodies. Make sure you have an extra bag for the birthday boy or girl since they’ll want to join in on the hunt too.
Using the Best Kid Birthday Party Ideas
There you have it! Now you know the best tips for throwing an incredible kid birthday party for your child. Start the planning process now by deciding whether you’ll throw the party inside or outside.
Once you make that choice, the other decisions will fall into place. You’ll be able to easily choose foods and games that match your party, as well as the best decorations. Soon enough, it’ll be party day, and you’ll be ready to join in on the fun.
Do you want a few more tips? Look around the rest of our website; we have tons.