Simple (and Fun) Kids’ Birthday Party Ideas You Can do at Home

Are you looking to throw an at-home birthday bash for your little love? Look no further for awesome theme ideas that are timeless. If you aren’t all that big into throwing parties, these ideas are great for you too! They are easy, fun, and can be done as elaborately or simply as you like, or as your budget allows.

Day at the Zoo or Safari Party

Here’s a great idea for toddlers and preschoolers. Offer jungle animal masks to all the party guests so everyone can be the wild animal of their choice. (Or have the kids make their own.) Tablecloths, plates, and napkins can have different animal prints, and you can have cookies decorated as lions and tigers and monkeys. Don’t forget the animal crackers. Play a game of Hungry, Hungry Hippos, and give out little animal figurines as party favors. (Smaller animal figurines make great cupcake toppers too!) An elephant-shaped piñata would be a fun addition to the party. You could even make this a “destination” party and take everyone to the zoo!

Have a Ball Party

What toddler doesn’t love balls? Stock up on plastic play balls, and create a ball pit using a kiddie pool or purchasing an actual ball pit. For the decor, string some of the balls together for a colorful garland. Fill up a couple of baskets with balls for table centerpieces. Find a table cloth or paint one with colorful circles. Food is simple enough as sugar cookies covered in icing of red, blue, yellow, and green will fit right in with the plastic balls. Cake pops are also an obvious choice. When the kids aren’t busy playing in the ball pit, they could toss balls into buckets, throw balls at a target, kick around a soccer ball, or see who can bounce a bouncy ball the highest.

Puppy Love Party

This is a favorite of mine because of the adorable party favor idea floating about the internet–purchase several small stuffed or bean-filled puppies and arrange them in a crate with a sign that says, “Adopt a Puppy.” Each child gets to take one home! You can even buy ready-to-go puppy party kits like the one we’re showing here.

Food for this theme is fun, too. You can serve hot dogs, puppy chow, and Scooby snacks. Use dog dishes to hold the food. (Pick up some at the Dollar Store.) Make ice cubes or treats with these dog bone and paw print-shaped cookie cutters and silicone molds. Have a face painting station so everyone can have some whiskers and a doggy nose. Put a party hat on your real live pup to get some giggles from all those littles.

Balloons, Balloons Everywhere Party

This idea works for just about any age. Finding balloon-themed paper products and decor is super simple as balloons are timeless. And decor for this theme couldn’t be easier! Have a mix of helium-filled and regular balloons. Hang some, tie some to the tables, and just let some float about the house. You could color coordinate or throw all the colors together. You can purchase balloon arrangements that are small enough to be a centerpiece, or large enough to fill your whole space. Hire someone to make balloon animals (or attempt making them yourself!), and then send each guest home with a handful of balloons as their party favor.

Water Play Party

If your child happens to celebrate their birthday in the summer, take advantage of the weather and turn on the sprinklers! Rent (or buy) an inflatable water slide or fill up a couple of kiddie pools. Fill several large buckets with plenty of water balloons and let the kids go wild. You could fill a sandbox equipped with buckets and shovels to get that beach feel. Scatter beach chairs and towels around the yard for the adults to sit back and enjoy.

Remember, you can always throw in some classic party games to go along with any of these themes–think musical chairs, pin the tail on the donkey, egg and spoon race, a potato sack race, or create a scavenger hunt in the house or backyard. 

Do you have any other ideas for an at-home birthday party? Leave a comment below.