The PBS Parents website suggests planning for your child's birthday party approximately four weeks in advance. Incorporate your child into the planning, asking her preference on activities and themes. Being creative with the games, decorations, food and party favors can make your child's birthday memorable for years to come.
Carnival
The Disney FamilyFun website suggests turning your child's birthday party into a carnival. Buy silly prizes, trinkets and party bags at a party supply store to reward children who participate in the games. Set up a station to paint children's faces. Use easy to draw shapes such as rainbows, hearts, balloons and lightning bolts.
Create various carnival booths and games such as a ball toss, guess the number of jelly beans or a golf putting challenge. Use your imagination to turn everyday items into games. Serve hot dogs, cotton candy and cupcakes just like a real carnival.
Birthday Slumber Party
According to the PBS Parents website, a slumber party is an entertaining way for your child to celebrate her birthday. Have parents bring kids late in the day to prevent any bickering or fighting as the result of spending too much time together. Consider one main activity such as taking the kids bowling, to the movies or to the local swimming pool. This can help tire everyone out, making bed time easier to achieve.
Provide a few activities for children to do, but give them space to entertain themselves. Ideas might include buying some cheap pillow cases and allowing children to decorate them with fabric paint or providing makeup to allow children to give each other makeovers. Consider simple foods that are easy to prepare, such as pizzas, nachos or ice cream floats. If children are old enough, leave the food preparation to them.
Treasure Hunt
A treasure hunt can be a fun activity for children to do at a birthday party. Start by hiding several goody bags together in one spot somewhere in the yard or house. Using a compass, design a series of clues leading up to the treasure.
To create the clues, choose a starting point, such as the front door. Point the compass in the direction where you plan on hiding the next clue and write a message that points to that spot. For instance, "Look in the pot of flowers due north of the front door." Put the clues where they belong and then give each child a quick lesson on how to use a compass.
