By the time your little one reaches 4 or 5, they’re ready for their first real memorable birthday party. Planning a kid’s birthday party doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive, though.
Kids are much simpler than adults. Balloons, streamers, cake and gifts are all that’s really required. Of course, you’ll want to add a few extra adults to help watch after all the kids.
Plan the perfect at-home birthday party for your child and their friends. The kids will love it and you’ll have so many great pictures to help you remember the occasion.
Choose A Fun Theme
The first step might seem like the hardest, but don’t worry. Once you pick a theme, the rest is easy. All you really need to do is know your child to find the right theme. A few things to consider include:
- Current interests
- What they’ve said they want to be when they grow up
- A favorite cartoon or TV show character
- A favorite children’s book
- Favorite colors
Feel free to combine a few of these together. For instance, if your child loves green and wants to be an astronaut, have a space theme with splashes of green, such as adding in some green balloons.
Decide How Many Will Come
Before you can start gathering supplies, you need to plan out how many kids will come. Don’t forget about extra adults too. You’ll likely want to limit it based upon how much space you have. If it’s going to be a nice day, you can always plan an outdoor party to reduce indoor cleanup and potential spills on your furniture and carpet. Just have a backup plan in case it rains.
Once you know your numbers, you’re ready to start planning out everything else.
Setting Your Budget
It’s so easy to get excited right about now. You’ve got a theme and you’re ready to send out invitations, but wait! What about your birthday budget? You don’t have to spend a ton to make great birthday memories. Set a reasonable budget to cover food, supplies and entertainment.
Spreading The Word
Now, it’s time to set a date and spread the word. If there are other kids with the same or close birthdays, talk with their parents to ensure you’re not holding the parties on the same day. This ensures the kids get to enjoy multiple parties.
Send out themed invitations to get kids extra excited. If you want people to bring gifts, give them a few ideas on the invitation to make it easier to shop for them. Remember to send out thank you cards for those who bring gifts.
Planning The Big Day
Now, it’s time to plan out the big day. First, you’ll need to set aside a space so you know what you’re working with. If it’s indoors, you’ll need to be sure your decorations don’t overwhelm the room. For an outdoor party, you can spread things out a bit. A few supplies you’re going to need include:
- Balloons (kids love balloons)
- Streamers (great for decorating doorways or creating a fun entrance)
- Table linens (adds color, keeps with your theme and makes cleanup easier)
- Themed cups, plates, napkins and utensils
- Themed items, such as character cutouts or small toys
- Party favors (get more festive with cheap simple toys for everyone to play with)
Finally, don’t forget the cake! You can also set up trays of finger foods for kids, such as pigs in a blanket, chicken tenders and vegetables or chips with dip. If you want to avoid having to cut the cake, opt for a cupcake cake instead. It’s easier for kids to hold on to.
Adding Entertainment
The final step to planning your kid’s birthday party is adding entertainment. Of course, you can hire someone, such as a magician or clown, or come up with something yourself. The best idea is to play games. If you need a little inspiration, use these ideas:
- 24 Free Birthday Games
- 20 Best Birthday Party Games For Kids of All Ages
- Indoor and Outdoor Party Games
Make planning kid’s birthday parties even easier by letting Nickie Jones Events handle all your balloon needs. For even more help, ask about our linen rental packages for a more cohesive look.