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Birthday Party Themes: Garden & Bug, Pajama, Backwards, and Willy Wonka Party

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For birthdays at our house, we just have family over. My kids are 4 and 18 months, so I haven’t really felt the need to have a “friends” birthday party-yet. When we were growing up, we had certain ages that we could have a birthday party and invite our friends. I think it meant more to us kids than expecting a huge bash every year. So I thought when I do my kids parties with friends, it will be fun to go “all out.” and have a theme. Here are some fun and memorable birthday party themes.
A Garden and Bug Party. I think this party is great for ages 4 to 6. First, send out your invitations. A ten cent packet of seed, with a typed invitation glued on the back. You could say “spring has sprung” (if you have a spring birthday) or Halle is “growing like a flower,” “Fly” on over to (your address), and hope you can “Bee”there!
Decorations. You can find great deals at dollar stores such as windsocks, aprons, garden markers and fake flowers. Use green, yellow and red balloons for grass, bees and ladybugs. You can make bees and ladybugs out of construction paper easily and hang them on the walls if you are indoors. For centerpieces, you can get tin pails or watering cans at Target or the dollar store, and put gummy worms on the table around them. Let the kids take them home as a favor.
Food. I think if you pick an “off time” to have the party, make it easier on yourself and serve snacks. Ants on a log (celery with pb and raisins- ants), Pepperidge Farms makes butterfly shaped crackers, Sargento has flower shaped cheese, whatever drink you choose, serve it from a watering can. Flower shaped sugar cookies, and dirt cups are a great dessert.
Games. If you have a sandbox, hide prizes in it, have have the kids look for them. If you don’t have a sandbox, a plastic pool would work. Pin the bee or ladybug on the flower, decorate terra cotta flower pots, with paint, markers and stickers. Break open a flower, ladybug or bee pinata.
You can get great party favors at OrientalTrading.com
Here are a couple more theme ideas for ages 6 to 12:
Pajama Party: Have kids come in pj’s and serve breakfast. Donuts and ice cream for dessert.
 
Backwards Party: Print invitations so kids have to read them in a mirror, have and exit sign at the front door. Put the chairs facing out and tablecloth on the floor, eat cake first then pizza, sing “angry birthday to you” ect.
 
Willy Wonka Party: Send chocolate bar invitations with a “golden ticket,” have kids make their own factory out of graham crackers, chocolate icing and candy, fish out of a kiddie pool with cocoa water, have a candy store with jars of candy, they can make a party favor candy bag to take home, “fizzy lifting” drink- cream soda.
Party On!

Comments

  5. the nayz says

    I LOVE themed parties. My daughter just turned 9 last Friday, and she had a spa party. Her friends came over and we painted toenails and fingernails, complete with decals. Their take home gift was a small bottle of water, lotion, shampoo and a scented candle. We have done everything from NASCAR to farm, to a monkey pj party.

  7. ramsam says

    I had a bug party one year, and I put plaster of paris in plastic spoons, adding pipe cleaners and letting it dry- then you pop them out and let the kids paint and decorate their own bug. We had so much fun!

  10. Gina says

    Such cute ideas! I love it. My 7 yo DD is having a birthday soon, I like these ideas so much better than the evil vampire theme she is considering. Aye aye aye.

  15. mommytoalot says

    Fantastic party ideas. I have two birthday parties to plan in the next two months. 3 if you count my 18 yr old..but ummm i think he’s grown out of most of those types of parties.
    congrats on your special day

  16. Elizabeth says

    I very much remember a kids’ party I went to as a kid where they had dirt cups, and I thought they were so cool! At first I was grossed out, because I was a girly little girl, but once I tried it, I thought they were so cute and yummy. What good tips!

  28. Crafty Girls Workshop says

    Those are cute ideas. I was just talking to my mother in law about this same thing yesterday. For a little boy’s party you could do a pirate theme or Under the Sea. If you have a Party City around, they have lots of great themed party stuff for fairly cheap. Oh and the dollar store is great, just be sure to check that the stuff isn’t painted in China! Just stopping by to share some SITS love! Great blog!

    Anna
    P.S. Do you think anyone would think I was strange if I threw a themed party for my dogs? (No kids yet)

  30. Ungirdled Passion says

    Sigh…I’ve done all these and many more. I love kids parties! Enjoy them while you can! My twin turds, I mean boys, are 16 now. No sweet theme parties. The last we had was a food fight party when they turned 12 – a HUGE hit. Happy SITS!

  36. Tater Tot Mom says

    Such great ideas. I absolutely love planning birthday parties! Our little one is 4 also and not really into friend parties yet…can’t wait!

    Checking in from SITS!

  39. Le Gourou says

    Oh Wow are those some fun ideas. I’m gonna have to share this with my Niece over at Hoity Toity Baby. Sooooo dang cute, lovin it! thanks for sharing. Keri

  42. Live.Love.Eat says

    Adorable ideas!!!! I thought when I came here from SITS I was going to read a post on how you hate themed parties. Hah. Anyway, I have been happily obsessing & planning my 6yr old’s Spongebob Bikini Bottom Pool Party for this weekend. I am not a huge SB fan but it does give way to great party ideas. Come by next week for when I post everything and host a giveaway for all the party stuff.

  44. Bill and Lorie Shewbridge says

    These are really great party ideas. My boys (now aged 18 & 21) used to love the “dirt, mud & bugs” I used to make for them and their friends when they were little. I think the garden party theme is so adorable.

  49. Amy says

    What fun party ideas! I can’t wait for my son’s birthday so I can try out the pj party! Thanks so much. Happy SITS day!

  52. Leah Rubin says

    So cute and so clever! You guys are great!

    And you can always check out the “Hello Cupcake” book for more great ideas. (I posted a picture of one of their ideas a couple of days ago.) They are super.

  57. Mary says

    Great party ideas!

    Birthday parties are a BIG thing around here and they start at year one. It’s kinda sad really because it puts a lot of reciprocal obligation on all the parents.

    I have 2 grandchildren – a newborn and a 2 year old. My DIL seems to have a birthday party, and sometimes SEVERAL to go to every single weekend! Last weekend she had a party invitation for her 1 month old infant daughter for pete’s sake!

    Not only is that expensive gift-wise, but think about the extraneous stuff – new outfits for baby and mama and such. It’s all a bit insane to me. We did the same thing – family only – at least for the first few years until the kids got a bit older.

  68. Norine says

    Such cute party plans! My son’s birthday isn’t until Feb. but I’m already gathering possible ideas! Congrats on being featured today, you two 🙂

    Norine
    Don’t Put Lizards In Your Ears

  70. Zeemaid says

    wonderful suggestions.

    I had a backyard water splash party for my daughter and her friends. For favors, I gave out dollar store bucket and shovels with bubbles soap etc. It was a big hit.

    Happy SITS day

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