Birthday Party Themes

When birthdays roll around, choosing the birthday party theme is the most important task. After this crucial element has been decided, the other details are fairly easy to plan.

Before you decide on a party theme you should have a basic idea of the type of party you would like to have. These questions will help:

• What is your budget for the party?
• How many kids will you invite?
• Will the party be at home or another location?
• Will the party be an overnight or slumber party?
• Will you hire additional help?
• For tweens and teens, will the party be co-ed? If so, will you be able to provide adequate supervision?
• For tweens and teens, how involved do you plan to be in the party?

For this age group it's best to use easily recognizable themes. Games should be short, lively, and easy-to-understand. Any games or activities that require long periods of sitting in silence will quickly bore your audience.

car birthday theme

Preschoolers enjoy themes that they can relate to, and most relate well to television, cartoon, book, and movie characters. Here are some popular characters for preschool birthday parties:

• Barney
• Curious George
• Dora the Explorer
• Strawberry Shortcake
• Winnie the Pooh
• Clifford the Big Red Dog
• Lion King
• Finding Nemo
• Care Bears
• Bob the Builder
• Cabbage Patch Kids
• Hello Kitty
• Disney Princess
• Blue's Clues
• Madagascar
• Little Mermaid
• Sesame Street
• SpongeBob SquarePants
• Backyardigans
• Sesame Street

If you prefer to base your preschooler birthday party on a central theme rather than a character, there are several ideas available, including:

dinosaur birthday cake for kids

• Dinosaurs
• Jungle
• Insects
• Transportation
• Animals
• Cowboys and Cowgirls
• Teddy Bears
• Ocean
• Train
• Construction
• Sports

This age group can handle more detailed explanations, so more complicated birthday parties are acceptable. School-age kids are also more opionated than preschoolers, so be sure to ask for your child's input in the party planning. Some of the preschooler ideas are appropriate for kids as well. Other ideas for kids' birthday party themes include:

• Barbie
• Bratz
• Fairly OddParents
• Kim Possible
• Polly Pocket
• Pirates
• Super Heroes
• Make-Your-Own-Pizza Party (with adult supervision, of course)
• Craft Party
• Tea Party
• Princess Party
• Slumber Party
• Hippie Party
• Skating Party
• Pool Party (adult supervision required)
• Bowling Party
• Scavenger Hunt Party
• Miniature Golf Party

This age group is more mature and can handle abstract ideas and those requiring audience input. Some of the ideas for kids work well for tweens and teens, too. Here are several additional ideas for tween and teen birthday parties:

• American Girl (this idea works especially well for tween and young teenage girls)
• Murder Mystery Party
• Hollywood Party
• Laser Tag Party
• American Idol Party
• Makeover Party
• Limo Party
• Sports Party
• Spa Party
• Movie Marathon Party

Visit Teen Birthday Party Ideas for a more in-depth look at teen birthday party themes.

Some preschoolers, kids, and teens do not enjoy birthday parties. Their birthdays can still be special, though, with a non-party birthday celebration.

Some kids enjoy spending birthdays with their families. Make it special by planning a trip to a nearby city or town. Spend the entire day or rent a hotel and make it a birthday weekend. If you like, your child can invite a special friend, too.

If there is a concert, musical, theater production, or sporting event planned around your child's birthday, you can make that the birthday theme. Either invite a few close friends or make it a family affair.

Some kids, especially those in large families, yearn for more one-on-one time with Mom or Dad. Make birthdays a time to indulge that wish. Eat at a fancy restaurant, watch a movie, and enjoy quality time with your child!

There are many party theme ideas available for every age group. Whether your child enjoys a particular character, hobby, television show, or sport, it can be used as the theme for a birthday party. After you have chosen your theme you can easily pick coordinating invitations, decorations, favors, and games..

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