Best Birthday party games, activities, and toys for Kids

Best Birthday party ideas, activities, games, and toys that will make the party a memorable one. These provide a mix of entertainment as well as education.

Birthday parties are large celebrations nowadays. Its not just about ordering pizzas nowadays, birthday parties are more elaborate and require some amount of planning.

Unique birthday Ideas for Kids

Every year, parents make sure they celebrate their kids birthdays with lots of enthusiasm, with friends and family. Most parents (who organize such parties) want to make the birthday party unique and more exciting for all the kids.

Although most of them do use regular games, play some music, eat and dance, many parents are ready to incorporate unique ideas in their birthday parties.

A simple birthday party is not appealing anymore to children as well as parents. Of course, it increases your birthday party’s budget a notch, but it adds value.

Here are some unique birthday ideas for your kids (in the age group 3-13), something novel and new, that blends entertainment as well as education, and goes beyond the usual magic shows or playing some balloon games or games like housie.

Magic Shows

Kids love magic, and this is a popular activity event at most birthday parties. While this is not going to be the only activity, you should definitely consider including a magic show for your kid’s birthday.

Magic shows are fun, make the kids laugh, and also surprises them through the various disappearing acts.

However, magic shows will not suit infants or toddlers, so only if you’re going to have most of the kids that are aged 5 and up, consider hosting a magic show.

Read: Magic kits for kids

Birthday Parties with Science Related Themes

How about doing some fun-filled science experiments, playing science games, solving puzzles, and more?

You can now have a science-themed party that includes experiments with dry ice, atomisers, gyrocopter, can crushing, anti-gravity water, super balloons, floating balls and magic of chemistry.

Parents may choose the ‘Be a spy’ theme, where your children get to play ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and learn useful forensic concepts like dusting for fingerprints, decoding codes and learning magic writing.

Science is among the more important subjects in schools, and you can now give your children a headstart in the subject by using science-related themes for your kid’s birthday parties.

Read: STEM Toys & Games

Masterchef Birthday Party

Cooking is a great skill to have, especially when kids grow up and stay in hotels or are abroad for work (why eat junk when you can cook).

You can have Birthday parties for kids, where kids are engaged in DIY (Do-It-Yourself) cooking-related activities (depending on the age of kids and the budget). You can also arrange quiz sessions where children are asked to recognize simple ingredients like sugar, oil, salt, yeast, etc.

Once the kids are done with their activities, they get to enjoy healthy snacks & refreshments.

Read: Best Play Kitchens (Sets)

More Interactive Theme Parties

How about having a theme based on a Jungle Safari, or having a princess theme party (you may also pamper her with manicures, pedicures, hair art, nail art, hairstyles, etc.)? Party planners nowadays introduce fun and education into otherwise mundane birthday parties.

Your little girl can become a princess who acts as a role model at the party, boys can be superheroes who regale others with tales of heroism. The kids are taught about good behavior, morals and how to become model children.

Movie Screening for Birthday Party

How about showing kids a movie (Children’s movie or some motivational movie or some movie with great messages)? If you have a projector at home, you could conduct the screening at home, or you may take the kids to a special screening in a cinema hall. A lot of theaters allow you to book the theater for a private screening of a movie, and the foyer outside the preview theater can be used for a birthday party.

Childrens Birthday Scrapbook Party

Here are some great Scrapbook party ideas that you can incorporate into your party. Create your own scrapbook party plan and do remember to include invitations, decorations, games, activities, party food, beverages, party cake, party snacks, gift bag favors, costumes and gifts.

I remember when my kids were young, I loved their birthday parties and wanted to capture every moment. Often though, it wasn’t until after the party was over that I realized I only took a few photos and that I didn’t save any of the extra invitations.

Knowing in advance that you’ll want to make a scrapbook of your child’s party, you can save items such as the guest list, the invitations and any greeting cards the child gets in the mail. All of these can be added to the scrapbook.

 

Checkout the popular Spirograph Deluxe Design Set

Consider taking a photo of each guest as they arrive. This photo can be with or without your own birthday child. If you are not using a digital camera, consider having 3 sets of photos printed. Set one is for the scrapbook you are making of the party. Set two is to send to each guest’s parents, and set three is to put away for when your child is older and wants their own set of photos of their first 20 years of life.

When it’s time to open presents, in addition to taking photos, save the cards that come with the gifts. These make wonderful additions the scrapbook. Often, at younger ages, children make their own cards, and they are truly too precious to throw out. Add them to your birthday scrapbook.

If you’ve ordered a cake, or even if you’ve baked a cake, take a photo before the candles are added. If you’ve used a family recipe to bake the cake, make a copy of the recipe to include in the scrapbook alongside the picture of the cake.

Does the party have a theme?

If you are purchasing stickers to give away in goodie bags, purchase an additional set of stickers (of course acid free and lignin free) to add to your scrapbook pages.

If the child’s grandparents are at the party, make sure to take photos of the child with the grandparents. This is true for other relatives that are there also. Mini albums for relatives who do or do not attend make wonderful gifts. I love when I get photos of my niece. It’s so neat to keep up with her parties and other activities through photos.

With these ideas, you’ll create a lasting memory for both you and your child.

Birthday Invitations/Cards for Kids

A great birthday party starts off with birthday party invitations. The moment your guests open the invitation, their mood is set for the birthday party. And the party continues with great party favors and does not end until guests receive their thank-you notes.

A Birthday card is what you give when you attend someone else’s birthday, and birthday invitations are sent out to people inviting them to attend yours!

You can get the kids excited about their birthdays by making beautiful cards and invitations. You can either encourage your child to create their own cards and invitations, or you can get them made.

Cardmaking allows kids to show their creative flair while having crafting fun. You can make elegant cards using basic materials and they are easy to make. 

Personalised Cards are a great way to make your messages special, and to make someone feel extra special on their special day. A handwritten note from your child means more to friends and family when it’s written on personalized stationery. Its easy to create a personalised greeting card by adding your own photos, name or text, be it for any occasion (birthdays, weddings, christenings, thank you cards, & all your special occasions). Encourage your kids to write letters (and keep that laptop aside for some time) — improving their handwriting and teaching the importance of giving thanks.

You can even order custom cards and invitations to save time and to choose from unique designs. 

Customized birthday cards are usually printed on premium card stock and you can choose from thousands of unique, kid-friendly designs, and you can even personalize your messages. Personalised cards are designed to spark a child’s interest – cartoon image of dinosaurs to dragons, princesses to cats can be chosen and used for the front of a kid’s card. You can even put the child’s photo onto a card. 

Before you start with the birthday party celebrations, you first need to send out your kids birthday party invitations. There are countless themes that you can choose from, for your birthday party.

You must also send thank you notes to all the guests who attend your event or give gifts. To save time and to stick with a theme, order thank you notes when the invitations are ordered so they will coordinate with the theme.

Doing the Decorations
No party is complete without decorations, and all the little finishing touches that bring a party together. Buy party accessories such as napkins, cups, and streamers to complement the party invitation theme. Party favors such as notebooks, or other mementos, can also be ordered to coordinate.

Birthday celebrations need not be about fancy gifts and parties

Birthday celebration for a child is a big occasion as it’s the day when they get all the limelight. However, when a birthday celebration is seen as a social status, there is need for introspection.

Over the years, it seems that the birthday tradition has changed. Fancy celebrations are on the rise, putting pressure on parents as well as the child.

Children crave for a pomp and glitter kind of birthday celebration so that they could feel important among friends.

However, for many families, spending money on a lavish party and buying treats and gifts for every child (in the neighborhood and school) may not be a priority.

So, it is important to be creative when it comes to birthday celebrations in order to strike the right balance.