What are your favorite kid birthday party ideas and tips?

2 hours ago

5 min read

Child’s hand touches a green football cake on foil tray, decorated with #1 Dylan and a brown football on a highchair tray.

With 15 kids between the 5 of us, we have a plethora of birthday party stories we could share! From the parties with all the pomp and circumstance, to an outing for a few friends and the parties where the venue handles everything for you - we’ve tried it all. And, as with many things, the parties have evolved over the years and vary from kid to kid (and mom to mom!). Read on for ideas, tips and perspectives - as Kim puts it, “As long as the birthday kiddo feels the love, is surrounded by their favorite people and the celebration doesn't feel overwhelming to anyone - I'd consider that a win.”

Rebecca, Woman's Leadership Coach from @PleasantlyAggressive

My kids were never really into elaborate birthday parties. I tried, believe me. I love planning events and decorating. They usually opted for an activity-focused birthday party, or a gathering at home. Either way, I limited it to 10 kids, and only 6 if it was going to be a sleepover. Things just get out of control too easily, which is stressful for the kids and the parents!

Child and adult in pirate costumes pose on a wooden porch beside a window and wall lantern, looking playful and serious.

Most often the kids chose to just have friends over to the house. When they were 10-12, I would hide 2 giant bags of candy around the first floor of the house. I gave each kid a lunch bag, and then they would hunt for candy. They could eat it immediately, or bring it home as a favor. Some balloons, pizzas or subs, lots of pop, a large speaker or karaoke machine with Bluetooth, and they could stay occupied for a few hours. I made sure the driveway was clear to play basketball or 4-square, and I air-up the basketballs, volleyballs, and footballs so they could pick up a game. Essentially, I just tried not to overcomplicate or over-plan.

For my son’s 16th birthday, he asked to go to the steakhouse in town and bring a few friends. It was a large bill, but no more than what I spent when he was 10 at the bowling alley!

But my all-time favorite birthday party was my son’s 6th birthday. He wanted a pirate theme (it was at the height of Jake and the Neverland Pirates). I hired a Jack Sparrow impersonator! He was amazing! He stayed in character the entire time and entertained the kids by talking about his adventures as a pirate while handing out gold doubloons.

Ashley, Millennial Mom Nutrition Coach from @AshleyBreaksTheCycle

Let me just say — if your kid is old enough for a drop-off party, you have made it. That is the finish line. Parents, please take note and embrace it with everything you have.

Three smiling boys in Red Sox jerseys pose at Fenway Park on a sunny day, with a crowd and Field Box 18 nearby.

We've done it all over here. Pool parties at home are my personal favorite — easy, fun, and the backyard does most of the work for you. My daughter just did a glow in the dark girls night for her 13th and it was so cute and so low key. My boys are hockey kids so we've done rink parties, which they love, but I always hesitate because not every kid can skate and the last thing I want is someone standing awkwardly on the ice feeling left out.

Now that they're getting older I'm firmly in the less is more camp. We took my son and two of his closest friends to a Red Sox game this year instead of a traditional party — not necessarily cheaper, I'll be honest — but so much more memorable. Just his people, celebrating him, doing something he actually loves.

And listen — I will always have a soft spot for the birthday venues where you just show up, the tables are set, the activities are handled, and you walk out the same way you walked in. Yes, the bill stings a little. No, I do not care.

Kids smile around a striped table with birthday cake under a patio umbrella by a backyard pool.

Ali, Book Aficionado from @The BookClubCart

One kid birthday party tip I want to share: it’s okay to say no to party favors!

Smiling family with two young boys at Sam's birthday table, colorful cupcakes, black banner and Elmo decorations.

I started doing this a few years ago, and honestly, it has made planning my kids’ parties so much less stressful. I would pick the theme, location, guest list… and then the party favors would come around, and suddenly I was stressing. Did I pick the right thing? Was it age appropriate? Would the parents be okay with it? And, let’s be honest, so much of it ends up being thrown directly in the trash.

So I finally told myself: no more favors just to have a favor. The kids are already getting a party, cake, treats, and a day filled with fun!

Of course, every once in a while someone will ask, “Where’s the party favor?” And my simple response is, “The cake and the fun were the favor!”

And honestly? I think everyone survives just fine without another little bag of stuff to take home.

Kim, Interior Designer from @Reverie.and.Root & Founder of Spilling Goodness

Oh, I've loved so many birthday parties over the years! I've also had my fair share of overwhelming parties that just feel like expensive chaos. As with everything, birthday parties have certainly evolved over the years and have varied dramatically depending on the kiddo we're celebrating. I love to try to dial into what they love most and shine a big bright light on doing that thing as a celebration.

Here are a few of my favorites over the years:

Ben & Jerry's: I might just have a birthday party for myself to recreate this party! My daughter had started her own ice cream business which prompted the idea. I worked with the store manager to create a little plan and it was so much fun!
Sewing party: We hosted a bunch of girls at our home for my daughter's birthday and had two bag making stations - using fabric pens to color in a bag and legit sewing. I can still remember my hubby trying his best to help!
Scavenger hunt: When my daughter first started to enjoy exploring our local downtown area, we did a scavneger hunt leading from one store to the next.
Slick City: For my middle son, we turned his sporty friends loose on slides - they turned back into kids (from teenagers) and ran around for hours.
Star Wars: I used balloons as storm troopers and everyone got a light saber (pool noodle) to battle. That one ended in tears from the piñata situation - I'm not a piñata fan anymore.
And, we've done our fair share parties that are planned in one phone call and a pizza order confirmed. These are sometimes the most fun!

As long as the birthday kiddo feels the love, is surrounded by their favorite people and the celebration doesn't feel overwhelming to anyone - I'd consider that a win.

Jen, Bespoke Travel Planner from @GlobalOnDemandTravel

When the kids were young, I did the elaborate themed birthday parties, with coordinating cookies, a magician or Elsa showing up to lead the kids in a song. There was value in that and it created some great core memories. But, now what the kids really love, is somewhere fun to explore with their friends- laser tag, trampoline parks and more. And, the best part is, all I have to do is show up.

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What are your favorite kid birthday party ideas and tips?