Top 5 Easy Kids' Birthday Party Ideas

Kids' birthday parties are a blast, because they call for crafts, cupcakes and silly activities, which keep the kids entertained and allow participating adults to channel their inner child. Use these tips and suggestions to create a unique and memorable birthday experience for your child and all of his or her guests!

Online Invitations

I don't know which takes more time - a fill-in-the-blank invitation or the computer design-and-print invites? I do know that online invitations are the easiest way to invite guests and more parents are choosing this option for their children's parties. Seems this year, my pre-school age daughter has received more email invitations than cards. The eco-friendly "paperless" nature of this invitation is appealing as well.

Beyond The Bouncy House

Bouncy houses are pretty standard at kids' parties. But, when the bouncy is something other than a "jumper" kids go wild and are occupied for hours! I'm a fan of the inflatable playground for younger kids, and the "combo slide and climb" models are cool, especially when they have themes like a firetruck or pirate ship.

Crafts Table

A crafts table to keep kids busy is key. Load up at the crafts store with blank puzzle sheets, magnet crafts, and self-adhesive foam shapes and put them on a table along with paper, crayons, and markers. In my article Kid's Birthday Parties: Fun and Games, I spotlight "chalk cloth," a fabric that you can write on with chalk and then erase with a damp sponge. The easiest way to go with this fabric is to buy 3 yards of "chalk cloth" and use it as a tablecloth or picnic blanket that kids can draw on.

Treasure Hunt

Whether you're searching for gold foil-covered chocolate coins at a pirate party or the items from a "$5 pinata bag of goodies," a treasure hunt is super simple to organize and always a big hit.

Birthday Cupcakes

Forget cutting the cake with a sharp knife and a mob of kids hovering over you. Cupcakes are a great way to go and "pull apart" cupcakes are awesome! "Pull apart" cupcakes are when the cupcakes are clustered together on a tray and a "sheet" of icing covers the top of all of the cupcakes, as opposed to individual iced cakes. A "sheet" of icing provides a more traditional place to write a birthday message or create a thematic design. The kids simply "pull" the cupcakes away from the cluster to eat them.