Creative ideas for
children’s
birthday
parties
– craft fun, decorations & unforgettable moments
Celebrating a child’s
birthday
is something very special – for the children, but also for us adults. It’s all about sparkling eyes, shared laughter and moments that stay with you. And the lovely thing is: it doesn’t take much to organise a lovely birthday party. With the right ideas, the day will easily become a real highlight. Whether it’s DIY decorations, craft fun or creative game ideas – we’ll show you the best ideas for your next children’s birthday party.
Activities for a child’s birthday party: What can you do to make the day unforgettable?
What can you do for a children’s birthday party? This is a question many parents ask themselves as the big day approaches. Whether you’re organising a children’s birthday party for the first time or looking for new ideas – with the right planning, the day will be a real highlight for everyone involved. From creative craft ideas for children’s birthday parties to suitable games for indoors and outdoors: there are countless ways to put together a varied programme. Hands-on activities where the children can get creative themselves are particularly popular – such as craft sessions at the party, decorating or making little party favours. Here you’ll find inspiring children’s birthday party ideas to help you organise an unforgettable day, completely stress-free.
Here’s what the programme for your next children’s birthday party could look like:
- Arrival & Settling In: When the little guests arrive, a gentle start is a good idea. A cosy play corner or some initial creative activities help them settle in and immediately put everyone in a good mood.
- Group activity: Whether it’s craft fun, a mini treasure hunt or a themed game – a group activity brings everyone together and creates the first highlight of the day. How about, for example, making personalised party headbands to match the theme? This gets the party off to a creative start and every child immediately has their own little work of art. Alternatively, a treasure hunt with little clues around the house or garden is an exciting adventure that will delight all the children.
- Cake time & presents: Now it’s time to celebrate! The birthday cake is a must, perhaps accompanied by a song or a game centred around unwrapping presents – this creates a special moment for the birthday child.
- Activity & free play: After a bite to eat, the fun continues with active games or imaginative play in the garden or living room. Quieter play ideas can also be easily incorporated at this stage. In summer, a water fight with water balloons or a simple obstacle course provides action-packed fun outdoors. Indoors, games such as ‘Freeze Dance’ or a spontaneous children’s disco are ideal.
- Closing & Party Favours: At the end, the children will be delighted to take home a little party favour – whether homemade or lovingly wrapped.
We’ll show you loads of ideas for simple games, brilliant craft activities and original party favours – perfect for making your child’s birthday party truly unique.
The IKEA FLISAT table: a party favourite
Our all-rounder in the children’s room really comes into its own at birthday parties too: the IKEA FLISAT table with TROFAST boxes becomes a real eye-catcher when paired with the matching Limmaland adhesive films. Whether with a road design for little car fans or a picnic look for a summer party on the terrace – the table can be adapted to the party theme in a flash. The matching stool can also be personalised in no time at all with our design stickers customize.
Games for children’s birthday parties – exercise, fun & excitement
Children’s birthday party games are simply a must at any party. Whether indoors or outdoors – the right games get all the children moving and are great fun.
Popular games for children’s birthday parties:
- Pot-Tapping: One child is blindfolded and, armed with a wooden spoon, has to feel their way to the upside-down pot on the floor. The other children help by calling out ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ until the pot is found. There’s usually a little surprise waiting underneath
- Treasure hunt or scavenger hunt: The children work together to follow a trail of clues, solve little puzzles or tasks, and search for the big ‘treasure’ at the end. This game idea lends itself perfectly to a theme and ensures excitement, physical activity and teamwork. It’s also ideal for larger groups outdoors.
- Musical Chairs: Whilst music plays, the children run around a row of chairs – but watch out: there’s always one chair fewer than players! As soon as the music stops, everyone has to sit down quickly – anyone who can’t find a seat is out. A fun competition that guarantees plenty of laughs.
- Balloon Dance: In pairs, the children balance a balloon between their stomachs or foreheads and dance to the music. The aim is to keep the balloon in the air without using their hands. If the balloon falls, the pair is out – whoever lasts until the end wins!
- Tin can toss or mini Olympics: Empty tins are stacked into a pyramid and knocked over with balls – whoever knocks over the most wins. For a full mini-Olympics, you can combine different stations with small sporting challenges: e.g. sack races, egg and spoon races or target throwing. Ideal for active kids who love to move around.
Tip: If you have a theme (e.g. ‘ POLIZEI’, animals or football), you can tailor the games to fit – this makes the programme even more well-rounded.
Design your own children’s birthday party invitations
A children’s birthday party invitation makes the first impression – and builds anticipation amongst the little guests. It’s even more fun if you make the invitations together with your child. Ideas for children’s birthday party invitations:
- Invitation cards with designs to match the party theme: It’s particularly easy with our free templates to match a ‘ POLIZEI’ or football theme.
- Surprise cards filled with confetti or glitter
- Personalised invitations featuring a photo of the birthday child with a guest
Looking for the right wording for the invitation? Keep it short, friendly and child-friendly. All the important details (date, time, venue, theme if applicable) should be clearly visible. And perhaps you could include a little hint about the planned programme?
Personalised party bags – creative and made with
love Toround off a successful children’s birthday party, the little guests are delighted to receive a very special party bag – and it’s even better when they’ve helped to design it themselves! How about letting each child paint their own bag or decorate it with stickers and colourful washi tape during the party? That way, the bag itself becomes a little work of art. It can then be filled with lovely little treats: a mini colouring book with pictures to match the party theme, a few coloured pencils, a sachet of flower seeds to plant, or colourful marbles. A personalised card with a message from the birthday child or a photo from the party is also sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face – and create a memory that will last a long time.
DIY decorations
DIY crepe paper bunting
Areal eye-catcher at any birthday or garden party, and so easy to make: you can whip up cheerful bunting in no time at all using colourful crepe paper or fabric ribbons. Whether as wall decoration, a backdrop for the birthday table or a photo spot – bunting adds a splash of colour and is great fun to make with children. Simply tie the ribbons onto a string at regular intervals – and your colourful decoration is ready to go.
Animal masks and animal balloons
Whether it’s a wild safari or a colourful jungle party: with our free templates for animal masks and animal balloons, every child’s birthday party will be a brilliant day. Simply print them out, get crafting, and let the creative fun begin. The masks and balloons aren’t just a great craft activity, but also make perfect props for role-play and souvenir photos.
Gift decorations with animal charm
Another highlight for children’s birthday parties: our lovingly designed printable gift decorations. The cute designs featuring tigers, frogs, dogs and more are perfect for adding a personal touch to wrapped presents. Simply download them for free, print them out, cut them out – and you’re ready to creatively embellish wrapping paper, gift bags or boxes. A lovely craft activity for the children or a thoughtful touch for the hosts. This turns every little present into an eye-catcher – and the animal designs are guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face!
POLIZEI-A birthday full of adventure
Attention, sleuths: at the ‘ POLIZEI’ children’s birthday party, little detectives will make a big impression. With homemade ID cards, crime scene games and mini-missions, the birthday party will be an exciting experience. With our free templates for matching invitations, police badges and decorations, your ‘ POLIZEI’ themed party will be a real highlight for adventurous kids.
Football party for little footballers
Ready to bring that real stadium atmosphere into the children’s playroom? With our football party, your birthday bash will be a sporting highlight. Our perfectly fitting ‘ decal’ transforms your IKEA children’s table into a proper playing pitch in no time at all, ready for some proper action with the matching finger footballs. You can easily make the finger footballs using our free template – just like the customisable invitation cards for your guests.
Craft ideas
With our free templates, you can easily make these brilliant craft ideas with the group right there at the children’s birthday party.
Making windmills and aeroplanes from toilet roll tubes
A real craft classic that’s always a hit with children: toilet roll tubes! In no time at all, you can turn empty tubes into colourful windmills or cool aeroplanes! With our free templates, this DIY project is really easy to follow – a creative activity that’s also sustainable. The finished creations aren’t just a lovely party souvenir, but can also be easily incorporated into free play.
Painting crockery with children
Fancy a creative craft activity that also makes for a lovely party favour? When painting porcelain, your little guests can decorate cups, plates or small bowls with colourful designs – with our free template and simple step-by-step guide, it’ll be done in no time. The tableware they’ve designed themselves becomes a truly personal keepsake and will keep children’s eyes lighting up for a long time to come, even back at home.
Make simple animal masks
These
animal masks are incredibly easy and quick to make, and are perfect for dress-up games or carnival parties.
How to do it:
- Download & Print: Download the mask template for free and print it out on slightly sturdier paper.
- Cut out: Cut out the mask along the lines – don’t forget the eye holes.
- Attach: Punch small holes in the sides and attach an elastic band or satin ribbon.
- Put it on and let the party begin: your DIY animal mask is ready for carnival, children’s birthday parties or role-play at home.
Making a children’s camera out of cardboard
With our craft idea for a DIY children’s camera, a birthday party turns into an imaginative adventure: little photographers can make their very own model out of cardboard and dive straight into a world of creative play. The camera can be lovingly painted and fitted with ‘photos’ to colour in – ideal for role-play or as a decoration in the children’s bedroom. Sustainable, easy to make and guaranteed to be great fun!