23 Birthday Party Themes & How To Pull Them Off

Sarah Calamita:  Most cities have a rental company that will come set up teepees along with balloons, pillows, decorations, eye masks, blankets, etc for the perfect little sleepover party! Perfect for ages 6-13. We also set up a movie screen in the living room and gave them popcorn. Cutest sleepover party ever!

Kelly R:  Gather up the supplies for a variety of Minute to Win It games for an exciting and inexpensive kids birthday party theme! These games are silly, easy to learn, cheap, and so much fun for kids to play together. This was a hit with my son and his friends in elementary school!

Shila:  A carnival birthday party theme for kids can include a variety of familiar backyard games like cornhole, ring toss, etc. You can even rent (or buy) a few giant outdoor games to make things extra silly and festive! Set up a few tables for face painting and glitter tattoos, or even hire a balloon artist or a magician. Serve carnival-inspired treats like cotton candy, corn dogs and funnel cakes. Party favors can include balloons or gigantic stuffed animals awarded to a few special prize winners.

Shila:  Roll your tv outside or consider purchasing an outdoor projector with screen to enjoy a "movie night under the stars" birthday party theme. Lay out some blankets and pillows, along with all the best concessions like candy boxes, slushies, and popcorn too!

Shila:  There are so many fun pool party ideas for kids, whether or not you have one in your backyard! Meet up at a local pool and serve pizza and cake under a pavilion, or check indoor water parks near you for winter birthdays. Plan some pool games or just let the kids swim and splash their hearts out!

You don't need a swimming pool to have water fun in your backyard. From slip n slides to water balloons and super soakers, kids will have a blast with backyard water toys for an at-home celebration.

Shila:  Mad Science can be an explosively fun birthday party theme for kids! You can host this at an outside venue or in your home, and the chosen experiment(s) can be instructor led or self guided depending on the ages of guests. There are many easy science experiments for kids to consider as the main activity.

Shila:  Call your local fire station to see if they offer firehouse tours or drive-by home visits from one of their big red firetrucks. If you can't secure it, firefighter birthday party themes can still be enjoyed at home with games like obstacle courses or a backyard scavenger hunt for "fires" to put out with a hose. Give away plastic chief hats as party favors!

Shila:  For this fun and hands-on birthday party theme, lead kids through making their own slime with a simple slime recipe. Kids love it, and parents will love that the mess is made at someone else's house! You can let the kids have fun experimenting with different colors and mix-ins to create their own unique blend.

Kelly R:  Hire a food truck to stop by your party, either for a birthday meal or just dessert. Kids and parents will love it, and you won't have to worry about preparing food for the party! This is a fun main event, or you could add it on to other outdoor themes for birthday parties, like a pool party or backyard movie party.

Alexandra F.:  Throw your Harry Potter fans a party they'll never forget! Send invitations mimicking Hogwarts acceptance letters, then prepare decor, activities and food to theme. We've begun our Harry Potter parties by sorting kids into Houses, then rotating through "classes" by House. Favorite activities have included Potions (slime-making), Quidditch (pool noodles make the best brooms!), History of Magic (Harry Potter trivia), and Charms (magic show). Finish with a feast in the Great Hall - butter beer, chocolate frogs and licorice wands are easy to make, and Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans are always a hit!

Alexandra F.:  Though this will take more planning and preparation than your typical birthday party themes for kids, if your crew loves mysteries it will definitely be worth it! The birthday kid and their guests can work together to solve a mystery of your making during the festivities. Pre-made mystery party templates are available for purchase, or you can get really creative and make up your own! Here's a free murder mystery template for tweens you can use, or modify to prepare your own plot, character roles and instructions.

Shila:  There are lots of great Hawaiian-inspired birthday party ideas for kids! Start by greeting guests with leis and flowered headbands. Grass skirts optional! Luau party games for kids can include the limbo, hula hooping, bowling with pineapples, and a musical game of hot potato - but with a coconut instead! Serve up plenty of shaved ice and/or fruity drinks dressed with cute mini umbrellas!

Kelly R:  Buy or borrow a karaoke machine (it makes an awesome family gift if you don't have one yet) and let the kids dress up with feather boas, colorful sunglasses and other rock star accessories. Queue up some kid-favorite music and the rest basically takes care of itself!

Shila:  There are many cooking schools that host parties for kids of all ages! Birthday party themes and recipes can range anywhere from make-your-own pizza to cupcake decorating wars. Families can hosts these type of parties at home, too. Select some easy recipes for kids and measure prepared bowls of ingredients in advance.

Shila:  Invite guests to throw on their finest princess dress or costume, wear a crown or tiara and attend a white glove tea party themed birthday. Instead of tea, pour unlimited cups of chocolate milk served along with mini muffins, petite cupcakes, and adorable, triangular-cut jelly sandwiches.