Classic Birthday Party Themes

Classic Birthday Party themes are perfect for kids birthday parties. We feature some of our favorite that we have done and some that our readers have shared. Classic Party themes include characters, stories, and nostalgic ideas that are fun for all ages. From fairy tales to superheroes to favorite kid show, these themes offer endless opportunities for creativity and fun.

First Birthday Party

Themes

ABC and 123
Colors
Animals (Zoo, Farm Animals, Ocean, Wild Animals)
Pets (cats, dogs, bunnies, mice, etc)
Planes, Cars, Trains
Dinosaurs
Sports
Space
Colors, Rainbows
Princess
Story book characters
Favorite characters from shows

Activities

Face or Body Painting is fun for all ages especially if you have a varied age group attending.
Leave a set of disposable cameras on each table. Encourage people to take photos of people attending, events to help take pictures while you are busy with the party.
Fill a Baby Photo Album with pictures from your child's first year. Include pictures of as many of the guests as you can. Have each guess sign the photo album on a Guest Page you designate or this album offers a memo space next to each picture.
Finger Painting or Hand Printing (supervised by parents or family) with 2-3 children at a time.
Free Play area with toddler friendly toys.

Entertainment

Having music in the background always is nice to have at parties.
Video: Create a video to play in the background of your child's first year.
If you have toddlers and other children attending, hiring entertainment can be helpful to keep children occupied. Hiring magicians, balloon makers and face painting artists are some suggestions. Clowns can be fun but also can be scary for some children.

Party Food Ideas

For first birthday parties you can have theme related items or simple snacks for the kids. There are often parents attending parties with toddlers so you may have a mixed menu. A fun rental would be a cotton candy machine, shave ice machine or popcorn machine! Having a few simple snacks for younger children such as cereal mixes, baby goldfish, or cut fruit. Be sure to check for any food allergies especially if you are inviting babies and young toddlers.

Baby Goldfish
Cut Fruit (apples, orange slices, banana slices)
Cheerio and other cereal mixes with pretzels
Cheese and crackers
Apple sauce or fruit cups

Dora and Diego

Dora and Diego parties are always a big hit with children. Make it just Dora theme, Diego theme or both. There are many items to accessorize your party from favors, plates to decorations. Or if you are artistic, make a few pictures of your own.

Party Decor and Set Up

Party banners and balloons liven up the room. We had some hand drawn Dora and Diego pictures to make it even more special.
Dora posters or birthday banners.
Dora table cloth or pink tablecloth sprinkled with colorful sequins.
Dora or Diego Balloons. Tie to birthday girl's chair or decorate the room.
Theme napkins, plates, cups, and cutlery
Dora music CD or music downloaded from app

Party Favors

Mini Backpacks filled with goodies
Dora books
Washcloths (they have fun washcloths at the Dollar Tree)
At Party Supply Stores there is usually a Dora section with small favors like bracelets, rings, spy glasses
Buy Mylar balloons and send each child home with one. They are available at certain Dollar Tree and party stores

Party Food

Lemonade or Punch
Bananas
Tortilla Chips with Cheese Dip
Tacos or Cheese Quesadillas are great party food for all ages. Cut quesadillas in strips for very young children
Fruit Snacks or Trail Mix
Animal Crackers (plain or frosted)

Cake Ideas

Dora and Diego are such popular characters that you can find many options at local bakeries and grocery stores with their own bakery. With twins, we were able to let them select their own cake with matching cupcakes for the party. Featured in the picture below is a Dora cake and a Diego cake.

Dora and Diego Party Game Ideas

Pin the Badge on Diego: Take off of the classic game Pin the Tail on the Donkey. We found this at a party supply store and used an easel to set it up. A pinata blindfold was used. Small prizes were given for each attempt.
Dora's Bead Bracelet with Flower: Find Stretch Magic string and beads to make Dora's bracelet.
Pinatas: Any colorful pinata will work. Use a pinata blindfold, bandana or large hat.
Treasure Hunt: Make a simple map of your backyard and hide small items in containers for children to find. If they work in teams you can get a team backpack to collect the treasures.
For younger children you can simply Find Swiper's Stash of Hidden Goodies. Fill small containers, plastic eggs or similar with small treats, stickers erasers, rings, and other small favors. Hide in the yard for children to find much like an Easter Egg Hunt.

Pin the Badge on Diego: Take off of the classic game Pin the Tail on the Donkey. We found this at a party supply store and used an easel to set it up. A piñata blindfold was used. Small prizes were given for each attempt.

Elmo and Cookie Monster Party Ideas

Elmo and Cookie Monster are favorite characters from Sesame Street and are a wonderful theme for a party. Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

Color scheme is usually red for Elmo. Primary colors like yellow or orange complement this nicely.
Elmo Party hats
Primary colored streamers.
Red and orange balloons
Elmo themed or red napkins, plates, cups, and cutlery.
Elmo or Cookie Monster posters or birthday banners.
Sand buckets decorated and filled with goodies for favors.
Red, Yellow, Blue bowls for small snacks.

Party Food

These cookies are from Earth's Best and kids love them. Organic Sesame Street Letter of the Day Cookies
Fruit Punch
Cookies especially if Cookie Monster is a favorite.
Pizza (Elmo's favorite food) Cut into strips for young toddlers.
Baby Carrots
Goldfish and pretzel mix
Red or blue Jelly Bellies or M & M's
Red, Blue or Yellow Jello Jigglers (use Jello's letter cutters or fun shaped cookie cutters)
Use star and heart shaped cookie cutters to make fun shaped sandwiches

Cake Ideas

These are a couple cupcake and cake ideas for a Sesame Street themed birthday party. A cute Elmo cupcake or a Cookie Monster cake with large cookie.

Thing 1 & 2 Party Ideas

Thing 1 and 2 Party Ideas for kids. This is a favorite for boys and girls alike and are a fun birthday idea for twins. I'd like to give a special thanks to Kyla for sharing her wonderful party ideas! This is such a fun theme with so many cute possibilities!

Dress Up Party Ideas

You can find Thing 1 and Thing 2 shirts online as well as Dr. Seuss hats.

The Cat in the Hat

Party Food Ideas

Red Punch
Make cool Marshmallow Lollipops like in the photo above.
Red and Blue Sprinkled Pretzel Rods.
Dr. Suess Hats :Strawberry and Marshmallow on Lollipop Sticks. We used skewers which I wouldn't recommend with young children but wanted to make a quick example.
Popcorn in red or blue funnel shaped cones or cups.
Fun Shaped Sandwiches Using Cutters
Veggie Platter
Jello (Blue and Red)

Party Games and Crafts

Pin the Blue Hair on Thing 1. Have a large cutout of Thing 1 and get some blue felt, blue cotton, to pin on Thing 1.
Win a Goldfish game. Find cups and containers and ping pong balls at Dollar Tree, craft stores or WalMart craft sections. Line up on a table and toss ping pong balls into the containers. Winner gets a goldfish. Put goldfish in small containers with distilled water and cover. Attach a small bag of fish food and fish care if you desire. This also can serve as your party favor!

Princess Party

Princess birthday party ideas are always a big hit with little girls. They are such great classic birthday party themes with all the new princesses to choose from. Make it a princess party or select their favorite Disney princess as the theme. There are many items to accessorize your party from favors, plates to decorations.

Party Supplies

Princess table cloth or pink tablecloth sprinkled with colorful sequins.
Princess Balloons or pink and silver balloons. Tie the balloons to birthday girl's chair or we like a few on each side of the main party table.
Princess themed or pink and white napkins, plates, and cups.
Pink or Silver Forks and Spoons

Dress Up Party

You could have the kids dress up or just the birthday child. Or have tiaras for all the guests>
You can find princess outfits year round at Target, the Disney Store and other stores during starting in October in anticipation of Halloween.
We went to Disney World and got their princess outfits at the Bibbity Bobbity Boo Boutique. They used them for Halloween as well and enjoy using it for dress up so it was well worth it!

Princess Party Decor

Princess posters or birthday banners.
Mylar balloons are available from many sources such as party supply and Dollar Tree.
Tiara Place settings for each participant. You can find inexpensive tiaras at party stores and at Walmart's party section.

Party Favor Ideas

Tiaras, wands, rings and bracelets. Mini nail polish for older girls.
Stickers, notebooks, pencils, marker sets. There are lots of cute inexpensive princess items you can find at Target $1 area and Michaels.

Party Food Ideas

Pink Lemonade
Use sandwich cutters to make fun shaped sandwiches
Star shaped Cookies
Veggie platter with dip, baby carrots, sliced cucumbers, celery sticks (Hidden Valley Ranch has a great easy to make dip...you could even add a drop or two of red food coloring to make it pink)
Cut fruit with fun shaped toothpicks
Small cubes of cheese and crackers
Strawberry ice cream or yogurt
Pastel colored marshmallows in heart dishes
Fruit Cocktail

Spongebob Squarepants

Party Activities

Spongebob pinatas are great for all age groups

Party Decorations

Yellow crepe paper streamers.
Yellow or white tablecloth. White will show off colorful decorations nicely.
Scatter colorful confetti on the table
Colorful character balloons.
Theme or pink napkins, plates, cups, and cutlery
Sand pails filled with party snacks like goldfish, chex mix
Play a music cd like the one below to liven up the atmosphere.

Party Favors

Bubbles
Bath squirt toys
Sand Pails filled with Goodies or snacks

Party Food

Lemonade
Fruit filled Pineapple halves. Cut a pineapple lengthwise and hollow it out and fill with cut fruit or cut the top half off and hollow out, fill with fruit and place several along the table)
Veggie platter with baby carrots, cucumbers and celery.
Fish Sticks
Hamburgers: I saw them called Krabby Patties!
Goldfish crackers in new sand pails
Jello cut into fun shapes
Cheese and crackers

Party Supplies and Decorations

We have some favorite places we find our party supplies for these classic birthday party themes.

Walmart in their party section and the baking section
Michaels, Hobby Lobby and Jo-Anns
Dollar Tree
Etsy
Amazon
Oriental Trading Company

More Party Themes