28 of the Best Kid Birthday Party Themes

1st Birthday Party Ideas

The first 7 kid birthday party theme ideas are great for first birthday parties, but they can work for any age!

1. Party animal themed birthday

Party animal theme is perfect for any age or gender. I also love the simple decorations that go so well with a party animal birthday. For table centerpieces, consider spray painting plastic animals bold colors and make them tiny party hats. For party favors at my son’s first birthday party, I handed out rubber ducks with party hats.

2. First Down 1st Birthday

Have a baby turning one in the fall? A First Down 1st birthday is a great way to celebrate baby first year and football! Everyone comes dressed in jerseys and party favors involve mascots (AKA- stuffed animals) and balls.

3. Carnival Theme Birthday Party

A carnival theme sets the stage for all kinds of fun games and activities for kids of all ages. Think: Ring toss, face painting, knock the cans over, a simple bowling game, dance party, or a photo booth. Renting a cotton candy machine would be a fun extra to a carnival themed birthday party.

4. Pancake Party theme

If you’re looking for simple and inexpensive birthday idea, consider a breakfast birthday party. What kid doesn’t love pancakes, donuts and juice for breakfast? Best part? Have the party at a local breakfast joint that has a playground for a built in activity plus leave the mess at the restaurant.

5. Puppy Party

Most little ones love dogs, so why not throw a “Puppy Paw-ty”! This fun party idea includes a “Bark-ery, DIY dog ears, and a handmade cardboard dog house. Adorable!

6. Bubbles, Bouncing & Balloons Birthday Party

I also added breakfast to this “B” themed kid birthday party. We bought this bubble machine from Amazon and rented a bounce house for the ultimate backyard double birthday party. I used balloons to make a chandelier inside. And bought helium balloons to tie to everything outside and double has party favors. It was fun, easy, and the kids were exhausted afterwards!

7. Rainbow Birthday Party

8. Paris themed birthday party

Destiny put together the most adorable pink and black Paris themed birthday for her daughter. She even gave out black tutu’s as party favors!  I love this idea for a 1st birthday party because you could listen to french music, color the Eiffel Tower, eat macaroons, and it doesn’t get much cuter than toddlers in tutu’s. For older kids, consider pairing the Paris theme with a high tea. See more Paris themed birthday ideas at Just Destiny.

Kids Cooking Birthday Party Ideas

Cooking parties are so much fun! I love the idea of utilizing the format of baking tv shows like Kid’s Baking Championships or Great British Bake Off as a birthday party theme!

9. Cooking Themed Party

Let kids make pizzas from pre made dough and salads on a stick while wearing chef hats and then decorate cupcakes for dessert! See more cooking party birthday details at My Many Colored Days.

10. Pizza Party

Pizza is always a party pleaser, why not make it the party theme! Have kids make their own mini pizzas for lunch and wear chef hats! Check out all of the pizza party details at Kojo Designs.

12. Mermaid birthday party

The Little Mermaid came out of in 1989, but Ariel is still delighting kids with her catchy songs 3 decades later. There are so many fun food ideas for a mermaid themed birthday party. Here are a few menu ideas:

• Grapes on a stick is seaweed
• Rock candy is coral
• Vanilla Wafers turned into clams (Here’s a good recipe for that.)
• Google eyes on toothpicks stuck into chicken croissant sandwiches make adorable crabs

13. Wild Thing Birthday Party

Every detail of this Wild Thing Birthday Party is adorable! See more at Hostess with the Mostess.

14. Rock Star Party

Art Party Theme Ideas

15. Art birthday party

The key to this art party was keeping it small and the drop cloth tablecloth! I printed out pictures of every guest with the birthday girl and hung them up as decorations. Then, the girls painted wooden picture frames and chose a picture to frame!

16. Tye Dye Party

A tie dye party ensures adorable decorations, a great party activity, and the perfect party favor. Make sure you’ve secured helpers for this party because as you might guess, it gets messy! See all of the details at the Pleated Poppy.

17. Outdoor Art Party

Paint, crafts, and rainbows oh my! This art birthday party is right up my alley. I love this collaborative art project the mom set up below with a $1 plastic table cloth stapled to a large board that she let kids paint. Genius! See more outdoor art birthday party ideas at Ramblings From the Sunshine State.

Birthday Party Ideas for Boys

Obviously these party ideas can be used for any kiddo, but here are a few party theme ideas my son loved!

18. Transportation Birthday Party

19. Bike Birthday

For my son’s 7th birthday, we utilized our local BMX dirt track and has his friends bring their bikes and helmets. I bought a set of black and white checkered flags a Happy Birthday sign and a handful of balloons. The kids rode bikes, ate donuts, and broke a number 7 rainbow piñata!

20. Mad Scientist Birthday Party

21. Pirate Themed Birthday Party

22. Construction Party