Ideas for Children's Backyard Birthday Parties

The following suggestions will make kid's backyard birthday parties very special. There are lots of birthday party themes that lend themselves to backyard parties. Some of the best are a circus, a camp-out and a stargazing party. Pick the one that is most age appropriate for your child and that they will enjoy.

Great circus themed birthday party invitations will make your party a success. Print out pictures of clowns and glue them to lightweight card stock. Write the party info on the back and be sure to tell parents that it will be a circus themed backyard party. Decorate your backyard with circus posters hung from trees, bushes, a fence or card tables. Use plenty of balloons and streamers in bright colors. Set up card tables as game booths and a face painting station. Get toy lions, tigers, elephants and giraffes and set them on the card tables as decorations. Have games like a ring toss and horse shoes ready to go with party favors as prizes. Lawn bowling makes a great backyard party game and so do hula hoops and relay races. As the guests arrive have someone help you at the face painting station and turn the kids into their choice of lions, tigers or clowns. For refreshments try hotdogs and hamburgers with cupcakes in bright bold colors for dessert.

Planning a kid's birthday camping party can take some time, but the following suggestions should make your party planning easier. A camping party can be a lot of fun especially if your yard is large enough for the camping supplies and the children invited to the party are old enough to enjoy this activitiy. Set up a tent and have a grill set up for hotdogs and hamburgers and if possible a fire pit ready for roasting marshmallows and making s'mores. Let the kids hunt for insects or leaves and try to identify them and then gather everyone around for campfire stories. Children love listening to ghost stories, but take into account the ages of the children at your party before reading these stories. This type of party is best on a warm summer night with a full moon for light. At the end of the evening you can turn it into a sleepover in the tent or let the parents pick up their kids, whichever works best.

Tips for a kid's backyard stargazing birthday party start with the invitations. Let parents know what you plan to do and ask if they want to bring small telescopes or field glasses for the kids to use. Make charts of the night sky and have field glasses, regular binoculars, and if possible a small telescope ready to go. Most people will find that having a variety of tables available for refreshments will help with the party preparations. Have sandwiches or grill hotdogs and hamburgers. Desserts, such as brightly decorated cupcakes will make the perfect addition to this celebration. Do a little research ahead of time and have the myths behind the names of the major constellations on hand to read to the kids. Cover flashlights with red cellophane so they can be used to read without causing you and the kids to have to wait to get your night vision back each time.


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Mrs. Party... Gail Leino gives her two cents worth on entertaining. Plus, she generously provides information on free party games, activities, and party supplies.