Kids Party Checklist

Birthday parties are a fun and cherished part of childhood, offering a wonderful way to celebrate your little one while gathering with family and friends. From choosing a theme to organising activities, each step is an opportunity to make the day memorable. With a bit of preparation and planning, organising your child's birthday party can be a joyful, stress-free experience.

We've pulled together a kids party checklist to help you plan your little one's big day, including:

• Setting a budget

• Choosing a birthday party theme & location

• Guests & invitations

• Activities & entertainment

• Food & drink

• Decorations & party favours

• Gifts

Decide on a budget

Before diving into all the fun details, it's always a good idea to decide on a budget. Setting a clear budget upfront will guide your decisions, and hopefully prevent overspending!

What costs do you need to consider?

When planning your child's birthday party, keep the following costs in mind:

• Venue rental (or home preparation)

• Invitations

• Food and drinks

• Decorations

• Party favours

• Activities and entertainment

• Birthday cake

• Gifts

Tips to help manage your kid's birthday party budget

• Prioritise what matters most

  to you and your child

• Consider DIY options

  for decorations, invitations, food and party favours

• Look for deals or second-hand options

  for party supplies

• Keep the guest list small

  to reduce the cost of food and party favours (especially if your little one is still young!)

Choosing a birthday party theme & location

The birthday party theme and location help set the scene for all the fun.

What do you need to plan?

Not sure what theme to go with? Start with your child's favourite things! It might be a loved book, movie or television show, a treasured toy, a colour they adore, a favourite cartoon character or an animal they can't stop talking about. If your child is old enough, ask for their input to help them get excited. They might have a great idea you hadn't thought of!

When it comes to location, choose a venue that is convenient, spacious, and allows you to bring your theme to life. It might be your local park, an indoor play area, community hall or your own home. The location should be large enough to accomodate all your guests, so make sure you keep the approximate number of guests in mind when deciding on the party venue.

It's important to consider the facilities at different venues. Are there tables and chairs? Are there toilets? Is there plenty of space for kids to play and run around safely? Is food and drink included at the venue, or do you need to supply your own? Is there a kitchen or food preparation area? Is there a covered area if it rains? Asking these questions before booking a venue can help make the party planning process easier, and the event itself stress-free.

When should you plan this?

Confirm the birthday party theme and location as early as you can - ideally around 6-8 weeks in advance. This gives you plenty of time to send invitations and start planning food, drink and activities, as well as a chance to start collecting decorations that can help bring the theme to life.

Guests & Invitations

The birthday party guest list should include all the people who will make the celebration special for your little one.

What do you need to plan?

Firstly, consider who to invite. Is it a small gathering of your child's friends, or will family members be invited too? Will your little one be able to invite all their friends and classmates, or are you planning to have them pick just a few? And if family members are going to be invited, is it just immediate family and grandparents, or aunts, uncles and cousins too?

Once you've decided on which groups of people are going to be invited, it's time to start making a list. Write down the names of all the guests you're planning to invite to the party and make a mental note of how you will get in touch with each one (and/or their parents) to let them know the details.

With the guest list locked in, it's time to start thinking about party invitations. An invitation that reflects the party theme is a great way to build excitement around the celebration, helps let guests know what to expect and gives them an idea of how to get into the party spirit! Invitations should inlcude all the key party details, including the party date, start and end time and party location, as well as an RSVP date and contact details.

Kid's birthday party invitations can be sent out in a number of different ways. If your child is little, it might be easiest for you to send a text message or email with a digital copy of the party invitation. Older children might prefer to write and design their own hard-copy invites that they can hand-deliver to their friends.

When should you plan this?

Start planning your guest list once the theme and location are locked in. Send out invites 4-6 weeks before the party to give people plenty of notice and time to RSVP.

Party Activities & Entertainment

Birthday party activities are where the magic happens! They help to keep little ones engaged and entertained, and add to the overall fun and excitement of the big day. While you don't need to plan out every minute of the event, one or two activities can help take the pressure off you as the host and help create a memorable experience for the guests (and the guest of honour!).

What do you need to plan?

Select age-appropriate kid's birthday party activities that suit the party's location and align with the theme while sparking joy and laughter. For babies and young children, activities might include a small ball pit, soft play shapes and tunnels, a colouring-in station or a bubble machine. Older children might enjoy a craft station, a treasure hunt or a dance party.

Consider adding a special touch with a surprise guest or entertainer, like your child's favourite cartoon character or a fairy, magician or clown, who can entertain your little one and their friends on the big day.

When should you plan this?

Start planning the party activities and entertainment as soon as the theme is chosen, about 4-6 weeks out, and ensure you have everything you need for the planned activities at least 1 week before the party.

Birthday Party Food & Drinks

One of the best things about a kid's birthday party? The food! The right food and drink will certainly add to the festive atmosphere, delighting kids and adults alike.

What do you need to plan?

Choose a menu that includes fun, easy-to-eat snacks that are a mix of both sweet and savoury - think mini pizzas, fruit skewers, mini sliders, veggie sticks with dips, popcorn and cupcakes. Include some of your child's favourite foods where you can, and think about how you might incorporate the party theme into the food and presentation. Don't forget to consider the dietary requirements of your guests if you can, ensuring that any known or common allergies are accounted for.

No birthday party menu is complete without a cake! If you consider yourself a bit of a baker, whip up a crowd-pleasing cake with a nod to the party's theme (if the cake-decorating part feels a bit tricky, take a look at Etsy for cake-toppers and decorating supplies). Baking not your strong suit? Don't worry! Your local bakery will be able to create a wonderful cake for you with a little bit of notice.

When should you plan this?

Start planning the party menu 3-4 weeks in advance. If you're ordering a cake, place the order at least 2 weeks before the party.

Party Favours & Decorations

Decorations bring the theme to life, transforming the space into a wonderland of fun and imagination.

What do you need to plan?

Decide on decorations that match the theme, from banners and balloons to table settings and party favours. Some fun and easy party decoration ideas include:

• Balloon arch

• Themed table settings

• DIY photo booth

• Hanging decorations, including paper lanterns, streamers and pom-poms

• Creative signage, using chalkboards or custom signs.

Send your guests home with small party bags to say thank you for coming. Fill the goody bags with two or three little treats, which might include lollies, small toys or games, stickers, crayons, or bubbles.

When should you plan this?

Plan and gather your decorations 2-3 weeks before the party.

Kids Birthday Party Gifts

When it comes to gift-giving, surprise your little one with something that celebrates their interests and passions. It might be a toy they've been wanting, a new book or a keepsake that will remind them of their special day. Consider creating or giving a gift that ties into the theme of the party, or even a personalised item they'll treasure for years to come.

At Purebaby, we've got lots of great kids birthday gift ideas for every age. Shop our range of gifts in-store or online at Purebaby.com.au