What could be better than a summer party? With the sun shining bright, the weather nice and hot, and no school for weeks, it’s the perfect time of year to plan a rockin’ birthday party for your kids! Your little ones can dance and play the day away with their friends, with all the delicious summer snacks and treats they could wish for.
If you’re planning a summer party, you have to come up with cool kids party themes. A theme can transform any event into something awesome and magical, making your child’s birthday party the soiree to remember.
Don’t know any good themes for kids parties? No worries! We’ve got plenty of kids party theme ideas for you below:
PIRATE PARTY
Kids love pirates! This is, by far, one of the most popular kids party theme ideas, and one of the easiest to pull off.
You’ll need a few dress-up items for this party:
- Pirate hats
- Eyepatches
- Hooks
- Vests
You can keep the food and drinks simple, but the real hero of this party will be the party game: the Pirate Scavenger Booty Hunt!
You can make your own pirate treasure maps leading to clues hidden around your home or property, and have the kids race to see who can complete the hunt first.
GARDEN PARTY
This is one of the best kids party themes for a little girl’s birthday party. She can invite all of her friends to an elegant tea party in the garden, complete with:
- Real tea (iced tea)
- Finger sandwiches
- Cookies
- Cake
You can set up your lawn or garden with an outdoor table, and break out a set of real china for the occasion.
Serve the tea and snacks on proper “adult” dinner ware, and have the kids come in their fanciest outfits. Make it a “Jane Austen-esque” garden party for your elegant little girl.
OUTDOOR CARNIVAL PARTY
What’s not to love about carnivals? The lights, the noise, the games, the fun: it’s one of the best themes for kids parties!
You’ll need to decorate your lawn tables and chairs with brightly coloured tablecloths, umbrellas, and strings of balloons and streamers. Set up a “food tent” where all the refreshments are served.
Set up classic carnival games such as:
- Ring Toss
- Balloon Pop
- Water Balloon Toss
- Guess the Jellybeans
- Stilt Races (using paint cans)
- Mystery Box
Your kids will love to play all the games, and they’ll have a chance to win a whole lot of prizes (simple toys, stuffed animals, etc.).
POOL PARTY
When it comes to summer party themes for kids, NOTHING is better than a pool party! The cool water will be the perfect way for your kids to escape the heat of the day, and it’s a great way to keep the kids in a controlled environment.
This theme works for kids of all ages. For smaller children (2 to 6 years old), you can set up a kiddie pool for them to splash around in. For older children (6 to 12 years old), a regular swimming pool will do – though make sure to have plenty of watchful parents around just in case. Bonus points for a Slip-N-Slide.
The pool is the hero of the pool party, so you don’t need to overdo it on the games or food. Just have snacks, a simple lunch (burgers or hot dogs are always a winner), and some drinks for when the kids get out of the pool.
ICE CREAM SOCIAL
When you think summer, don’t you immediately picture a giant ice cream cone? If you’re looking for kids party themes your children will love, the Ice Cream Social is DEFINITELY the way to go.
What’s great about this party theme is that the ice cream is the main focus. You can play games, have music, and serve other food, but the real fun happens once you break out the ice cream.
The decorations are easy: print out as many different pictures of ice cream cones as you can find, and hang them around the house. Build an “ice cream truck” out of cardboard, and ring the bell to get the kids’ attention.
Have an assortment of flavours on hand, and let the kids choose their own ice cream cone. Set up a “DIY station” off to the side, complete with chocolate sprinkles, crushed Oreos, M&Ms, and all the other delicious ice cream toppings you can think of. What a great way to spend a hot summer’s day!
WATER PARTY
Even if you don’t have a swimming pool, you can still soak your kids to help them cool off from the summer’s heat.
Every kid loves a Slip N’ Slide, and it’s easy to set up your own with just a few simple materials. Or, why not buy a few hundred water balloons, and turn your backward into one giant water balloon war? The adults will enjoy it as much as the kids, and everyone has a chance to get wet.
Of course, there’s nothing quite as much fun as a water gun fight. Buy a dozen Super Soakers and let the kids turn them loose on each other. The garden hose makes for a wonderful addition to the water war, and you can even bring in a few buckets to kick things up a notch.
If you’re thinking of planning a summer party, try these awesome kids party themes.
Your kids will have a blast, and you’ll give them a celebration they’ll remember. Best of all, these themes are fairly cheap and easy to pull off!
