A room full of rowdy kids can feel a bit terrifying at the best of times, but if you’re laying on a birthday feast for them too, things can get really stressful. Fear not. With some planning, you can put on a homemade feast to keep little ones happy for hours, with child-approved treats like healthy smoothie jellies to fanciful unicorn cupcakes to choose from. After all, they’ll need the energy for all the dancing and musical chairs!
For more recipes perfect for entertaining a large group of kids, why not try our kids’ party drinks recipes, kids’ vegetarian party recipes or kids’ party cake recipes. Get even more inspiration with our easy birthday cakes for kids and birthday ideas for kids at home.
Tips for throwing a kids’ party
1. Choose a fun theme
Selecting a theme, such as pirates, unicorns, superheroes or dinosaurs, is a brilliant way to guide your party planning. The theme can inspire your decorations, activities and even the food you serve. If your child is obsessed with a particular theme, let it inspire the whole party. For example, if your little one loves unicorns, you can incorporate unicorn-themed decorations, cakes and party favours – see our our unicorn party ideas for more inspiration.
Choosing a theme not only excites the children but also gives you a framework, making decisions easier and creating a more memorable experience for everyone. Let your child be involved in picking the theme to make the day feel extra special and personal to them.
2. Keep it simple and budget-friendly
There’s no need to go overboard with expensive decorations or extravagant food – a successful party can still be memorable and fun while keeping costs low. Focus on simple touches, use what you already have at home for decorations and opt for easy-to-make snacks. After all, children are there to have fun, not to judge the décor or the cost of the party!
Keeping things simple will also make it easier for you to manage the day and enjoy it yourself, rather than feeling overwhelmed by too many details or unnecessary spending.
See our kids’ birthday party food ideas on a budget for some easy, low-cost ideas.
3. Plan plenty of games and activities
A room full of energetic children can quickly descend into chaos if there’s not enough to keep them occupied. Have a selection of kids’ party games ready, such as musical chairs or pass the parcel, and always prepare more activities than you think you’ll need. This keeps the children entertained and helps the party run smoothly.
Classic games are often the most popular but you can also include creative activities like cupcake decorating or biscuit making, which double as entertainment and a tasty treat to take home.
See our pick of kids party games for quick, easy and child-approved ideas.
4. Offer a mix of savoury snacks
As popular as sausage rolls and sandwiches are, they don’t have to steal all the limelight when it comes to your savoury spread. Serve a selection of savoury snacks, such as couscous salads, falafel, chicken satay and colourful vegetable crudités with tasty dips. These savoury morsels not only look appealing but also help to sneak some vegetables into the party fare. Providing a mixture of food also means there’s something for every child, catering to different tastes and dietary needs.
Try our air-fryer chicken nuggets for a failsafe and energy-efficient option or check out our air-fryer snacks for more easy nibble inspiration.
5. Make sandwiches fun
Sandwiches are a staple at kids’ parties, but you can make them more appealing by cutting them into fun shapes using biscuit cutters. Presenting sandwiches in a playful way encourages children to eat as well as adding to the festive feel of the table. Little partygoers will love star-shaped sandwiches while slightly older children might enjoy layered club sandwiches with a choice of fillings. If you want to keep things simple, the age-old remedy of removing the crusts never fails to help.
If your kids don’t like eggs, have an allergy or are vegan, try these five-star egg-less mayo sandwiches or find more ideas with our sandwich fillings for kids.
6. Balance sweet treats with healthier options
It’s tempting to serve lots of sugary snacks but balancing sweet treats with healthier choices is a wise move. Just make sure to keep the sweet treats safely out of sight until the savoury course has been eaten otherwise you may find yourself with a lot of uneaten sandwiches and some very busy kids!
Low-sugar options like smoothie jellies, frozen fruit sticks and fruit rice paper rolls are all colourful and fun, helping to lighten the sugar load (kids will also love dunking the paper rolls into the mixed berry coulis dip). Serving slices of birthday cake with a side of fruit is another way to offer balance.
You can also make little jam tarts, birthday biscuits or funny face cookies, which double as a fun activity if the children decorate them themselves. Children love things with their name on and these edible name place biscuits are sure to have the wow-factor – use them to mark out seating or wrap them in some pretty cellophane and pop them in a party bag.
7. Cupcakes as a party activity
Cupcakes are always a hit – and serve as both a treat and a fun party activity. Bringing along a plain batch and letting kids ice and decorate their own is a brilliant party activity to keep them happy and busy for a little while. It’s also a fun way to involve everyone, and the finished creations can be eaten at the party or taken home in a party bag.
Plates of mini cupcakes are easy to distribute around the table and don’t require any cutting. These birthday cupcakes are sure to get the party started, or your unicorn-loving children will adore a batch of unicorn cupcakes. Our chocolate fudge cupcakes always go down a storm with chocoholics. Make sure to provide options for different dietary needs, such as gluten-free or vegan cupcakes, so every child can join in the fun.
Get inspired with our fun and easy kids’ cupcake recipes, perfect for baking together. Looking for something simpler? Try our no-bake treats – sweet, fuss-free options that skip the oven for quick, energy-saving bakes.
8. Create a show-stopping birthday cake
A birthday cake is often the centrepiece of the party, but with shop-bought varieties or ordered cakes quickly racking up the pounds, it definitely pays to make your own. It’s great fun having such a creative project to work on and you can’t beat the taste of a homemade cake. Plus, involving your child in choosing the cake design can make it even more special.
Who doesn’t love a themed birthday cake? Choose a design that fits your theme, such as a party animal, chocolate owl or number birthday cake. Decorating with edible glitter, sprinkles, sweets or lollipops adds extra excitement, just don’t forget the candles!
9. Serve refreshing drinks
Playing ‘pass the parcel’ and running round in circles is thirsty work, so keep kids hydrated with some refreshing homemade drinks.
Slicing fruit into a cup with a little bit of juice and fizzy water is a fun way of serving up a soft punch, and great for getting a bit of fruit into kids. And it just wouldn’t be a children’s party without lashings of lemonade. Our strawberry lemonade is a summery twist on the classic version with fresh strawberries or try our watermelon lemonade served in hollowed-out watermelons for extra fun.
Getting kids to sit down with a cooling, healthy ice lolly can be a good way of bringing the party to a gentle close and settling some of the excitement. Alternatively, set up a vanilla milkshake bar for a fun activity where kids can choose their own toppings.
Discover even more kids’ party drink recipes.
10. Embrace the chaos and enjoy yourself
A room full of excitable children may well be chaos but the party will be over before you know it, so try to relax and enjoy it. A few bumps and spills are bound to happen, so have some wipes and helpers on hand and embrace the mayhem while it lasts.
The important thing is that your child and their friends have a wonderful time. Your enjoyment and positive attitude will set the tone for the whole day, making it a joyful occasion for everyone involved.
Finally, if you’ve booked a venue but are still catering yourself, then check out our blog on transporting food safely.
Are you a children’s party veteran? Share your tips on what works… and what doesn’t, below…
