Checklist
The 10 Things You Actually Need for a Kids’ Birthday Party
Search for “kids birthday party checklist” online and you may quickly find yourself wondering whether you need to rent furniture.
You probably don’t.
A good kids’ birthday party really doesn’t require that much.
Here are the ten things that actually matter.
A Place
Home.
Backyard.
Park.
Playroom.
Party venue.
It doesn’t need to be complicated.
A Guest List
Know roughly how many children — and adults — you’re expecting before buying anything.
This prevents both:
“Why did I buy 48 plates?”
“We have nine forks for 25 people.”
Invitations
Digital is completely fine.
Include:
- date
- start and end time
- location
- RSVP information
- whether parents should stay, if relevant
Food
Kids generally don’t need an elaborate buffet.
Choose food that’s easy to serve and easy to eat.
Pizza remains popular for a reason.
Drinks
Water first.
Then whatever else you’d like to serve.
Don’t forget drinks for the adults if they’re staying.
Cake
It can be custom.
It can be homemade.
It can come from the grocery store with plastic dinosaurs placed on top five minutes before the party.
All are birthdays.
Plates, Cups and Napkins
This is where your theme can do a lot of work.
A coordinated set of simple partyware immediately makes everything look more intentional.
Decorations
You don’t need to decorate the entire venue.
A few strong pieces are usually enough:
- balloons
- banner
- cake topper
- table decorations
- one themed centerpiece
Themes that fit this
Something for the Kids to Do
This does not mean you need to hire entertainment.
It might be:
- bubbles
- sidewalk chalk
- a craft table
- simple games
- coloring
- a backyard
- toys
For younger kids, free play may be more than enough.
A Loose Plan
You don’t need a military schedule.
Just know roughly when you’re going to:
play → eat → cake → finish
That alone prevents the weird moment when everyone looks at you and asks:
“So… what are we doing now?”
What You Probably Don’t Need
You may notice we didn’t include:
- personalized water bottles
- enormous balloon walls
- matching outfits
- elaborate party favors
- professional entertainment
- three different desserts
- custom furniture
They’re all lovely if you want them.
They’re simply not requirements.
Your child needs friends, something tasty, something fun and a little birthday magic.
Everything else is optional.
Planning something (happily) low-key?