It's that time again: Spring! Roses are budding, snow is melting, and your special child's birthday is coming up. Can you believe it? It’s time to invite the neighbors and throw a fun backyard bash with these cute and simple ideas.
Ice Cream Party
Who doesn't love ice cream? This is a thrifty birthday idea for your daughter or son and is great for little guests who can be picky and hard to please. You'll need:
- Vanilla ice cream
- Disposable bowls and utensils
- Chocolate sauce
- Strawberry sauce
- Caramel sauce
- Chocolate candy
- Diced Fruit
- Sprinkles
- Jelly beans
- Peeled bananas
Set up a table outside in your backyard and cover it with a decorative tablecloth. Lay out each ingredient in a separate bowl with a serving spoon. Hand out two scoops of ice cream to each child and have your kids and their friends create his or her own sundae! We won't blame you if you sneak a few bites. This is also a wonderful way to include parents in the festivities without breaking the bank.
Mermaid Splash Party
If you don't have access to a pool, don't sweat it. You and your kids can still beat the heat and have a fun water park birthday party without one! Just grab a few of the below:
- Party favor water guns
- Water balloons
- Plastic kiddie pool
- Large garden sprinkler
- Slip ‘n slide
- Extra large bubble wands and dish soap
- Shimmer tail mermaid fins
- Other underwater gear
Fill the balloons and guns beforehand and have them ready before the guests arrive. Tell your kids' friends to bring all their water gear! Simply set up the sprinkler, pool, slide, and bubbles for children to splash around in and play with. You can even get creative and build an obstacle course for the kids to run through! Little girls will love dressing as mermaids during the party.
Camp Party
Your boy's friends will love pretending to camp and romp at dusk with the birthday boy! Just get out:
- One large tent (or several small ones)
- A “Welcome to camp” sign
- Paper lantern lights
- Inexpensive handkerchiefs
- flashlights
- Chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows
- Hot dogs
- Barbecue skewers
- a fire pit or barbecue pit
Decorate the yard with the lantern lights and the sign and hand out handkerchiefs and flashlights to the guests as you welcome them to camp. Spend the evening playing outdoor games. Give each guest a skewer (if age appropriate) and show the children how to roast hotdogs over a fire and make s’mores. As night falls, the kids can stargaze and point out shapes they see in the night sky. Flashlight tag is also a fun game for the kids to play; they have to sneak to base and not get “tagged” by the light! If your child is old enough, he can invite his friends to spend the night as long as they bring along their own pillow and sleeping bag.
Spring birthdays can be great for getting outside. Use these cheap ideas to create the most festive and fun birthday party yet!