Pinterest mom? Don’t know her. I’m whatever is the opposite of a Pinterest mom—until I’m throwing a birthday party. Then, all bets are off. There is so much pressure on birthday parties, and I’m over here trying to ball on a budget. I don’t know what it is about parties, but I must go all out. No shame to those of you who have parties outside of your home, but it’s very much not my style (nor my budget). Looking for DIY birthday party ideas and hosting tips for a successful home birthday party for your little ones? Look no further.
Here are 3 DIY birthday party ideas and tips:
Dirty 3rd-y Construction Theme
Oh my gosh, this was quite possibly one of my favorite parties I’ve ever thrown. We had themed snacks, a toy dump truck full of cheese balls, fruit stop lights – the works. I DIYed cute name tags for the foods in relation to the theme, kept it simple with yellow and black plates and cutlery, and topped it off with cute matching shirts.
Grand Three Racecar Theme
My littlest was *obsessed* with this. Once again, we DIYed cute, themed food cards for the snacks and drinks. We painted racecars as favors, had giant connect four, and picked some fan fav snacks for kids to munch on the go. Three-year-olds aren’t trying to sit for food, so snacks are an absolute must.
Tie-Fived Tie-Dye Theme
This was mild chaos, but seriously, oh my goodness—highly recommend. We tie-dyed socks and labeled everything ahead of time, so we had everything set (including a pre-party rinse so the socks are damp!). I let the kiddos pick a few colors and where to place them on the socks. I didn’t send them home, but I would recommend that. We had fun coloring sheets that were party-themed and yummy, family-friendly snacks.
Here are 3 hosting tips for a successful DIY birthday party:
Write. It. Down.
Or type it, whatever works for your brain. Write the guest list, the food list, and the shopping list. Trust me. Mama, you have so much going on during your day-to-day that birthday party plans don’t need to live in your brain rent-free.
Have your kids color thank-you cards ahead of the party.
I (of course) DIYed cute themed thank you cards, and I have my kiddos color each little tag for each friend ahead of the party. This involves them, but also takes it off your plate for later. It seems like just an extra to do before, but once the party is over, you’ll thank me. I add them to the favors and send them on their way.
If you receive presents, open them after the party has ended.
This has been such a huge help for our kiddos – little kids don’t want to sit and watch friends open presents; they want to play. Let your child enjoy the day and open the presents at your leisure. It allows your kiddo to enjoy each present as they’re opened and not get caught up in numbers or cause fights.
Parties can be so fun to throw, but there’s no need to be stressed or overcomplicate things. Enjoy the day, take pictures, and don’t overspend. Trust me. It will be a day to remember and look back on fondly, I promise.
