Ideas for 4 year old birthday party?

JennInMA

My daughter's "friends" party is on Saturday from 1pm to 4pm at my house.
We did a pinata last year, I was thinking of doing one again.

BUT if anyone has a good idea of something they did - heard of, etc...I'm open to it.

There will be about 10 kids there.

MrsPong

I have had pony rides, inflatables, clowns... the whole BANG.
You can always set up an "art" station. where they can make their own birthday hats/crowns whatever....Keep them busy.


This year I did it at the Little Gym for my daughters 4th birthday party. I loved it. Kept them busy...no clean up or set up from me. Unlike previous years lol

Jen32285

My son turns 4 the end of the month. He wants a pinata. I think we might be renting a bounce house. It only costs $50 out here to rent for the day.

jfcincoski

Yikes, that's a lot of kids for a 4 year old party!

At that age, we did traditional games like pin the tail on the donkey, only I think it was tail on the cat (cat themed party), Clothespin drop, maybe something with music? A simple craft like painting little pumpkins. MIchael's also has those fun foam shapes that I think you can decorate with markers.

Have fun!

LoraF83

My daughter had a Super Mario Brothers themed party this year for her 4th birthday.

We had a pinata, which the kids loved. We also did a Mario themed obstacle course: black balloons as "bombs" taped to the floor they had to go through without popping; tunnels to crawl through (like the pipes in the game); plungers stuck to the ground to weave through; aluminum disposable pans painted like turtle shells and they had to carry yellow balloons (like the coins in the game) to the finish line.
We also did a "pin the mustache on the Mario" and had a coin hunt - I got cheap plastic gold coins at the dollar store and hid them all over the room (we rented a community center) and they had to find them all.
The party went over pretty well and all the kids had a good time!

Turtlehurdle

Look into another cultures for ideas! I mean Americans have already adopted the piñata... I am certain you will be able to find many!

What kind of things does your child like?

rossi02

This past year, we had a joint birthday party for my boys since they were both born in April. We went all out with a petting zoo and pony ride. It may be a little late for that, but the inflatables are a good idea. Also if you can get a cotton candy machine, those go over well. We also went to a party once where my boys got to make their own superhero cape. They loved that! We went to a pirate them party where they had a guy dressed as a pirate and he led them all in games and such.

roundrunner

A friend went to a "Cookie Monster" party. The kids decorated cookies, and at the end they put out trays of different kinds of cookies and had the kids pick out cookies for a take home treat bag. Thought it was a cute idea & very simple, and my friend said the kids loved it. Wish I'd thought of it when my son was younger!

bpwparents

It's October, do bobbing for apples or hang cider donuts from the ceiling as the kids try to eat them without using their hands.

Fr33zefram3

I work at a kids store, and although we do birthday parties there, I also get to hear a lot about other parties they've had.

One I really think that went over well and didn't cost a thing was a Fashion Show party. The girls got to dress up in a few of moms clothes, she laid out a runway and took pictures. They spent the first half of the party doing their hair and makeup together, then hit the "runway" and apparently it was a huge success.

I love the cookie monster idea too, simple yet fun!

JennInMA

thanks for the ideas...

we've done pinatas - as my husband is mexican, it sort of has made sense.

It is a mix of ages, boys/girls - I was thinking of something where they could decorate something...but i'm not sure. I don't know if a 5 year old boy wants to decorate something -

Unless I do cars for the boys and something princessy for the girls...UGH. so darn hard!

magj0y

It's close to halloween, so maybe play on that?

Smallish pumpkins and paint wouldn't be too expensive.

One year we did a "cake walk" we all drew pumpkins and used them as place markers. you have enough places for everyone minus 1. It's similar to musical chairs. last one standing gets a price.

good luck now. Just remember, as the years go by, kids expect "bigger and better". If you get a bounce house now, what do you think they'll expect at 8, 10, 13 and so on?

JPLYLER09

ran into the same problem when my daughter wanted a princess party...

go to the dollar store and you might get some ideas for craft stuff