Toddler Birthday Party Ideas & Food

From trying to get your child to decide on a party theme to finalizing the party menu, planning a toddler birthday party can be a lot of work. Fortunately, once the party begins, the smile on your toddler’s face will make all the work seem worthwhile. Although there are several party and food ideas to consider when planning your toddler’s party, keeping things simple can help you to create a successful birthday party for your toddler that he’ll remember for years to come.

Toddler Birthday Party Themes

There are several fun themes that work perfectly for toddler birthday parties. Toddlers who watch television may have a favorite character, and having a character-themed party can be a great idea. Curious George, Thomas the Train, Elmo and Winnie the Pooh are all popular characters that toddlers love. Sports, firetrucks, bugs, construction zone and princess themes are other great options for a toddler’s party. If your child has a favorite color, you can keep the theme simple by choosing party items that reflect the color of her choice.

Toddler Birthday Party Activities

When gathering a group of toddlers together for a birthday party, it’s important to have something for them to do. An arts and crafts project, such as a coloring page, can be a fun activity, especially if you’re able to find a page that reflects the party theme. If you’re indoors, games such as a beanbag toss or bowling with empty soda bottles can be fun. If you’re outdoors, chasing bubbles or simply allowing the kids to play in the backyard can be fun.

Toddler Birthday Party Food

As any parent knows, toddlers can be picky eaters. Simple and familiar foods are the best options for serving at toddler birthday parties. Pizza or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are good main meal options. Fruit salad and raw veggies are good side options. Be sure to consider the ages of your guests so that you don’t serve any foods such as popcorn or hot dogs that pose a high choking risk. You may also want to consult with the guests’ parents prior to the party to see whether anyone has any food allergies.

Toddler Birthday Party Cakes

Serving cake at a toddler’s birthday party seems to always be the highlight of the event. Consider choosing a cake that coordinates with the theme of your toddler’s party. Cupcakes are an attractive option for toddler birthday parties because they can be more easily eaten with little hands and tend to create less of a mess. If you’re considering serving ice cream, proportioned individual cups of ice cream are a good choice.

Toddler Birthday Party Drinks

When it comes to serving drinks at a toddler’s birthday party, 100 percent fruit juice boxes and bottled waters are good choices. Be sure to have straws for the water and a few additional sippy cups on hand should a child who needs one forget his. You may also wish to consider having milk available as some parents don’t allow their toddlers to drink juice.