Need Combined Birthday Party Ideas

Hi S.! I had a birthday party for my daughter (4) and son (6) and we did princess and knights. I made tutus for the girls, and bought tiaras and wands. For the boys I bought them a knight kit I found at Target for a pretty decent price (I have seen items now at dollar stores for knights). They had a great time acting out stories in their costumes and the parents had a fun watching them!

Water themes are always so much fun! I recommend the always popular slip and slide and water balloon toss!

Have fun! They are only little for a moment!

S.

Hi S. - Two suggestions: 1) Pirates & Princesses - have the kids dress up (you'll be surprised how many girls will dress as pirates!), pre-paint mini chests (from a craft store like Michael's) gold & have the kids decorate with beads & gems & sparkle glue - good activity & part of their take home loot bag.
I would just order pizza & have some cut up veggies on the side. Or if you have the party between meals (2-4), no food is required other than cake & ice cream.
2) Fairies & Elves - I just did this theme for my 4 y/o & we had a great time! I made a castle cake (surprisingly easy with all the pre-made decorations you can now buy!), and I decorated the room with lots of flowers & butterflies from the dollar store (to look like fairytopia). But the best part was a story I wrote that was interactive - a treasure hunt, per se. The kids' names were all in it & they loved the hunt. Because I had adults & children, I didn't get too hung up on themed food. I made some salads & a ham for everyone, then just added hot dogs for the kids. It was a lot of fun & all the girls dressed in fairy costumes (minus their wings & wands) and the boys dressed as elves (minus their hats) - I provided the wings, wands & hats when they completed the 'scavenger hunt' - they had to earn them. These then became part of their loot bags. Also in their loot bags, I bought Barbie Fairytopia ($5 from Target). I would have spent that for each of them on junky stuff anyone, and this way, it'll last a little longer. Also, I made fairy dust with colored sand & put it into small containers w/ lids (from the dollar store). I did labels indicating what it was. I also threw in some pixie sticks (candy) and some tinkerbell stickers & temporary tatoos.
I hope this helps - good luck!

Hi S.! We had a great fun birthday party for my son's 2nd AND 3rd birthday (he wanted to do the same thing again!). We invited his little buddies to meet us at the Farm at Kensington Metro Park. We pulled all of the picnic tables together out in the main courtyard area (free!!) and brought in trays of Subway sandwiches, chips, fruit, drinks. We had a BLAST! The kids absolutely loved touring the barn & seeing all of the animals. After lunch, we took everybody on a hayride which was also great. Then we came back to the table area for cake & ice cream. Just a thought! Have fun.

How about a Dr. Seuss theme. Thing one & Thing Two. Could be fun!

S.,

I have three children birthdays all in the same week. Many years apart. They are all boys but we have had many combined party I just let the kids pick out what they are interested in. They get there own cake decorated in that theme. Than they get a table decorated with there theme. I had power ranges and scooby doo and a hot wheel themes. I figured it does not really matter if the kids are happy... I hope this helps.

I'd never pay to cater a party for young children. Keep it simple - that's my motto.

I loved the princess and pirates theme idea. Here's a FANTASTIC website with more kids birthday party ideas than you can count. Has everything under the sun and some unbelievable crazy good ideas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Check it out at http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/party_ideas.html
Maybe reading through the list will give you some inspirations.

Have a fun party!

If you want a matching theme with a boy and girl, I would recommend Raggedy Ann and Andy, Mickey and Minnie Mouse (Party City has this stuff now), Donald and Daisy, Shrek and Fiona, Cinderella and Prince Charming, Beauty and the Beast, Kermit and Miss Piggy --- there are so many ideas, just find one that you think fits the kids (what do they like?) and go with it. You could also do a burger and fry theme or two peas in a pod, or any outher "couple". If they are adament about their own idea, though, you can incorporate that (say she wants Cinderella and he wants Shrek). No one cares if it matches perfectly. This is all fun!

Hi S.,
A Mickey and Minnie Mouse Theme, Diego and Dora, or a Sesame Street Elmo and Zoe Theme would be fun. You may also want to consider renting a moon bounce, if you're looking to have an outdoor party. I also think simple foods would be easy (pizza, tacos, sloppy joes, fruit, veggies, cheese puffs, chex mix, cupcakes, icecream/frozen yogurt,popsicles, etc.)

How many children will be attending? She should have her own cake, boy cake, girl cake, the games can be played by all kids, pin the tail on the (?) what ever you decide, musicical chairs, also we have been to party's where the childrens music played all day, great for little one's. Drawing contest, print favorite cartoon off line, play what item does not belong, 3 to 4 items. How dirty can the kids get? Lots of fun water games this time of year, water ballons, small water guns. children eat very little several times a day, at these ages, we had Sponge Bob, crabie pattys, made out of small hambergers, finger foods for the little one's. Have fun, Happy Birthday to both children.

Hi S.,

One these I don't see anyone else has mentioned is possibly a Sesame Street theme or maybe Blue's Clues. Are they allowed to watch any educational tv? What's their favorite?I'm sure you can find stuff around different party stores for these ideas.

S.

Hi S.,
My son just turned 2 and we had about 20 children of age ranges from infant to 13. We had a petting zoo come to the house and did a Farm theme. It was Wonderful. All of the kids loved it and the adults too. We had a huge Hay fight and I bought Cowboy hats for all of the kids. The pictures were great, the games easy and I made all of the Picnic food myself. The entire thing only cost $300. Good Luck! Have fun! L. B.

what about Dora & Diego? They're probably both at the age where they would be popular.
I would think it would probably be better to make your own stuff...maybe do hot dogs & burgers on the grill, some salads, etc. and one cake with both characters.
have fun with it!
D.

You could do Dora and Diego :) Both would be easily found decorations, and most kids who watch nickelodeon, love these two shows :) Pinatas are always a hit at kids parties too!
most of all, have fun, relax, and go with the flow, cuz a kids party at this age needs to be very flexible lol

BUGS. I did a ladybug party for my daughter last year and of course this year ladybugs are the big thing...and for the little boy... there are tons of buggy things out there. You can put ladybugs and other bugs on the cakes and it is very easy to decorate. (My cards said Come join the fun our little ladybug is turning one!)

OWLS-- I'm doing owls for my daughters 2nd b-day (Who Whose turning 2? Come join us to celebrate, it will be a Hoot!-- or something like that).

Old MacDonald's Farm-

Sesame St (elmo and zoe-- although I really try to stay away from the comerical themes)

Dora and Diego (again- I try to avoid comerical themes)

Rockstars- (I did this for my son's 5th). Get out a bunch of musical instruments and let the kids play away. Play Rock Rock Roll (instead of duck duck goose) and pin the pick on the guitar. We had an awesome guitar shapped cake.

Pirates and Princesses! I would make my own foods, just split up the cost and work evenly between the two of you. Catering can get very pricey! Or you could just do cake and icecream and have a treasure map for more goodies. Have fun with it!