First Birthday Party Ideas - 1st Birthday Party

A 1st Birthday Party is primarily for family and friends. If you have family who live near you, invite them over for a family celebration. If your child regularly plays with other children, you may wish to include them and their parents in your family celebration or invite them to a small, separate party (a play date with cupcakes).

1st Birthday themes can focus on the #1 or characters that are popular with young children, such as Sesame Street, Baby Einstein, Barney, and Winnie the Pooh. A favorite toy (teddy bear, doll, or truck) might also suggest a fun party theme.

Visit our sister site First Birthday Fun for dozens of party theme ideas. Celebrate Express sells cute 1st Birthday partyware (paper products, decorations, favors, etc.) in fun themes, including Princess, Construction, Sesame Street, Barnyard, and more.

The best locations for 1st Birthday parties are places your child is familiar and comfortable with, such as your home, a friend's or relative's home, or a playground your child frequently visits.

Keep the party short (1-2 hours) and plan for a time of day when your child is usually at his best. Morning parties work well for many young children.

Fun Invitations for a 1st Birthday include:

Cut a large number 1 from bright colored paper. Write your child's name on the front of the number and the party details (time, location, etc.) on the back of the number.
Make reprints of a recent photo of your child and tape or glue to a slightly larger piece of paper. Write "Look who's turning 1!" above or below the photo and write and the party details on the back.
Tie one birthday candle to your invitations.

More Invitation Ideas and Tips!

Fun Decorations for a 1st Birthday Party include:

Personalized 1st Birthday banners
Large number ones cut from brightly colored paper and hung around the party location.
Favorite photos of the birthday child (from infant pictures to current).
Stuffed animals
Happy 1st birthday banner or poster for guests to sign and add their best wishes.
Helium balloons and streamers to match party theme.

More Decoration Ideas and Tips!

Fun Games & Activities for a 1st Birthday include:

Story time (read or tell a favorite story)
Show home video of 1st year (limit to 10 minutes!)
Ball rolls (have children sit in circle with legs apart and roll large ball to each other)
Wagon rides (decorate a wagon and pull children for rides)
Free play area (blocks, stacking toys, pull toys, and other young favorites)
Box yard (decorate several large cardboard boxes and allow children to climb in and through boxes)
Pull string pinata (even very young children can play)

More Games & Activities!

Creative Arts & Crafts for a 1st Birthday include:

Finger painting
Paint with water books (ink is printed on page)
Handprints in plaster or clay

More Arts & Crafts Ideas!

Fun Foods for a 1st Birthday include:

animal crackers or other small cookies
peanut butter & jelly or cream cheese sandwiches
applesauce
cupcakes (less messy than cake), cake with #1 candle,
ice-cream

Include additional foods for the adults, such as:

cheese and crackers
cut fruit
raw vegetable platter with dip
pretzels

More Fun Food Ideas!

Fun Party Favors for a 1st Birthday Party include:

beach balls
blowing bubbles
picture book
finger puppets

More Party Favor Ideas!

Special Resources for a 1st Birthday Party include:

Celebrate Express
Kids' Party Fun Directory (entertainment, rentals, and places)
First Birthday Fun

More Party Resources!

Related Party Themes include:

More Party Themes!