Party ideas

Birthday party ideas for turning 5

Eight ideas that suit the elementary school years, plus a four-step planning timeline you can count back from the big day.

Eight ways to celebrate

Small sleepover

Invite two or three close friends for pizza, a movie and sleeping bags in the living room.

Bowling or mini golf

Book a few lanes or a round of mini golf and finish with cake at the table.

Pool party

Head to a community pool or backyard pool for a splashy party with plenty of adult supervision.

Cupcake decorating party

Bake the cupcakes ahead and let each guest decorate their own with frosting and sprinkles.

Costume or superhero party

Ask guests to come dressed as a favorite hero and add a hero training obstacle course.

Backyard movie night

Hang a sheet or use a projector, pile up blankets and serve popcorn and juice boxes.

Craft and make party

Set up stations for painting, friendship bracelets or slime, and send each guest home with their creation.

Bounce house or trampoline park

Book a play space or rent a bounce house and let the kids run wild for an hour or two.

6 weeks outLet the birthday kid pick a theme, then set a budget and guest list and book the venue.
3 weeks outSend invitations with an RSVP date, ask about allergies and order supplies.
1 week outConfirm the RSVPs, order the cake and prepare the games and goodie bags.
The day ofPlan activities in short bursts, keep snacks simple and have an indoor backup for weather.

Add the birthday to see the dates for each step.

A toast to borrow

Here's to a year full of adventure, laughter and cake. Happy birthday!

Card message

Happy birthday! I hope your day is filled with fun, friends and a really big slice of cake.

Find gifts picked for the age and budget, or build the whole birthday in the planner.