5 Ideas for Throwing the Best Summer Party For Kids

Summer is the perfect time to have your kids’ friends over. The awesome weather means you can host a party outdoors. That means less of a mess indoors and your children and their friends can expend all that excess energy they’ve stored up over the colder months to the fullest. Whether you have a summer birthday in the house, are throwing a party for a young graduate, or just feel like treating your young ones to a great time with their pals, read on for our top party planning ideas for a summer party.

1. Activities!

One of the nicest things about throwing a party outdoors is the space kids have to play. While it can be tempting to just let them run amok in the backyard, having a few planned outdoor activities can help give the party a flow. 

You can organize a scavenger hunt or go for the good old summer classic – a water fight. Ask parents to bring a change of clothes for their kids and provide filled-up water balloons, water guns and buckets. If you have very young children, you can set up some kiddie paddling pools or simply turn your sprinklers on. They’ll have loads of fun. 

If you’re throwing a jungle-themed party – consider including accessories like these Party Animals Foam Masks and watch the kids come up with their own innovative play.

2. Make a Day of It

A day-long party may sound exhausting but can be a lot of fun too. A camp-themed party involves plenty of activities and quiet time as well.  Enlist a couple of parents to be your co-camp counsellors. Set up a few tents around your backyard to set the mood. They’re great for a nap or two too. You can start the day off with classic games like tug-of-war or three-legged races. Sing camp-themed songs and tell tall tales around your ‘campfire’. Keep the food simple with hot dogs or mac and cheese. Roast marshmallows over your fire pit for a complete experience. Enhance your party with the right camp-themed decorations.  

If your children are slightly older, you can also consider letting them and a couple of their closest friends camp out in the backyard overnight. 

3. Pizza and Art

The great thing about having an art party outdoors is that the clean-up is so much easier. Bring in coloured chalks that wash off easily and let the kids create murals on your pavement. You can have messy activities like splatter painting and water balloon painting that unleash your creative side while having a lot of fun. Add in a pizza party angle too where the kids put their favourite toppings on their pizzas and give out prizes for the best-decorated pizzas.

Keep the art party theme flowing with this Art Party Decorations Kit.

4. Host a BBQ

Nothing says summer like a barbeque. It goes down well with children and adults alike. Set up picnic tables in your backyard or organize some comfy seating for the grown-ups to relax. Have lemonade stands for the kids and coolers of the adults’ favourite drinks. Set up a few outdoor games both adults and kids will enjoy. 

Be sure to include some of these Summer BBQ Party Supplies that have barbecue-themed prints featuring a red grill, grilled foods, red and blue picnic gingham patterns and fun fonts to add to the festivities.

5. Get Tropical

You can get as quirky as you like with outdoor parties. A tropical theme is beloved by people of all ages. Give the little ones a taste of the tropics with a luau-themed party complete with leis, grass skirts and Hawaiian music. You can also set up an outdoor movie screen and project and watch a tropical kids' movie like Lilo and Stitch. A pineapple-shaped pinata just adds to the fun. 

This Pineapple and Friends Party Supplies Collection replete with dinner and luncheon plates, napkins, beverage cups, tablecloths, and photo props makes for the perfect addition to your tropical-themed party.  

When it comes to an outdoor kids’ party, the only things holding you back are your imagination and enthusiasm. Setting a theme helps keep the planning simple and lets you focus on having fun.