14 Creative Toddler Birthday Party Ideas to Celebrate Your Little One

Your little tyke is getting older and it’s time to celebrate! Whether you’re hosting a celebration for a one-year-old or planning a three-year-old birthday party, we have plenty of ideas for your party theme, activities, and more. 

Check out this list of the best toddler birthday party ideas to plan a picture-perfect event. Plus, we’ve included invitation inspiration so you can send a stunning invite to everyone on your guest list.

Toddler Birthday Party Ideas: 14 Ways to Celebrate

This list of toddler birthday party ideas has everything you need to pull off the perfect celebration for your little one. You’ll find affordable DIY options as well as over-the-top party ideas to host a memorable kids’ birthday party.

1. Choose a Birthday Party Theme

What’s more fun than playing dress-up with toddlers? There are numerous birthday party themes that could work for little ones — think dinosaurs, superheroes, an outer space party, or even a Crayon-based celebration where guests can dress up in their favorite hue! When in doubt, a Disney-themed bash or one centered on your toddler’s interests — like trains, dolls, or painting — are great party options.

2. Rent a Bounce House

One of the most fun birthday party activities for kids is a bounce house. Make sure to provide adequate supervision and ensure the bounce house you choose is age-appropriate for the guests at your party. Choose from any variety of bounce house shapes and themes, from fairytale castles to safari-style creations.

3. Celebrate with a “Smash” Birthday Cake

No birthday party is complete without a birthday cake, especially for sweets-loving toddlers. While a “smash cake” is usually a first-birthday party tradition, why should one-year-olds have all the fun?

In addition to having a tasty birthday cake or cupcakes for everyone, consider a tiny smash cake for the guest of honor and let them dig in! (It’ll also make an incredible and hilarious photo opp.) Another idea to consider: an ice cream bar. Offer a few different flavors and let the tots create their own sundaes with sprinkles and toppings.

4. Have Fun with Face Painting

Face-painting is a fun way to bring vibrancy and whimsy to any party. Hire a professional artist to paint the kids’ faces or get a few of the parents together to do the artwork. You can buy stencils to make the painting easier if you go the DIY route.

5. Host a Tea Party

Pinkies up! Who says tea parties are for adults only? For this toddler birthday party idea, ditch the fancy serving ware and use plastic tea cups and plates instead. Along with kid-friendly teas (not too hot!), serve finger foods like mini sandwiches with the crust cut off and small pastries. You can decorate the tables with flowers and miniature teddy bears.

6. Have a Finger Painting Party

Let the kids have some messy fun with a finger-painting birthday bash. To pull this off without creating a clean-up nightmare, cover the tables with a washable tablecloth or butcher paper. 

This is a great option for an outdoor birthday party, but you can also place coverings on the floor if you want to host it indoors. Either way, set up an area where the kids can wash their hands after they finish painting. Provide paper towels for easy drying without ruining towels.

7. Set Up an Obstacle Course

For preschoolers or parties where older kids may attend, an obstacle course race could be a major crowd pleaser. Make the route age-appropriate using stuffed animals and toy blocks as the obstacles. The winner of this fun game can take home a special prize or you can hand out mini participation trophies instead.

8. Play Games Like Musical Statues

Little kids love to dance and bounce around. Play this fun game where kids dance to a song and then freeze when it’s paused. Any child who keeps moving gets called out but gets to keep playing. Other fun activities include Duck-Duck-Goose, I Spy, and parachute games.

9. Splish Splash in Water

If weather permits, consider some safe splish-splashing fun. Turn on the sprinklers and let the kids run around on the lawn. Or if you’re hosting your party at a park with a fountain area, encourage parents to bring swimsuits for their children. Of course, consider the children’s skill levels and always have adults supervising any time little ones are playing around water. 

10. Plan a Scavenger Hunt

What’s more fun than going on a treasure hunt? Keep kids with short attention spans engaged by having them track down fun items. Choose items that match your theme — like an elephant, giraffe, and crocodile for a jungle theme party — or just hide a few of your child’s favorite toys. This game is great for kids of all ages. Older kids can search for the items themselves and you can have parents help smaller toddlers find the treasures.

11. Wear Party Hats

One of the best parts of celebrating a child’s birthday is wearing festive party hats. Look for party hats that suit your party theme or set up an activity table loaded with all the supplies where kids can make DIY party hats.

12. Have a Petting Zoo

Does your toddler love animals? Plan for a petting zoo or farm-themed birthday celebration. You can hire a professional company to bring live farm animals to your location. Or if you’re concerned about allergies, get creative and set up a plush petting zoo using stuffed animals.

13. Get a Bubble Machine

It’s no secret that kids love bubbles. Bring on the fun by renting a bubble machine or handing out miniature bottles of bubbles for the young ones. Either way, you’ll have a truly blow-out bash. 

14. Don’t Forget the Party Favors

Show guests how much you appreciate them coming to celebrate by sending them home with party favors. Create goodie bags that play off your party theme or send the little ones home with classic gifts like a small stuffed animal, snack bags of crackers and juice boxes, or sippy cups with their names on them.

Toddler Birthday Party Invitations: 5 Designs to Customize

Now that you know which toddler birthday party ideas you want to use, it’s time to invite guests to the special day. At Greenvelope, you can browse our collection of toddler birthday party invites to find the perfect design for your party. Here are a few of our favorite toddler birthday invitations to send to your party guests. 

1. Seaside Fun Invitation

Design: Solmade Studio

This nautical invitation is ideal for a sea-themed birthday party. Featuring sweet depictions of crabs, starfish, and sailboats it’s perfect for toddlers who love the water.

2. Friendly Panda Invitation

Design: Snow and Ivy

Host a bear-themed toddler party with this panda invite. The design features a cuddly bear with a fluttering butterfly and fragrant daisies for a cute look. There’s tons of space on the front and back of the card to include event details, including dress-up guidelines or requests for a potluck celebration. 

3. Baby Balloons Invitation

Design: Signature Greenvelope

Get ready to celebrate your toddler’s birthday with this sweet balloon invitation. Featuring three colorful balloons and metallic accents, it has a hint of glam. Customize the design by choosing a different color palette to match your party theme.

4. Little Bunny Invitation

Design: itsibelli

Plan a memorable birthday party for your little bunny with this adorable invitation. The bunny dons a magical flower crown while you can add important event details front and center.

5. Safari Animals Invitation

Design: See That There

Ideal for an outdoor birthday party, a 2-year-old celebration, or a jungle-themed birthday, this safari invite is sure to please any tot. Three hand-drawn jungle animals are ready to join the festivities and you can add fun elements (like a photo stamp and even music!) before hitting send. 

Get Ready to Celebrate Your Little One

With these toddler birthday party ideas, you’re sure to pull off a memorable event. Whether you choose to plan a huge bash with an over-the-top theme or opt for something more mellow and sweet for your little one, there’s a celebration idea you’ll love. Once you’ve begun the planning process, start personalizing your digital invitations so you can excite your party guests about what’s to come.