GIRLS
FROZEN
Frozen may have hit the theaters two years ago but this frostbitten flick is still a hot pick. If your daughter has a winter birthday, what better way to ring it in than by taking your decorative cue from nature’s current landscape? Converting your party space into a wintry wonderland is a cinch! Coffee filters provide the perfect medium to create paper snowflakes. Simply string your finished product from clear fishing line and pin to the ceiling at varied heights to achieve a blustery look. Sandwiches cut in the shape of snowflakes will remind everyone of Hans’ favorite food. Ditch the cake and instead go for snowball look-alike powdered sugar donut holes. A rousing game of pin the carrot/nose on Olaf provides a creative spin on pin the tail on the donkey. Don’t forget to hand out instant hot cocoa mix to wish your guests well as they leave!
SPA
Girls of any age love a good pampering, and a spa party delivers! Instead of going decoration crazy, opt to create a soothing atmosphere by diffusing lavender oil and streaming a soft interlude station on Pandora. Present each guest with her own terry bathrobe (Robemart.com sells them for $11 apiece) and flip flops. Then direct the girls to three stations: one for hair (where girls can apply hair tinsel), one for nails (where Mom can provide manis and pedis) and one for making a sugar-based body scrub (both craft and party favor!). A spa-like menu is sure to include infused water, smoothies and a veggie platter. And thinking of veggies...don’t forget to keep extra cucumber slices on hand for eye masks!
ART
If your birthday girl is a budding artist, let art take center stage during her celebration. Decorations should be bright, colorful and rainbow hued. The good news? This can be done on the cheap! The Dollar Tree provides a vast array of party goods for—you guessed it—a buck apiece. Hang various colored plastic tablecloths vertically against the showcase wall to provide a vibrant backdrop. Use plastic palette liners as plates to keep with the theme and offer a colorful sweets bar with M&M’s and Skittles! Each guest can don an apron and get to work painting a canvas, a party favor sure to be enjoyed long after the party.
BOYS
LEGO
Legos take the cake in play, so why not utilize this popular toy in your birthday boy’s party theme? Skip the expensive licensed paper goods and opt for using solid primary red, yellow, green and blue staples from a dollar store instead. Build the letters in your child’s name from Duplo blocks and stand them upright to become the table centerpiece. Play Pictionary using Lego blocks to build the clues instead of drawing. A plain sheet cake lined in Candy Blox (essentially edible Legos) makes for the perfect treat. Melt your child’s crayon nubs in a silicon Lego mold and boom! Lego-shaped crayon party favors!
CAMPING
Bring the outdoors in with this winning theme! Trail mix, hot dogs and s’mores make the perfect spread (brownie points if the s’mores are made in the fireplace or firepit!). Decor can be as simple as pitching a tent and building an imaginary campfire out of wood and red and orange tissue paper flames. Go on a scavenger hunt together and don’t forget to hand each guest a flashlight as both a fun and functional favor!
STAR WARS
May the force be with you as you take your cue from this iconic series! An intergalactic feast is sure to include Hutt dogs, Han burgers and Wookie cookies, but if you’re feeling especially ambitious, check out the official Star Wars Cookbook series for further ideas. Don’t forget to play the infamous theme song and present guests with their very own pool noodle light saber as they prepare for jedi training!
Olathe mom Lauren Greenlee considers party planning one of her favorite ways to dote on her three sons. She has executed more than 14 different themes in her seven years of motherhood.