| There are times when you have to throw a birthday | | | | games may be more appropriate (and cost effective). |
| party for somebody whose interests you may not | | | | White icing can be used to make individual cupcakes |
| know very well. For example, a child's first birthday | | | | or you can use two or more 8x8 cake pans, stack the |
| presents a challenge as far as coming up with a | | | | cakes on top of each other and have an ice cube |
| theme goes because babies may not have developed | | | | birthday cake. You could also incorporate winter |
| an obvious liking for certain things at that point. So, a | | | | animals like penguins and polar bears into the party. |
| great idea is to take cues from the season. Every | | | | Summer Birthday |
| season has classic elements that are easily | | | | Water games are a fantastic idea for a summer |
| recognizable, making your job a lot easier when it | | | | themed party. You can bob for apples in a kiddie pool, |
| comes time to think of things like decorations and even | | | | you can play water balloon volleyball, and you could |
| food choices. Here are some more specific examples | | | | even substitute a traditional birthday cake and ice |
| to illustrate this point: | | | | cream with snow cones or Popsicles. There are |
| Fall/Autumn Birthday | | | | countless outdoor games that you could think of and |
| Some themes that are very easily associated with the | | | | all of them would have the advantage that the |
| fall are leaves, pumpkins, Holidays like Halloween and | | | | disruption to the inside of your home would be minimal. |
| Thanksgiving, and the fall colors. You can very easily | | | | Kids can also take advantage of being active and |
| develop an entire birthday theme around these things. | | | | having more space to play than they would if they |
| For example, an invitation could have a pumpkin on it | | | | were forced to stay indoors because of the weather. |
| and read, "Our little pumpkin is turning two." You could | | | | Spring Birthday |
| then make a pumpkin flavored cake in a Bundt pan | | | | Spring birthdays are great for girls because this |
| and frost it with orange frosting with autumn foliage | | | | season is very feminine. There are blooming flowers, |
| decorations in the center. | | | | sweet smells, baby animals and even some magical |
| Mini Bundt cakes can be used for individual children's | | | | elements like pixies or butterflies. Boys need not feel |
| cakes and tootsie rolls can be used for the stems. | | | | left out. Bugs and nature exploration can be a fun part |
| Serve the cakes with pecan praline ice cream or | | | | of their party. You can have the party guest bring their |
| another type of ice cream that reminds you of fall or | | | | own bug-catching containers and let them run wild in |
| uses ingredients that you feel correlate with the | | | | the back yard. You can easily use a circular cake pan |
| season. For an activity, you can go to the pumpkin | | | | to make a bug body, use licorice for antennae and |
| patch and choose pumpkins that each guest could | | | | legs and icing for all the other details. Spring favor bags |
| then carve. | | | | can include any of the above mentioned bug or little girl |
| Winter Birthday | | | | themes. You could also incorporate an egg hunt if the |
| Winter birthdays can incorporate the themes of ice, | | | | birthday is close to Easter. Remember also that, as |
| white, snow, etc. If you live in an area where you can | | | | with any season, there are also colors associated with |
| go snow shoeing or skiing, that might be a fun activity. | | | | spring. Pastels, including lots of greens are great colors |
| If you are working with younger kids, something like | | | | to use to incorporate this theme into your birthday |
| having snowmen building contests or snow fort building | | | | party ideas. |