Melissa & Doug
June 15, 2022
Birthday party planning just became a breeze thanks to help from the expert planners at Melissa & Doug!
Favorite Birthday Party Themes for4-Year-Old Kids
We recently starteda series on the blogto help parents and caregivers who might need some support in coming up with birthday party theme ideas. For our latest Kids Party Planning 101 installment, we’re not only looking at theme ideas, but gift and snack inspiration, and suggestions for take-home goodie bags for kids who are celebrating their fourth birthday, too. Let’s get right to it!
Guidelines for Birthday Party Planning
Guest Count: The rule of thumb for babies and toddlers is your child’s age, plus one. So, if your kiddo is turning 4,five attendees is a good number of kid guests. Remember, big crowds can overwhelm young kids—not to mention the party-throwing parents.
Party Duration: Keep the party under 90 minus for toddlers; school-aged kids can last about 2-3 hours. And be mindful of nap-time if your child is at that stage.
Structured But Flexible: Plan for around 10-15 minutes for each game or activity to keep kids engaged, but if the kiddos are really enjoying something in particular, let 'em play!
Kids Birthday Party Theme Idea #1: Let’s Explore!
The Main Event: Birthday Nature Walk
Our entireLet’s Exploreline of toys is designed to inspire kids to explore nature. So if your kid loves being in the Great Outdoors, might we suggest gifting your little explorer theLet’s Explore Naturalist Vest, paired with theHiking Play Setand accessorized with theBinoculars and Compass Play Set? Whatever you catch in theCritter Netcan stay in theTerrarium Observations Play Set—until you release it back into the wild.
Play Stations
It’s tough to set up multiple games or activities in a natural outdoor setting—so let Mother Nature take the lead. The Let’s Explore Vest and Hiking Play Set includescavenger huntsuggestions for things to look for in nature. You can also encourage party goers tobuild cairns out of stones,make natural structures or sculptures,collect leaves for an art project, ordraw pictures of cool bugsthey discover.
Signature Snack Ideas
Just mix gummy worms and Oreo cookie crumbs for a two-ingredient Dirt & Worms dessert you can customize any way you’d like! We also found some cool nature-themed snack suggestionsat this party blog; the Fruit Caterpillar, Fruit Flowers, Veggie Insects, and Animal Toasts especially would make for a great spread at any outdoor-themed kids birthday party!
Goodie Bag Go-To
Let’s Explore Water Wow! Seasons
Kids Birthday Party Theme Idea #2: Dinosaurs
The Main Event: Dinosaur Shindig
If your kiddo is a mega-dinosaur fan, you’ll be happy to know we offera wide range of dino-themed toys. But the mightiest dinosaur toy we offer is undoubtedly theT-Rex Jumbo Plush, who will most likely be taller than your 4-year-old.That just means years of playful palling around for the both of them! Not sure how you’d wrap this Thunder Lizard, but it would make for a great birthday party show piece.
Play Stations
Set up a take-home coloring station with ourDinosaur Playmats, or have the kids collaborate on a bigger arts & crafts project with theWooden Stamp Set - Dinosaurs. Pair up the dino figures from ourWooden Dinosaur MagnetsorDinosaurs Chunky Puzzlewith thePrehistoric Playground Dinosaur Rugfor pretend play fun. Engage kids with storytelling time utilizing ourPrehistoric Reusable Sticker Book.
Signature Snack Ideas
You don’t need time travel for dino-themed goodies; there are plenty of store-bought options for dino foods like chicken nuggets, cookies, chips, and more. If you want to showcase your creativity, unearth recipes online onhow to carve a watermelon into a dinosaur head for fruit salad. For a simple treat the kids will love, add gummy dinosaurs to any snack mix!
Goodie Bag Go-To
Puffy Sticker Play Set - Dinosaurs
Kids Birthday Party Theme Idea #3: Arts & Crafts
The Main Event: Stamp-a-palooza Party!
This year’s big arts and crafts gift for your creative kiddo also helps provide party entertainment! With fourDeluxe Wooden Stamp Setsto choose from—animals,vehicles,fairy tales, andABCs-123s—there’s no end to the surprise and delight when it comes to stamping as a creative activity. Set outrolls or pads of paper, make sure there’sextra ink padsto share, and watch the kids stamp out boredom!
Play Stations
Your party guests will be pretty occupied stamping their way through the party until it’s time for snacks, cake, and presents. But if you need some other creative play options for party activities, you could always set up a table withto give busy hands something to mold and sculpt—not to mention roll, cut, shape, and more. For a completely different creative pattern, set out someMake a Face Reusable Sticker Padsto see what funny pet faces your guests can create. And for a great party craft that doubles as a take-home goodie, try our selection ofCreated By Me craft kits—we offer over a dozen kits for less than $10.
Signature Snack Ideas
One fun and easy creative-themed snack:“Paint” plain shortbread cookieson mini palettes to let the kids decorate before eating. Orarrange colorful fruits on a paletteand put some yummy dips in the middle. Dip cereal treats in colored melted chocolate, add a stick handle andvoila–edible paint brush snack! You could even set up a homemade refreshment bar to get the “Creative Juices” flowing with favorite drinks or smoothies!
Goodie Bag Go-To
Let them take home even more colorful creative fun with theScratch Art Doodle Book!
Kids Birthday Party Theme Idea #4:Princesses
The Main Event: A Royal Princess Ball!
If your kid enjoys the (pretend) lifestyle of a princess, we offer plenty of options that will please the royal highness come gifting time! If dress-up play is their thing, you could pair ourPrincess Role Play Costume Setwith aCrown Jewels Tiaraaccessory for additional royal bling. Or perhaps a plush friend is just what the princess ordered? Our 3.5-foot tallPlush Giant Pegasusis ready for takeoff from the royal playroom!
Play Stations
It’s easy to keep the princess theme going throughout your royal ball, even with the party activities. Melissa & Doug offers several fun, engaging, easy-to-do craft toys that are perfect for any gathering of princesses: theDYO Wooden Princess Wand, aStained Glass Made Easy - Unicornproject, or aare all great ways to keep the royals entertained.
Signature Party Snacks
We found a ton of inspiration at thisvery specific princess party food blog from Taste of Home, and you couldn’t go wrong with any of these royally good treats:Unicorn Mane cookies, Mini Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes, Princess Crunch Mix, Unicorn Horn Banana Pops, Fruit and Whipped Dip, Princess Cake Pops, orRoyal Smoothies. Where’s our invite?!
Goodie Bag Go-To
Puffy Stickers Play Set - Princess
