15 Cheap And Totally Fun Birthday Party Ideas Kids Will Love!

3. Plan A Pinterest Party

Gather your kid’s friends for a hands-on crafting session where everyone learns to make something new to take home. Choose a simple, fun project aligned with your child’s passions.

• Paper flowers
• Friendship bracelets
• Decorated picture frames
• Painted mason jars
• Tie-dye shirts or tote bags
• Customized notebooks or journals
• Accessories or other jewelery items
• Cookie or cupcake decorating

Pro Tip: Choose simple projects with affordable materials and basic tools you already have or can borrow. Save more by buying in bulk.

4. DIY Science Party

Turn your party into a mini science lab with hands-on science experiments. With a few basic ingredients, kids can make their own slime, watch oranges erupt with baking soda and vinegar, or mix colors using food dye and water.

Pro Tip: Recruit friends or family to help run different science stations, allowing kids to rotate through in small groups. This keeps the activities interactive and manageable. Whenever possible, take the fun outside for an even more hands-on (messy) experience.

5. Game Party Extravaganza

Make your birthday party full of laughter and friendly competition with a variety of games. Set up stations with various games that suit the ages of the kids attending.

Must Try Idea: Get ready for non-stop laughter with these hilarious Birthday Minute to Win It games! They’re quick to set up, easy to clean up, and only need a few simple supplies.

6. Nerf Battle!

Invite your kids and their friends to bring their Nerf blasters. Then, transform your backyard into an epic battle zone! Set up boxes, obstacles, and hiding spots.

Finally, watch the fun unfold as they dive into thrilling Nerf wars.

Pro Tip: Swap out the Nerf blasters for water squirters in the summer for an unforgettable splash-filled birthday party!

7. Paint Party

Find an online painting tutorial your child will like and enjoy a creative birthday party. To make this budget-friendly:

• Buy just one bottle each of red, blue, and yellow, and mix them to create secondary colors. Add black and white for extra mixing options if needed.
• If you know your painting design in advance, purchase only the specific colors required for that picture.
• Canvas panels are sold in packs, cost less, and don’t require an easel to paint. Cardstock or construction paper work too!
• Borrow paintbrushes.

Related: Fun Things To Do Even When You Are Broke!

8. Movie Night Party

Host an outdoor movie night with a projector and a sheet or blank wall. Serve popcorn and soda to complete the theater experience. Invite kids to bring folding chairs and blankets to sit on.

Pro Tip: If you don’t have a projector, check with friends or local libraries to borrow one.

Bring the fun indoors and create a cozy movie and pajama party without the sleepover! Set up blankets and pillows, pick a favorite film, and let the kids enjoy a relaxed and fun-filled evening.

9. Park Party

Invite friends and family to your child’s favorite park for an afternoon of fun and celebration. Let the kids run, climb, and play while the adults relax and catch up. Add some simple games, bubbles, or a piñata for extra excitement.

Turn it into a potluck picnic by asking guests to bring a dish to share, making it an easy and budget-friendly way to enjoy great food and company.

Related: Cheap Things To Do With Friends

10. Scavenger Hunt

For active and adventurous kids, create a scavenger hunt list of items that can be found in your backyard, neighborhood or a local park.

• Pirate Treasure Hunt: Embark on a thrilling pirate treasure hunt to keep your young buccaneers active! Stick with the pirate theme and have kids dress like a pirate, learn to talk like a pirate, and eat pirate treats!

• Nature Quest: Inspire your explorers to head outdoors for an exciting nature scavenger hunt. Let them search for leaves, rocks, flowers, or hidden treasures in the backyard, park, or woods.

• Alphabet Hunt: Find or take a photo of a place, object, or person for each letter of the alphabet.

• Selfie Challenge: Break into teams and head out to take selfies that match a predetermined list. This is great scavenger hunt idea for older kids or teens.

11. Pet Lovers Party

Celebrate your birthday with your child’s friends and their pets! Head to a local dog park or the backyard for an afternoon of playtime and fun. Enjoy birthday treats and fun with pets.

Consider volunteering at a local animal shelter for a unique but memorable party idea. Call ahead to schedule a block of time for your group.

12. Tea Party

For an affordable yet unique birthday celebration, host a fancy tea party at home. Serve simple yet delicious snacks like finger sandwiches, cookies, and pastries. Fill up your child’s tea set with their favorite tea, lemonade, fruit punch, or juice.

Provide a box of costumes and accessories for kids to dress up in, and enjoy!

13. DIY Spa Day

Host a spa day celebration for your child’s birthday as a fun and relaxing way to celebrate.

Set up simple spa stations where kids can rotate through:

• Face Masks – Use gentle, kid-friendly ingredients like yogurt and honey.
• Cucumber Eye Station – Let them relax with cucumbers on their eyes.
• Mini Manicures – Provide nail polish, stickers, and glitter for fun designs.
• Foot Soak – Fill small tubs with warm water and Epsom salt for a soothing soak.

Pick one spa treat kids can make to take home:

• Lip balm – Use beeswax, coconut oil, and essential oils.
• Sugar scrub – Mix sugar, coconut oil, and vanilla for a yummy-smelling scrub.
• Bath bombs – Combine baking soda, citric acid, and essential oils for a fizzy bath treat.

Serve refreshing treats like fruit-infused water, yogurt parfaits, and little sandwiches to complete the spa experience.

Pro Tip: Have party guests bring their own robes and flip flops to wear.

14. Water Play Party

A water play birthday party is the perfect way to beat the heat and keep kids cool and entertained! Kids will love splashing around, playing water games, and enjoying the sunny day.

For older kids and teens: Head to a local pool for an afternoon of swimming and lounging in the sun.

15. Host Your Child’s Favorite Sports Game

Set up a sporty game your child loves playing. After the game, you can wind down with a themed cake and celebrate everyone’s hard work.

• Baseball/softball
• Soccer
• Sand volleyball
• Dodgeball
• Capture the flag
• Kickball
• Flag football

Pro Tip: Enjoy outdoor fun at local parks or school playgrounds for free when school isn’t in session. For indoor play, check the cost of renting a local school gym.

More Ideas To Plan A Cheap Birthday Party For Kids

• Don’t Serve A Meal: Schedule the party at at time when no one will expect a meal.

• Reuse Decorations: Check your storage for party decorations from previous events. Buy one standard “Happy Birthday” sign that you can reuse for all family birthdays. Borrow decorations from friends and family when possible.

• Send E-vites: Send free digital invitations to invite guests to your child’s birthday that contain all the party details. You can update e-vites with reminders and last minute changes if needed.

• Keep It Simple: Focus on one or two standout activities instead of trying to do everything.

More Ways To Save At Birthdays

• 50 Must-See Birthday Freebies to Snag
• 15 Cheap Birthday Gifts Everyone Will Love
• Cheap Birthday Party Ideas For Adults

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