The best tips, ideas and planning advice sent in by our readers who knows what works from their own experience. Mix and match the party ideas to create your own special 4th birthday party.
Easy and budget friendly ideas for:
* Party Schedules
* Birthday Games
* Party Activities
* Theme Ideas
* Party Food
And much more - all especially for 4 year olds!
Planning Tips for 4th birthday parties
Planning the birthday party
When planning the birthday party there are 10 areas to look at -
Picking a party theme
Invitations
Decorations
Games
Activities / Crafts
Cake
Party Food
Party Favors
Goody bags
Thank you notes
The first place to start is by picking a birthday party theme. Once you decide on the theme then almost everything else will fall into place. Some great party themes for 4 year olds are:
Birthday Party Themes for a 4 year old
Angry Birds Party Ideas
Circus Birthday Theme
Art Birthday Party Theme
Big Bird Party Ideas
Dr. Seuss Party
Mickey Mouse Party Ideas
CandyLand Birthday Theme
Cat in the Hat Party
Curious George Party
Elmo Birthday Party
Fireman Birthday Theme
Sesame Street Birthday Ideas
Humpty Dumpty Party
Mother Goose Party
The above birthday party themes are just a sample of over 200 party themes that are listed on the website. All of the birthday theme pages are filled with free ideas for party games, crafts, activities, decorations, invitations, party favors, goody bags,party food and much more!
Party Tips for Four Year Olds
While planning the birthday party make a list of areas that family and friends can help you during the party. Assign adults (or older children) to these jobs and it will make theparty run very smooth and allow you to enjoy it also.
Pictures - take pictures of the party.
Cake and Ice Cream - cut and serve the cake and ice cream.
Party Games - lead the party games. Activities and Crafts
Secretary - write down who gifts are from - great help when writing thank you notes!
Melt Down Zone - someone that can gently remove a child who is acting mean or cranky until they can return to the party.
4th Birthday Party Timeline
Change this party time line to suit your schedule.
This is based on a party from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
2:00 - Guests start to arrive at the party.
Tip - Have an icebreaker game, coloring sheets, play dough or blocks set out that the kids can play with while they wait for everyone to arrive.
2:15 - Let the Games Begin! 4 year olds love to play together so have 4 or 5 games that you think they will like prepared just in case you have to end a game sooner then expected because the kids don't like it. On the other hand let them play a game as long as they are having fun with it - no need to switch a game that they are enjoying to one that they don't like as well just because you've scheduled it. We've listed some of our favorite party games for 4 year olds below. We also have a huge list of party games for 2, 3 and 4 year olds to choose from on our 4 year old party games page.
2:45 - Activity or Craft Time. Let the 4 year olds create a craft or paint, finger paint, color, play with blocks, etc. If you have scheduled entertainment such as a clown or magician this would be a good time to do that also.
3:15 - Opening Presents. This can be done now or switched with the cake and done at the end of the party. A fun idea is to have the guests hold the package they brought for the birthday child and then one at a time go to them and sit next to them while they open it. If you do this at the end of the party you can have the birthday child give them their goody bag so they will both have something to open at this time.
3:30 - Cake, ice cream and singing Happy Birthday!
4:00 - Party end. Give guests a goody bag filled with party favors and thank them for coming!
Add 30 minutes to the party if you will be serving brunch, lunch or dinner. With an afternoon party you don't have to serve a meal - just provide snacks that the kids can munch on during the party.
Tip: Serving the cake and ice cream at the end of the party means that you don't have a house full of sugar crazed 4 year olds for very long (learned that from experience!).
Party Games for 4 year olds
CupcakeWalk
The Cupcake Walk is played like a Cake Walk, but instead of winning a cake the kids win a cupcake (or you can make it a Prize Walk and they can win small prizes). You can play the traditional way with numbers, or for the 4 year olds you can play with colored squares. Write the numbers 2 - 12 on colorful paper and tape them to the floor in a circle. Tell the children that they will walk on the numbers while the music plays and then when the music stops they have to stop and stand on the number where they are located. Roll two dice and the number of the dice is the number that wins a prize. If you will be using colors instead of numbers then assign a color to a number 2 - 12.
Air Balloon
Blow up balloons and give one to each guest. Tell them to try and keep the balloon from touching the ground by hitting it gently on the underside of the balloon. You can play until there is a winner or play as a team by having everyone try to keep their balloon off the ground for 10 seconds ... then try 15 seconds, 30 seconds and a minute.
Piñata
One of the best activities for a birthday party! They now come in every shape and color that you can imagine so finding one to go with your party birthday theme is easy! Check our Piñata Page for full details on this fun activity!
Fox and Hen Party Game It's a Mystery Fish Treasure Hunt 2, 3 and 4 year old Party games
Have the kids sit on the floor in a circle. Give one bean bag (the "Hen") to one child and then another bean bag (the "Fox") to a child sitting opposite of the child with the "Hen". On "go" the kids will pass the bean bags clockwise around the circle as fast as they can to see if the "Fox" can catch the "Hen". Play several rounds so that each child gets to start the fox or hen at least once.
You will need large plastic eggs, party favors, balls, etc. for this treasure hunt game. The eggs don't need to be filled with candy ... the game is in finding the objects. Hide the treasure around the party area before your guests arrive.When it is time for the treasure hunt give the children a small sack to hold the treasure. Show them an example of what they will be searching for and then show them how to find the objects. When all the treasure has been found you can have them return the items to a basket and then hide them again.Extra ... after the games divide the treasure hunt items equally and send them home as party favors.
Party Activities for 4 year olds
Sidewalk Chalk
Bubbles - See our guide to bubble games for some great party games that can be played with bubbles. Our homemade recipes for bubble solution are great for this activity!
Bounce House - Rent a bounce house and let the kids bounce around! Decorate Cupcakes
Party Food ideas for the 4rd birthdayMake your ownpizzas.
Macaroni and Cheese in individual cups.
Sandwiches - Cut shapes from the bread, meat and cheese with a cookie cutter that goes with your party theme. You can also cut shapes out ofbrownies and pan cookies.
Snack foods like pretzels, animal crackers or goldfish crackers.
Cut up fruit and veggies.
Cotton candy, cookies or cupcakes.
Juice boxes or milk boxes work well and won't spill easily.
4th Birthday party supplies from Amazon Party Favor Ideas for 4 year olds
Play dough and a cookie cutter
Story book
Coloring book and crayons
Bottles of bubbles
Sports balls
Super balls
Necklaces or bracelets
more party favor ideas
If you have a fun idea or great advice for a 4th birthday party please email us and we will add it to the website.
Birthday Party Ideas for Kids:
1st
2nd
3rd
5th
6th