20 Best Toddler Birthday Party Ideas Under Budget

If your toddler’s birthday is around the corner, and you are looking for some amazing toddler birthday party ideas to surprise them, this post is for you. Planning a birthday party for your child can be a heartwarming and joyful experience. You would want to leave no stone unturned and include all their favorite things, such as games, toys, and food. After all, it is their special day!

However, planning it may get a little overwhelming sometimes. You might not be able to come up with new ideas. Fret not! This post has a list of some cool toddler birthday party ideas that can help you plan an enjoyable and memorable birthday party. Read on.

20 Toddler Birthday Party Ideas

These toddler birthday party ideas are sure to let your child and their friends have lots of fun. Use these ideas to plan an easy but fun toddler birthday party.

1. Playground party

Take the children to a nearby playground for your toddler’s birthday party. Toddlers are not too fussy about huge parties; all they want is to enjoy themselves. Let them play to their heart’s content in the playground. You can take some finger foods and juices, spread a tablecloth on the ground, and enjoy a mini picnic when they get hungry.

2. Slime

Most toddlers enjoy messy play as they get to activate all their senses. Giving them slime to play with would give them endless hours of joy. Slime is a great sensory material that gives toddlers a chance to experiment. You can spread newspaper sheets if you want to minimize the mess on your floors and other surfaces. You may also include a small container of slime in their party favor bags.

3. Painting

This is another great idea for messy play. If you plan to hold a party in your backyard, you can use this idea without the children making a mess. Give them watercolors and brushes, and spread some butter paper on the ground. Let them go wild with the colors.

4. Bubbles

Even if a toddler is unable to blow bubbles through a ring, they may enjoy running after them. Blow bubbles in your backyard and let the children roll and tumble as they try to reach them. This game involves so much fun for them that they may keep asking for more.

5. Playdough

Playdough is quite similar to slime. It gives toddlers a chance to press and knead, thus strengthening their motor skills. They also learn to make new items.

6. Cookie decoration

Decorating cookies is one of the favorite activities of toddlers. They love experimenting with different colors, textures, shapes, tastes, and smells to create the perfect cookie for themselves. You can offer them colored icing in a variety of colors, sprinkles, edible glitter, and so on. You can also try this activity with donuts.

7. Water play

Most toddlers love water play. Put some sprinklers in your backyard and let children get drenched. If you have someone to keep an eye on the children, you could also fill an inflatable pool with water or create a slip ‘n’ slide.

8. Ball pit

Ball pits are second best only to mud pits. Toddlers enjoy diving in a ball pit and come out giggling and laughing. All you need is an inflatable pool and a lot of ball pit balls. Place it in the party area and watch them jump. Apart from being a cool physical activity, this game is quite entertaining as well.

9. Petting zoo

If you are planning a party outside your home, you can take the children to a petting zoo. At this age, children are learning about their surrounding and environment, and they may enjoy touching or embracing animals. Take them to a petting zoo with little animals first and then introduce the larger animals. Allow children to touch and feed the animals while they connect with nature.

10. Strawberry picking

This is another activity that connects children with nature. Take them to a strawberry picking farm near you and teach them how to choose and pick ripened strawberries. Most children may be happy to gorge on the strawberries.

11. Bouncy castle

Most children enjoy playing in a bouncy castle. You can take them to a park with a bouncy castle or, if your budget permits, set one up in your backyard. Children can spend hours going up and down in it.

12. Sandbox

If you do not have access to a beach, do not worry. You can bring them the joys of playing at a beach right in your backyard by creating a sandpit. Put in some toys and they are good to go. Let them enjoy making sandcastles and mudpies.

13. Chalk drawing

Children can scribble on your patio or any open space in the house using different colored chalks and create their own “art.” Click lots of pictures to reminisce these memories later on. It is an idea that will not cost a lot but may help you keep children occupied for a while.

14. Cardboard box

Toddlers are notorious for ignoring gifts and playing with boxes. On your toddler’s birthday, give them a chance to play with their favorite cardboard boxes to their heart’s content. Keep the boxes in different sizes so that children can use them for various purposes. You could even organize a cardboard car race where the children pretend that the cardboard box, they have is a car and begin racing.

15. Rainbow party

Toddlers love colors, don’t they? The more colorful their surroundings are, the merrier they are. Include all colors of the rainbow in their party, right from the decorations to dresses and food as well. Give them colors to take home. Use lots of streamers, tinsel, and balloons to decorate the party area.

16. Disney theme

Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Elsa and Anna, Simba, Timon and Pumbaa, Lightning McQueen, Moana, Ariel, Cinderella, Rapunzel, etc. are amongst some of the favorite Disney characters for toddlers. Pick one favorite Disney character and decorate the room. You could also get the cake personalized.

17. Cartoon theme

While Disney themes are usually a hit, you could extend the idea to include your child’s favorite cartoon character as well. Whether they love Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol, or Dora the Explorer, you are sure to get something that will be of your child’s interest. You could even get a cardboard cutout in their favorite cartoon character’s shape.

18. Bug search

Babies love exploring with their hands. You will need some buckets, rice, spaghetti, mud, etc., for this game. Pour each item in a different bucket and put in some plastic bugs. The children have to explore with their hands and pull out the plastic bugs. This sensory activity may keep your children engaged for a long time.

19. Gardening

Give the children a few gardening tools and some seeds to work with. Let them plant the seeds in a garden patch. Children may love the idea of creating something new with their hard work. The act of turning up the soil, planting seeds, and watering them provide different sensory experiences as well.

20. Car theme

This is another hit theme with toddlers. If you have ride-on cars, let the children go wild in your backyard You could also borrow a few cars from the neighbors to make sure every child gets a chance or let them take turns. You could even set up a car wash stall in your backyard so that the children can wash the car well.

These toddler birthday party ideas consist of games and themes that you may use while planning your child’s epic bash. These activities ensure they are engaged for a while without getting tired. If there are sugary foods, these activities will help them burn the sugar rush.

However, there are a few aspects that you must keep in mind. Limit the number of guests to five. Arrange the party at such times when the children are well-rested, and well fed. Keep the menu simple and include finger foods. Try these birthday themes along with the tips listed in this post to have an epic party with your little one.

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