Planning Your Child’s Christian-Themed Birthday Party

Walk into any party supply store and you’ll find dozens of themed birthday party ideas, from American Idol to Zoology. But the thing is, they’ve all been done a thousand times before. Maybe you don’t want the same old, the same old. You want something different. More importantly, she would like the theme to reflect her Christian beliefs, which Hannah Montana or Tony Hawk just can’t do.

Why not throw your son or daughter a Christian-themed party? Since you probably won’t find these themes at party supply stores, you’ll need a little more planning. But with a little thought and a little extra time, you’re sure to end up with a fun and unique party that’s a hit with kids and parents alike.

Here are some ideas to get your creativity flowing:

NOAH’S ARK. Do you know someone who has a boat that you can borrow or rent for the day? Invite your child’s friends to a Noah’s Ark party. Dress your child up as Noah and have guests come dressed as their favorite animal. No boat available? No problem! Create your own boat in the basement or in the party room. Decorate with cutout animals, rainbows, and other Noah’s Ark accessories.

Another option: If it’s a summer birthday and the weather permits, hand out raincoats and turn on the sprinklers for forty minutes of fun in the “rain.”

PRINCESS. Who needs to dress up as Cinderella or Snow White? Your little girl is a daughter of the True King, so treat her like the true princess that she is! Invite all her friends to the palace for a royal celebration. Have plenty of dresses, high heels, and elbow-length white gloves on hand to dress up. Tiara are definitely required.

BIBLICAL CHARACTER. Ideal for any age. Have guests dress up as their favorite biblical character. For the first game, play “ten questions” and let the children ask “yes or no” questions to see if they can figure out which Bible character their friends represent. If you prefer not to dress up, one option in the game is to pin the name of a biblical character on the back of each guest. Then have guests mingle and ask questions about their character to try and guess who they are.

THE INCREDIBLE CAREER OF THE CHURCH. This is a great party idea for older kids who can drive. If you are a minor, designate a driver for each team car. Have teams race (within the speed limit, of course!) to a few different churches in the area and complete tasks, just like they would for a scavenger hunt. They may have to get a newsletter from the secretary, take a digital photo of a staff member, or get the name of the youth pastor. If churches are closed, request a digital photo of the church as proof that they did their homework.

POPULAR VIDEO CHARACTERS. With so many Christian videos on the market, some kids are hell-bent on a specific character party. 1-2-3 Penguins, Hermie, Adventures in Odyssey, and Life at the Pond are all video-based themes that you can base your party on. And of course, Veggie Tales is one of those Christian themes you’ll find in the average party store.

Use these ideas as a springboard for your own creativity. Plan a party for your child that the kids will not only enjoy, but will talk about for a long time.