Child's Dinosaur Birthday Party Theme
Invitations, Decorations, Games, and Dino Cake for Kids
Apr 6, 2009
Dinosaurs are one of the best birthday party themes. Boys and girls can both enjoy dino games and fun, no matter if they are toddlers or elementary school aged. With just a little work, it's possible to throw an inexpensive dinosaur party that is entertaining and memorable.
Dinosaur Egg Invitations
These homemade invitations are easy to make, and they look like a cracked egg that opens to reveal the party details.
- Choose two pieces of construction paper, one white and the other colored. Cut both into the shape of a large egg. Set the white egg aside.
- Cut the colored egg in half with a zigzag pattern.
- Overlap the halves of the cracked egg enough to pierce them both at one side with a brad-type fastener. Then stick the brad through the white egg, too.
- On the front write: "Dinosaurs have been spotted..."
- On the inside, write: "...at [child's name]'s house!" Then include all the party information like place, date, and time.
Dino Themed Decorations
Decorations are one area where you have a lot of freedom to decide how elaborate, expensive, and time-consuming they are. Here are some ideas for dinosaur themed party decorations:
- Cut giant dinosaur footprints out of black garbage bags and duct tape them to the sidewalk leading up to the front door of the house. These are waterproof, so no worries if it rains. This gets guests excited before they even reach the party.
- Place giant cardboard dinosaur cutouts around the house and offer to take pictures of the guests with their favorite dinosaur. Include each guest's picture with the thank-you note.
- Twist strips of cut-up grocery bags to make vines. Add paper leaves and place them around the house for a jungle look.
Dinosaur Party Games
Dinosaurs are a really versatile theme that lend themselves to all sorts of fun games at a kids' birthday party. Some activities you may want to include in your party are:
- Dinosaur Skeletons - Using a white colored pencil and a black piece of construction paper, draw a dinosaur skeleton for each guest ahead of time. Buy a few boxes of pasta noodles in interesting shapes or colors before the party. Set out the drawings, the noodles, and the glue, and as guests arrive direct them to decorate their skeleton.
- Paleontologist - This works best outside in a sandbox, but can also be done with individual pie pans full of sand for each child. Bury bones in the sand (you can save and wash chicken bones or use bones from a dinosaur model kit) before the party starts. Give each child paleontologist's tools like brushes and shovels and let them discover what you've hidden. Older children may like trying to assemble the dinosaur after they've found all the bones.
- Extinction - This is a fun variation on "hot potato." Have children sit in a circle and pass a dinosaur toy around as music plays, and the child holding the toy when the music stops is "extinct." (It's fun to find some dinosaur-themed children's music for this game, if possible.)
- Pin the Horn on the Triceratops - This is a twist on the classic "pin the tail on the donkey" party game. See which blindfolded child can place their horn in the right spot.
- Egg-Nest Relay - Ahead of time, cut four large dinosaur feet out of cereal boxes and paint. Don't forget long toenails! For each foot, cut a hole with a slit in it so it will stay firmly on a child's ankle but will be able to be removed easily. When you're ready to play the game, have the children line up in two teams opposite two bowls full of hard-boiled eggs. Explain that these are nests with dinosaur eggs. When it is their turn, children must put on the dinosaur feet, race to the nest, pick up an egg, and carry it back to their team on a spoon without dropping it. The first team to get all its eggs to the other side wins.
Prehistoric Birthday Cake
Prepare boxed cake mix in a 9"x13" pan. Use food coloring to frost a blue lake surrounded by crushed graham cracker crumbs. Frost the rest of the cake green to create a jungle floor. Now you can decorate your prehistoric jungle with small plastic dinosaurs, trees, shrubs, and a volcano from the dollar store. With only a few dollars, you have created a prehistoric cake that kids will love.
Applying a little creativity to your child's love for dinosaurs and all things prehistoric will result in a fabulous dinosaur birthday party. Anything connected with dinosaurs – from eggs to bones – can be the inspiration for a great party game or activity.
For tips on planning a successful children's party and a list of theme ideas, read "Choosing a Birthday Party Theme."
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