20+ Epic Birthday Celebration Ideas At Home For Kids!
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Looking for birthday celebration ideas at home?
Celebrating a birthday at home can be really special and memorable. It’s also an inexpensive option that doesn’t require any travel or going out to eat! There are so many great birthday celebration ideas you can do right in your own house, like making a DIY spa day, scavenger hunt, cooking together, attending a concert virtually through the internet, and more.
You don’t need to go anywhere or spend money on anything fancy-just make it fun and creative! Here are some of our favorite birthday celebration ideas at home for kids that will keep them entertained and feeling so special all day long.
Read on to see our favorite birthday celebration ideas at home that are great for kids’ birthdays!
1. Present Scavenger Hunt
One of our favorite ways to celebrate birthdays at home is to have a birthday present scavenger hunt. Just hide all your kid’s birthday gifts around the house and set up a special scavenger hunt for them to find them.
I like to gather all the gifts from friends and family a few days before and then add a clue to each gift that points them to the next gift. At the beginning of the hunt I give them a card with the first clue. This clue leads them to the first gift and a clue to where the second gift is hidden and so on.
This is such a fun way to keep them entertained for hours and make their birthday extra special. Siblings even enjoy it and love to help out! You can make the scavenger hunt as easy or difficult as you want, and include clues or tasks that need to be completed to find each gift. This is a birthday celebration idea that the kids will love and remember for years to come!
We did this for the first time last year and my son specifically asked to do it again this year for his birthday! He had just as much fun the second time as the first!
2. Be A Chef – At Home Cooking Party
Cooking at home together is a really fun way to celebrate a birthday. You can make something from scratch, get a meal kit, or even create your own at-home hibachi grill to cook up some delicious food! Cooking together is a great way to spend time together and many kids absolutely love cooking! It’s a birthday celebration idea that the kids will love.
You can get really creative with your cooking, or keep it simple and just enjoy each other’s company while you cook. Whatever you choose, cooking at home together is a birthday celebration idea that will be remembered for years to come.
The best part about this birthday celebration idea is that your kids can pick exactly what they want to each and how they want it made – they are the king or queen for the day and get to make and eat EXACTLY what they want! Going to a restaurant is fun but then you’re restricted to the menu and restaurant choices – not when you cook at home though!
3. Virtual Arcade Game Night with friends
A virtual video game night is a great way to celebrate a birthday! You can play games with friends and family all around the world, and it’s a really fun way to spend time together. You can choose from a variety of different games to play, and there is something for everyone. Plus, you can play from the comfort of your own home-no need to go anywhere!
This is a birthday celebration idea that the whole family can enjoy. My kids love playing games on the internet with their friends, and it’s a great way for them to stay connected. Plus, I love being able to see what they’re playing and join in on the fun! It’s also a great way for us all to spend time together.
For an extra special Video Game Night, you can sign the birthday boy or girl up for a new video game subscription or buy them some new extra-special gaming gear as one of their presents!
4. Surprise Yard Signs
A giant birthday card from Card My Yard is another really fun option! You can get a custom yard sign made for your birthday boy or girl, and it’s a great way to surprise them on their birthday. Just choose the design you like, pick your font, images, and colors and they take care of the rest!
They put it together, add it to your yard on the date your choose, and take it away when you are done with it!
The best part about this idea is that it’s super easy to coordinate, and it’s a fun and huge surprise! It’s big enough for them to run through it! Imagine the giant grin on your birthday kid’s face when they step out of their house to see the yard covered in a special message just for them!
Click here to see how much my kids loved Card My Yard!
5. DIY Spa Day
Making your own spa at home is a really fun birthday celebration idea for boys or girls. It’s a way to relax and have some fun together while enjoying some birthday treats. You can create your own spa area in your home with just a few simple items.
One of our favorite DIY spa day ideas is to make a foot soak. Just add some Epsom salts or baking soda to a bowl of warm water and soak your feet for a few minutes. This is a great way to relax and it feels wonderful! Even boys will love this!
Another great idea is to give yourself a facial. You can use any number of different recipes or treatments, or even just use some home ingredients like honey, lemon, or yogurt. If you get samples from a place like Sephora, you can save them up for spa days like this!
You can do a spa activity as one of a few activities for the day or make a whole day out of it. One way to make an at-home spa day birthday party extra special is incorporating new robes and towels into the activity – it can be one of their presents and they will be so excited to use their new robe!
6. Attend a virtual concert from home
Attending a concert from home is a fun way to celebrate your birthday. You can watch concerts by famous singers or bands right from your TV or even a projector. It’s a great way to enjoy the show and have some birthday fun!
The birthday girl or birthday boy can pick exactly what they want to watch, who they want to see and when they want to watch it. You’re not limited to when concerts are being held live!
To make this birthday idea extra special, get some disco strobe lights to use during the concert so it feels like you’re there! They are inexpensive and so much fun!
7. Make a really fancy mocktail!
Making your own fun and festive mocktails at home is a great way to celebrate your child’s birthday. It’s a fun way to mix up some drinks and have some tasty birthday treats (without alcohol of course!). You can make all sorts of different drinks, from fruity smoothies to festive mocktails using fresh fruit or mixes.
One of our favorite birthday drink ideas is a smoothie. Just blend up your favorite fruits with some yogurt or ice cream for a delicious and healthy birthday drink. You can also add in some fun extras like little umbrellas, special cups, sprinkles, chocolate chips, or even mini marshmallows!
Another great idea is to make festive mocktails. Just use your favorite fruit juices and mixers to create fun and colorful drinks. You can even add in some syrups, ice, fun-shaped cups, or ice cubes to make this extra special! We especially love using frozen cocktail mixes mixed with ginger ale or sprite!
Here are some fun and inexpensive supplies you can use to make this extra special!
8. Setup a Photo Station
A photo station can be a really fun way to celebrate your birthday at home. You can set it up with all sorts of different birthday props and decorations to make it really special. It’s a great way to capture some birthday memories that you’ll always cherish!
You can find birthday-themed photo props at most party stores, or you can make your own. Just grab some colorful balloons, streamers, birthday hats, and more to create a festive photo backdrop. You can even use some fun birthday signs!
If you have a digital camera or even your smartphone, you can take birthday photos at the photo station. Just set up your props and snap away! You’ll have a lot of fun going through all the photos after!
Tip: If you have stairs, set up the photo station at the bottom of the stairs so you can grab a quick photo at the station as soon as they get down the stairs and see your setup! You’ll love capturing the look on their face as they see all the birthday decorations you set up! You can then return to the station later for a longer “photoshoot!”
Tip: Take your photos from a much longer angle than you might expect for the best results! You can even set your phone on the ground and angle it upward for high-energy photos! It makes a big difference!
Tip: Is your kid a bit shy? Set up a tripod with a remote shutter button so they can take their own photos! They will gain so much confidence and have so much fun!
9. Board Game or Card Game Marathon
Write about how fun it is to play board games or card games all day like a birthday party celebration at home with the family
Playing board games or card games all day (or part of the day) is another foolproof way to celebrate a birthday! You can break out all of your favorite games or even try out some new ones. It’s a great way to spend time together and enjoy each other’s company.
Plus, you can take breaks in between games to eat birthday cake and snacks, and you can even open birthday presents! It’s the perfect way to celebrate a birthday.
We love playing games like Scrabble, Monopoly, Clue, Jenga, and more. There are so many different games to choose from that there’s something for everyone. You can even find themed games like Harry Potter Trivia or Disney Trivia that are perfect for celebrating birthdays!
If you want to make this extra special, set up a tent and some fairy lights and then play games inside it! It will be so much fun!
10. Have a Dance Party
Having a dance party is always a blast, and it’s the perfect way to celebrate a birthday. You can play all of your favorite songs and get your groove on. It’s a great way to have some fun and let loose.
We love dancing to songs like “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, “Uptown Funk” by Bruno Mars, “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and The Waves, and more. There are so many great songs to choose from that there’s something for everyone. You can even find themed dance party songs like “Birthday,” “Celebration,” and more.
Open up a birthday dance party with a birthday song to really get your birthday celebration started, and then let the dancing begin! It’s sure to be a blast!
To make your dance party extra fun, turn on some strobe lights and cover the floor in balloons! It’s such a blast and very inexpensive! To help you blow up lots of balloons quickly, you can get an electric balloon pump! Don’t fill them with helium, the fun is in having them on the floor so you can kick and throw them as you dance!!
This works especially well if you allocate a small room to the dance room! Fill the room with balloons, turn on a strobe lights, and add some streamers to the door frame!
We’ve been doing dance parties for birthdays for years now and it’s always something that the kids look forward to! We even did it once a year when we had lots of people over and it was such a huge hit that none of the kids wanted to leave!
Pin this for later!
11. Have breakfast delivered
There’s just something about having breakfast delivered to your house as part of a birthday celebration that makes it so special. It feels like a special occasion, and it’s a great way to start the birthday celebrations!
Plus, you can choose from so many different breakfast options! You can get a pancake breakfast, a waffle breakfast, a breakfast sandwich breakfast, or even a birthday cake breakfast! It’s the perfect way to start the birthday celebrations with a delicious and special meal.
We love getting breakfast delivered to our house as part of our birthday celebrations. It’s such a fun and unique way to celebrate. Plus, it’s a great way to start the day with a delicious meal! While you wait on breakfast to arrive, you can do one of the many other fun activities on your list like a photoshoot or scavenger hunt!
12. Movie Marathon
There’s nothing quite like spending time on your birthday celebrating all in front of the TV on your own cozy couch, cuddled up with your softest blankets, pets, and stuffies! It’s a great way to spend some fun relaxed birthday time!
As parents, this is especially great in the afternoon after a hyped-up scavenger hunt and sweets or even cake! It’s a great way to wind down while still having a great time!
Gather your blankets, pillows, stuffies, pets, and family, and get ready to snuggle in front of the best movies your birthday kid can think of!
Want to make this experience even more special?
Get this at-home projector (it’s a great value!) and create your own movie theater using any open wall! Then get some of these popcorn buckets and fill them with popcorn you made at home!
13. Craft Party
One of our favorite birthday celebration ideas is an at-home craft party! It’s such a fun way to celebrate your birthday and make some crafts that will be remembered, used, or even put on display for years to come!!
Sometimes we ask our kids what they’d like to make during their craft party and other times we like to keep it a surprise and just have lots of options. This activity can be as complex or easy as you’d like.
Anything from painting ceramic figures to making tumblers and t-shirts is an option!
Just come up with a few options and have your supplies ready on your kid’s birthday!
Tip: Make sure to cover your work surface with some sort of protective plastic or paper so that it will be easier to clean up afterward!
14. Gather Recorded Birthday Wishes
Another really fun at-home birthday activity is listening to a video montage full of birthday wishes from friends and family!
Just ask friends and family to send you (the parent) a short video message wishing the birthday boy or girl a happy birthday. Then combine all the videos easily using something like iMovie or CapCut. You don’t need to have any video editing experience to do this! Just choose “create new movie” and then select all the clips and export!
Set up your birthday child with their birthday cake, birthday presents, birthday decorations, and birthday balloons-and then watch all the video messages together. It will be so fun to celebrate how loved you are!
15. Balloon Trap / Balloon Avalanche
Every kid (and adult) is always super excited about their birthday so they are likely to come running out of their room to start the day when they wake up! Another really fun birthday celebration idea is setting up a balloon trap!
When the birthday boy or girl opens the door they will instantly be covered in tons of balloons falling from the ceiling just outside their door! It’s such an amazing way to start their special day!
Click here to learn how to make an easy and inexpensive balloon avalanche for your next at-home birthday celebration!
16. Go Camping In Your Living Room
This birthday celebration idea is perfect for just about any age!
Create a camp-out in your living room complete with tents, a cooking area, and pretend fire pit! All you need are some inexpensive supplies like lanterns and pop-up tents!
Then put on some background music that sounds like the outdoors and make a Smore’s casserole! Watch my Tiktok here to learn how.
17. Breakfast in bed
This birthday celebration idea is perfect for kids who love breakfast foods! One of our favorite birthday celebrations was when my husband made this incredible birthday breakfast in bed complete with chocolate chip pancakes, fresh strawberries, and orange juice.
Kids love this too and it makes them feel special! Especially if they aren’t usually allowed to have food in their room!
Just get a cute tray like this one to help keep the mess to a minimum so that they can enjoy the experience without everyone being stressed about the mess.
Extra points if you’re able to give them breakfast in bed and THEN set up the balloon avalanche mentioned above without them realizing!
18. Fondue!
Does this idea need much explaining? What kid wouldn’t absolutely LOVE to dip their favorite fruits in melted chocolate?
You can even make this sweet and savory. Start with a cheese fondue on some delicious veggies and bread…. then move on to chocolate fondue! Yummy!
You can easily make fondu at home with kits like this one.
19. Have a BBQ!
Having an epic BBQ is another amazing way to celebrate the day! Make sure to BBQ all of your kid’s favorite foods and while those get ready, you can make some sides and deserts together!
20. Go to the museum virtually
Did you know that you can visit many museums virtually? This is a really fun way to celebrate a birthday at home – you can visit so many museums in a day!
To make this extra special, get an inexpensive projector like this one and visit the museums via a big screen!
21. Host a TeleParty
When friends and family can’t join us in person, we love to celebrate (or even hang out) by watching movies together!
Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party) is a great way to do this! You can all watch the same movie in syc together and chat in a special chat window all while it plays!
Teleparty works with Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime.
22. Visit an amusement park virtually!
This birthday celebration idea is perfect for those who want the excitement of an amusement park but don’t want to leave home! It’s also great if you live far from an amusement park or just want to be able to sample a bunch in one day!
You can visit many amusement parks virtually and even ride some of the rides! This is a great way to celebrate a birthday with friends and family who live far away.
A quick google search will give you many options to choose from!
If your birthday kid is young enough, you can make this extra fun! Have them sit in a laundry basket while virtually riding the rides and then move the basket around to simulate the ride!
23. Make it a YES day
Let’s face it – kids hear the word “no” a lot. Why not make their birthday extra special by making it a “Yes-Day”!
Let them call the shots all day.
For this to go smoothly, set a few boundaries of course. Aside from those boundaries though – say yes to everything they ask for!
They will feel like a king or queen for a day!
24. Order in!
While we love to cook together at home and usually opt to cook our birthday meals, sometimes the birthday kid just craves a certain dish from a special restaurant so… there’s always the option to order in!
Ordering in can be a fun and easy way to celebrate a birthday at home. All you need to do is choose your favorite restaurant, place your order, and wait for the food to arrive. It’s a great way to enjoy your favorite foods without having to cook anything yourself, leave the house, wait for food at a restaurant etc!
Conclusion
So there you have it – 24 birthday celebration ideas that you can do at home! We hope that these ideas inspires you and helps make your child’s birthday special. Whether you choose to cook together, visit a museum virtually, or order in from your favorite restaurant, we know that you’ll be able to create some amazing memories celebrating at home!
Which idea was your favorite? Did we miss any great ideas? Comment below to share your thoughts!
