You don't need to have a fancy theme to have a successful birthday party for your child. But there are advantages to a theme party. It may be easier for you to decorate and plan for a party that revolves around a theme. You can adapt just about any menu or activity to fit your theme. For example, the game Pin the Tail on the Donkey can fit into any of the themes below if you simply change it to Pin the Ears on the Teddy Bear, Pin the Nose on the Clown, or Pin the Tiara on the Princess!

Teddy Bear's Picnic Theme Party

This is a great theme idea for an outdoor party.

• Encourage children to bring their own teddy bears to join in the festivities. Be sure to have a few extra on hand for those who attend the party solo.

• Weather permitting, serve refreshments outside on a picnic blanket. One menu idea is Teddy Grahams.

• Put on some music and have guests dance with their teddy bears. They can also form a circle by holding hands with each other and the bears to play Ring Around the Rosy.

• You can also create simple party hats for your guests. Create a headband from folded brown construction paper. Cut out brown bear ears for the children to glue on.

Princess Theme Party

Make your birthday girl feel special and make her princess for a day.

• Let your guests get into character by making some props, such as crowns and magic wands. Be creative!

• Be sure to have some old dresses and fancy accessories for the party guests to play dress-up.

• Before your guests sit down at the table for refreshments, have them decorate folding chairs to create their own thrones. Provide each child with an old pillow case. Cut off half of the length. Let the children decorate the pillow case with fabric paints. When they are dry, simply slip the covers on the backs of the chairs to create thrones.

Circus Theme Party

There are many fun ways to celebrate a circus theme. If you are considering inviting an entertainer for the party, keep in mind that many toddlers are fearful of clowns.

• Let the children put on their own circus. Set out three hula hoops for the rings. Invite each child to take a turn stepping inside the ring to dance or perform.

• Stretch a thick rope on the ground and challenge the guests to walk along it as if they were in a high-wire act.

• No circus is complete without face painting. You will find a recipe in Appendix B.