Got a child with a summer birthday? This year tap into your creative side and make it a memorable one for your child.  Here are a few of my favorite ideas for an outdoor summer birthday celebration. The great thing about summer and good weather is you’re not stuck with an indoor space.  All the ideas below are outdoors so the guest list isn’t limited, allowing your child to reconnect with classmates and neighborhood friends, and it also keeps the cost low. 

Party at the Park.  Most parks have free picnic tables and shelters, you may just have to arrive early to reserve them. But once you are there, you’ll have the park for playtime and wide-open fields for games like relay races, obstacle courses, a water balloon toss and scavenger hunts. The only downside is you may have to share the park with others.

Water Fun Party.  What kid doesn’t love water? Hook up the sprinkler or a Slip-n-Slide in your backyard and let the kids go at it. Throw in some “wet” activities like water balloons and squirt guns and it becomes good, clean fun! Give it a Popsicle theme with popsicle decorations and popsicles as treats.

Baseball/Kickball Party. Skill and numbers aren’t a problem here! Make “team t-shirts” for your party favors and have a grand old time playing ball. Many parks have open fields you can meet on or create a smaller diamond in your own yard. Strike up the grill and serve an easy meal of hot dogs and chips.

Ice Cream Social: Set-up a table for “make-your-own” sundaes or ice cream cones.  Offer guests different ice cream flavors and plenty of toppings to choose from. Play games like croquette, hopscotch or Twister (with game painted on a sheet) and “pin the cherry on the ice cream cone.”

Drive-In Movie: Hang a sheet on your house or fence, get a projector and set up the movie! Spread out blankets for guests to sit on, serve popcorn (a rented popcorn machine would be a big hit!) and movie theater treats and fill coolers with drinks. For fun you can make the invitation look like movie tickets and encourage guests to bring their tickets to get into your theater.

Having an outdoor birthday party not only keeps the mess outside, rather than in your home, but it also allows kids to be kids.  Hosting your own party also keeps costs down (vs. going to an indoor inflatables place or other rental space) and makes for a one-of-a-kind experience. So let your imagination run wild as you plan the ultimate summer party!

Sincerely,

Daddy Nickell

Robert Nickell, aka Daddy Nickell, father of 7, offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents.  Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddyscrubs.com, delivery room duds and daddy gifts and apparel, and the DaddyScrubs blog where he covers topics about parenting all from a Dad’s perspective.

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