The time has come to plan a day of fun for your 7-year-old! I love the age range between diapers and the teen years when they don’t need you every second but still love to be around you.
At this age, kids are usually friends with everybody in their elementary school class, and friendship isn’t determined by gender. All of these things make throwing your 7-year-old a birthday party extra exciting.
If you aren’t able to invite the whole class, make sure the invitations are handed out privately or that you email or text the parents. Other alternatives include a family get-together or inviting a few close cousins or neighborhood friends over.
No matter what the plan is, choosing a theme is a great place to start. Here are 15 of our favorite themes and ideas for a memorable day celebrating your 7-year-old.
Related: Best Toys & Gifts for 7 Year Old Boys (a VERY picky 2021 list)
Birthday party ideas for 7-year-olds
1. Pet vet party
Most 7-year-olds have a pure and simple love of animals (stuffed or real), so why not make a party out of it? Each child can adopt a pet at the beginning of the party from a fenced-in area of beanie babies. Have a vet station where they can use a doctor kit to give their puppy a check-up, followed by a grooming station with washcloths and brushes. Cut a hole in a white bag for the pet’s face and have them decorate their own pet carrier. Last but not least, a puppy chow station with Twizzlers as chew sticks, Goldfish as cat food, and Chex Mix as dog food.
2. Hot chocolate bar
Parents of winter babies know that weather rules out a lot of party ideas. Channel all the cozy winter vibes with a hot chocolate bar. You can decorate a winter wonderland with white, silver, string lights, and snowflakes. Set up a table with mugs, different flavors of hot chocolate, and toppings like marshmallows, caramel, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, candy canes, and peppermint syrup. Don’t make the hot chocolate too hot, and prepare yourself for a couple of spills!
3. Avengers party
Sometimes the simplest way to throw a successful party is to choose a theme that you know the kids will love and will be easy to decorate for. Finding Avengers party supplies, shirts, masks, and action figures couldn’t be any easier. Have the guests wear their best superhero costume, order an Avengers birthday cake, and there you have it! Here are some Avengers menu and game ideas if you want to go the extra mile.
4. County fair
You can plan a county fair birthday party in your backyard or at a local park with a pavilion. The menu can be both festive and easy, with cotton candy, corn dogs, watermelon, and popcorn. Decorate with checkered plates and tablecloths, bunting, and hay bales. Set up face painting and fair games with prizes. Ideas include bottle ring toss, balloon darts, a rubber ducky contest, and a tin can ball toss.
5. American Girl doll party
If you have an American Girl store near you, booking a party with them means that they take care of every aspect, which may be worth spending a little extra. They provide the meal, cake and ice cream, goody bags and doll tiaras, digital invitations, and a gift for the birthday girl. You can upgrade if you want an activity and craft. Another option is a take-home kit that includes digital invitations, a cake, table talkers, and a few additional items for the guests, dolls, and birthday girl.
6. Favorite book character
Your child is likely in the process of learning how to read and is discovering the magic of falling in love with books and characters. If they have a book that they really love, consider making that their party theme. Everybody can either dress up as their own favorite book character or as a character from your child’s favorite book. Ideas include Charlotte’s Web, Dr. Seuss’s books, Junie B. Jones, Harry Potter, and Willy Wonka.
7. Make your own pizza party
When in doubt, go with food. Have a table set with pre-baked mini pizza crusts, sauce, cheese, and toppings like meat, veggies, and pineapple. The kids can make their own pizzas however they please, and then you’ll just have to stick them in the oven for about 10 minutes. If you’re feeling brave, they can decorate cookies or make ice cream sundaes afterward.
Related: The Best NEW Toys & Gifts for 7 Year Old Girls
8. Children’s museum or indoor play place
If you want to have a party but don’t have the space or desire to host, check out your local children’s museums or indoor play places. Kids this age love to play and will have fun just about anywhere. Children’s museums may be better for a calmer, smaller group of kids. Venues like bounce houses, indoor playgrounds, or tiny towns are perfect for keeping a big group of kids happy and busy.
9. Gymnastics/dance studio
Local gymnastics centers and dance studios typically host birthday parties where party guests can participate in a specific class or have open play in the gym area. The kids can then enjoy snacks and cake (sometimes provided by the facility) in an event room. Kids love to dance, tumble, and flip, and this is a great way to burn that energy in a safe environment.
10. Magic party
If your 7-year-old is hypnotized by the mystical world of magic, get inspired by this vintage birthday party. Decorate with top hats, wands, cards, and magic rabbits. You can hire a magician, or try to convince your husband to learn a couple of party tricks that he can teach the kids. Serve Pop Rocks, magic potion, and magic cards and wands (chocolate-dipped graham crackers and pretzels).
11. Fashionista party
Go glam with a fashionista party for your daughter and her best friends. Buy a bunch of fun dresses, costume jewelry, and shoes from a secondhand store and let them have fun trying everything on. There can be a glamour station for makeup, hair, and accessories, and you can go for Paris-inspired decorations and food.
12. Treasure hunt
Sending a group of kids on a hunt for clues that will ultimately lead them to treasure will be the thrill of a lifetime. Bonus: it serves as both the party activity and the party favor. You may have to help them read and decipher the clues along the way, but be sure to make it challenging enough- that’s part of the fun! You’ll probably want about 5-7 clues and feel free to hit up the internet for inspiration or printable clues.
13. Baseball or softball party
If you’ve got a baseball or softball fan on your hands, throwing a ball game birthday party can be really cute. Paint mason jars white and draw red baseball threads on them to hold cutlery or snacks. Print out a “concession menu” and serve traditional baseball game snacks, as well as cupcakes that look like baseballs. If it’s a warm day, you can play water balloon baseball in the backyard.
14. Elegant princess party
I love this idea over at Kara’s Party Ideas to put an elegant spin on a Disney Princess party. If your little girl still loves dressing up and getting girly, this is a lovely way to let the theme mature with her. Think muted blush and gold accents, beautiful flower centerpieces on a gorgeous table set for dining princesses. For the moms who love party planning and creating a birthday masterpiece, this one’s for you.
15. Shark party
I have yet to meet a little boy who doesn’t love sharks, and if you’re celebrating in the summer, this theme is perfect. You can get creative with the shark decorations by adding fins on cake pops, paper lanterns, and party hats. Print out cards with cool ocean facts on them, have fun with shark food labels, and set up a sprinkler or slip and slide if possible.
