6th Birthday Party Ideas

 

 

 

Great party ideas to use in planning a 6th birthday!

All of our favorite sixth birthday party ideas - just choose the ideas that are best for your child, guests and budget.   
You'll find easy ideas for six year old:
* Party games
* Birthday activities
* Themes
* Party Food

And many other great ideas and tips for planning the perfect 6th birthday.  

Party Planning Tips for 6th birthday

Tip!
Planning the party
While you are planning the party keep a list ready to write down several things that guests or family can help you with during the party.   When they ask how they can help you at the party just pull out the list and tell them to choose what they want to do.  Having these areas covered during the party will be a big help - and will allow you to enjoy the party too. 

 

 

 

 

Pictures
1 or 2 adults that can take pictures of the action. 
 
Cake
Cut and serve the cake after the pictures have been taken.

Ice Cream
Dip ice cream into dishes while the cake is being cut.

Games
Adults or older children that can take over and explain the games to the kids and supervise during game time.

Arts and Crafts
Watch over the birthday activity or art tables and make sure the kids have the supplies they need and offer advice or help when needed.

Secretary
Write down who gifts are from - great help when writing thank you notes! 
 
Melt Down Zone
An adult who can gently remove a child who is cranky or being mean until they can return to the party. 


6th Birthday Party Timeline
Change this party time line based on the your schedule.  
This is based on a party from 2 - 3:30 p.m.

2:00 - Guests begin to arrive. 
Set up activity tables or have an ice breaker game that you can play with the kids while waiting for everyone to show up.   Icebreaker Games for 6 year old parties

2:15 - Party Game time.  
Have 3 or 4 party games ready to play (see list below) and have a few adults walk the kids through the rules and demonstrate.   Always have a few more games ready then you think you will need just in case they move quicker then you planned and you need to fill some time.   Don't rush through the games if the kids are having fun.  It's okay to only play 2 games if the boys and girls are really enjoying themselves.    

2:40 - Activity time.  
Let the 6 year olds paint, finger paint, color or make a simple craft that goes along with your birthday party theme.  Decorating cupcakes or cookies is always a fun activity for a 6th birthday! This is also a good time for entertainment such as a clown, sing-a-long or petting zoo. 

3:00 - Presents
Let the birthday child open their presents or they can do this during activity time.

3:10 - Cake, ice cream and singing Happy Birthday!

3:30 - Party end. 
Have the guests goody bags filled with party favors ready to go as they leave or you can hand them out while the birthday girl / boy opens their presents.

Add 30 minutes to the party if you will be serving brunch, lunch or dinner.   With an afternoon party you don't have to serve a meal.

Party Games for 6 year olds

Egg and Spoon Games
Kids race while holding an egg (or use a cotton ball, ping pong ball or other small ball) on a wooden spoon. 

The team that has all their players complete the course first wins.   
For a fun variation use a prop from the birthday party theme such as a sword and coins.

Giant Game
A fun birthday party game that really gets the kids involved ... as the playing pieces! 
Use sidewalk chalk to draw a very large (HUGE!) oversized game board.  The game board can be drawn in an oval, circle or figure eight.  Make squares on the board that are 18".   In the squares, beginning with the start square,  write directions that the players have to follow when they land in that square.  Some fun ideas are .... Move back 3 spaces, Twirl, Squawk like a chicken, etc. that have to be continually done until their next turn.   The players themselves are the playing pieces!  You can make two super big dice from square boxes for them to roll during the game. 

Silly Racing Games 6 year olds
Divide party guests into teams of two or more for these games.  

Hold relay style races by: 

Holding a blown up balloon in between the heads of team members

Holding blown up balloons between knees

Skipping forwards and then backwards

Balancing a book or other item on their head

Jumping rope and singing a nursery rhyme or happy birthday while they jump

Balancing a little ball on the top of their feet

While bouncing a play ball

Water Relay Games
Teams have to move water from one side of the playing field to the the other using spoons, sponges or cups with holes in the bottom.  Great for summer parties because everyone gets wet!  Set out a large tub filled with water at the far end of the field and two smaller containers that are equal in size next to the teams starting point.  Kids run to the tub, get water and carry it to fill their container.

Mystery Fishing Game
This is a great game that 6 year olds love to play!  Before the party you will need to buy small toys or candy for the "fish" to attach to the fishing pole.  Make sure to have enough for the kids to play over and over.  

You'll need a fishing pole made from a bamboo stick, yarn and a clothespin attached at the end of the pole.    You will also need a place for the "fish" to hide while they attach the prizes onto the fishing poles.   Use a large decorated appliance box, a blue sheet thrown over a card table or a blue table cloth or sheet hung between walls of a hallway.     

Kids will throw their line over into the water and the "fish" attach a prize to their line. 

Treasure Hunting Game
You will need large plastic eggs, party favors, balls, etc. for this treasure hunt game.   The eggs don't need to be filled with candy ... the game is in finding the objects.    Hide the treasure around the party area before your guests arrive.   When it is time for the treasure hunt give the children a small sack to hold the treasure.   Show them an example of what they will be searching for and then show them how to find the objects.   When all the treasure has been found you can have them return the items to a basket and then hide them again.   Extra ... after the games divide the treasure hunt items equally and send them home as party favors.  
 

For more party games see our party games page filled with games for 5 and 6 year olds.
Fun 6 year old party games

Party Activities for 6 year olds

 

 

Sidewalk Chalk
Set out several buckets of sidewalk chalk and let the party guests draw whatever they want.  Or give them some direction using our Sidewalk chalk guide with over 30 things to do with sidewalk chalk. 



Activity Stations
Set up Activity stations where the kids can play with play dough, crayons and washable markers or blocks.  Cover the tables with newspaper or butcher paper for easy cleanup. 



Bubbles
Let the kids try to blow bubbles or have an adult blow bubbles for them to try and pop and run through.   See our easy homemade recipes for bubble solution and our guide to bubble games for more fun ideas! 



Decorate Cupcakes
Give each child a cupcake to frost and decorate.  Fill a small bowl with icing and edible decorations and let them create their own cupcake masterpiece.





Birthday Party Themes for a 6 year old

Bubbles Party


Circus Birthday Theme


Art Birthday Party Theme


Big Bird Party Ideas


Bumblebee Party


Mickey Mouse Party Ideas


CandyLand Birthday Theme


Cat in the Hat Party


Curious George Party


Elmo Birthday Party


Old MacDonald Party


Sesame Street Birthday Ideas

All of our theme pages are filled with free ideas for theme party games, activities, decorations, invitations, party favors, goody bags, party food and much more!   We have over 200  birthday party themes to choose from - all filled with great ideas for your next party. 



Party Food ideas for the 6th birthday

Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter from bread, cheese, sandwich meats or hamburger patties to make a fun sandwich that fits in with your theme.  For example use a Mickey Mouse ears cookie cutter for a Mickey Mouse birthday party.  You can also cut shapes out of bar cookies and brownies - and even make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. 

Snack foods such as goldfish crackers, animal crackers or pretzels.

Cut fruits and veggies into small pieces and serve with a fruit and yogurt dip.

Individual ice cream cups, cotton candy, cookies.

Macaroni and cheese in individual cups.

Juice boxes or milk boxes work well and won't spill easily.



Party Favor Ideas for 6 year olds

Bottles of bubbles
Tube of play dough and a cookie cutter
Story book that matches your party theme
Party theme toys
Crayons and a coloring book
Treasure items if you play the Treasure Hunt game
Balls

Find the perfect PARTY THEME - our list of over 200 fun birthday party themes is a great place to start planning the perfect 6th birthday!
6th Birthday Party Themes

Birthday Party Ideas for Kids:

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