Games and Activities

Showing a movie—whether it's one your child hasn't yet seen or a classic he or she loves to watch over and over—is the perfect activity for this Hollywood shindig. You can either have your guests select their edibles from the concession stand and eat before the movie starts, or let them nosh as they watch the movie.

• When the movie is ready to roll, usher your child's guests into the viewing area. Let them “sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.”
• For young children, you may choose to end the party shortly after the movie's final credits roll.

For specific movie themes, here are some examples:

Willy Wonka
A nostalgic movie that is great for all ages! The songs will have everyone singing along, and you can play out this theme with movie tins full of candy for party favors.

Lady And The Tramp Italian Theme
Who can forget the iconic spaghetti scene from Lady And The Tramp? Luckily, pizza delivery is the #1 kid’s party food and a red-and-white-check motif is classic Italian decor. They’re all easy to prepare for your party.

Super Hero
Super hero movie themes are simple, as there are plenty of decorations specific to Batman, Superman, or Spider-Man. Add to the atmosphere by hanging metallic stars from the ceiling with fishing line.

Pirates of the Caribbean or Sea Themes
For older kids, a Pirates of the Caribbean party with adventurous food and nautical décor is ideal. For a younger crowd, go with a sea-themed movie such as The Little Mermaid or Finding Nemo.

Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a favorite for kids of all ages: who doesn’t love the magical adventures of Harry and the gang? For party favors, give guests a simple magic trick or a collapsible wand with a list of spells. Ask everyone to come as his or her favorite magical character and stop the show with a magician at the movie’s intermission!

Older kids have longer attention spans and would probably also enjoy playing some movie-themed games. A perfect pick is charades. Divide the children into two teams and see which team can guess the most movie titles as their team members act them out.

Another idea: play movie trivia with questions about popular films you and your child come up with in advance of the party. Give the winner a small Oscar-like statue.

Finally, end the afternoon by having the birthday boy or girl give an awards show-inspired speech to thank his or her fans (friends) for helping to celebrate this special occasion. It's a great way to build important public speaking and performance skills.