How to Coordinate a Kids’ Birthday Party During Christmas Week

Any parent with a child born in December knows how important it is to make sure they still get a dedicated birthday experience amongst all the ongoing festivities.

Setting aside time to properly celebrate helps your child feel seen and special - and it could even be a great way to give everyone a little break from Christmas songs!

With so much going on, it can feel stressful to try to plan a special party alongside getting prepped for the holidays. We’ve put together our top guide to help you get the birthday planning just right.

How to Plan a Birthday Party During Christmas Week

• Give everyone plenty of notice.

• Secure your venue and catering.

• Pick a (non-Christmas!) theme.

• Be intentional about decorating.

• Plan some party games.

• Celebrate your little one’s special day!

1. Plan early and give everyone plenty of notice.

Whether you decide to hold the party on your child’s actual birthday or a little earlier, make sure you plan early and send out invites. December is a busy time for everyone, with lots of events and family activities, so the earlier you let people know to keep the day free, the better attended your party will be.

You could send out a ‘save the date’ card early just to let people know. This way, you don’t have to have a venue fully confirmed but you can make sure people have the special day marked in their calendars. Let people know you’ll confirm all the exciting details soon!

2. Find a fun venue and plan your catering!

When deciding on your venue, consider catering as well. Are you looking for somewhere that will take care of this for you, or somewhere that will let you bring your own? Remember to factor in cleaning up (whether the venue can help or if you need to provide all your own trash bags, for example).

Think about accessibility, parking, and whether the space will work for the birthday party itself, time to sit down and eat, portion and any party games you’ve got planned.

If you’re looking for a venue already geared toward family-friendly events, MiniTown offers bright, spacious areas perfect for end-of-season celebrations.

3. Consider a theme to guide activities and celebrations.

To help everyone get into the special-birthday-party mood, consider setting a theme for the party. 

Pick something you know your child will love and decide whether you want to make it a surprise or let them know in advance so they can plan a special outfit. Why not make it fancy dress for an extra layer of fun? Whether you plan an animal party, space cadet party or something else, MiniTown has themed packages that are a big birthday hit.

4. Be intentional about your decorations.

Whether you pick a theme to guide you or not, to really help the birthday party shine, it’s essential to be intentional about your decorations.

Many venues will have Christmas decorations up at this point, and you can ask them if they can be removed from any party spaces you’d like to use to help focus on the birthday theme (remember to be polite and explain why!).

While we’re sure some children won’t mind the extra festive elements, sometimes it’s nice to make a little more effort to keep the focus on their special day.

5. Plan some party games.

No birthday party is complete without an excellent range of party games!

There are lots of options to choose from, and the secret is to strike a balance between engaging, energetic activities and one or two that are a little calmer to help pace the day.

From pass the parcel to musical chairs, craft stations to treasure hunts, we’ve got a perfect guide to help you plan the best activities for your little one and friends.

6. Celebrate with friends and family!

Above all, remember to celebrate and enjoy the day! With the right amount of planning, your child’s birthday party will be a huge success. 

Worried you might forget something? We’ve got you covered here, too! Check our list of the top things parents often forget to plan, and you’ll be well on your way to being the most organised party-planning parent yet (Christmas or not!).

Ready to Plan Your Next Big Party?

Our themed party rooms and venue hire offer a safe, accommodating space for all kinds of games. With our dedicated party packages, you also get access to our dynamic play equipment and a variety of great food.

Explore what we have to offer for your next special party.