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Animal Themed Party, Everything You Need to Know

Animal Themed Party, Everything You Need to Know

Animal Themed Party, Everything You Need to Know

animal themed party table decor photo dessert table

Everything you need to know to throw a super fun animal themed party! From animal themed activities, to cake & table design, we got you covered!

When planning a kid’s birthday party, I always have a handy checklist so I don’t forget something important! Here are the main areas:

  • Food
  • Dishes and Utensils
  • Beverages
  • Activities
  • Decor: Table and Front Door
  • Outfits
  • Trash Can
  • Party Favors
  • First Aid and Other Essentials Basket

Keep on reading to get all the details and see some inspirational animal party fun in action!

Skills:
Ages: 
Prep Time:

The Party in Action!

Before I get into all of the details, watch this video for a glimpse of our animal themed party in action!

From creepy crawlers to wild animals, my son loves to explore all kinds of living things! Instead of focusing on a specific type of animal theme party like jungle, safari, woodland, or otherwise, we stayed broad allowing the flexibility to include any and all animal types!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

The Party in Action!

Before I get into all of the details, watch this video for a glimpse of our animal themed party in action!

From creepy crawlers to wild animals, my son loves to explore all kinds of living things! Instead of focusing on a specific type of animal theme party like jungle, safari, woodland, or otherwise, we stayed broad allowing the flexibility to include any and all animal types!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

animal themed party table decor

Animal Themed Party: Activities!

Whenever I plan my kid’s birthday parties, activities are always one of the most important things to figure out!

We opt for hands on, often sensory-based and arts and crafts experiences over bounce houses and other more costly alternatives. Read on below for the main activities we decided to do for the animal themed party!

Age and interests will also help determine what types of activities you’ll want to set up. For toddlers, and young preschoolers a simple coloring station will provide lots of entertainment! On the other hand, if you have the budget, older kids might enjoy some entertainment like a wildlife show!

Be sure to check out our recent dinosaur themed party too for more activity ideas!

animal themed party activities painting

Animal Lego Building

These eggs are filled with building blocks that create wild animals. I set the eggs up on a wood slice cupcake stand where kids had the freedom to select an egg and build what was inside!

animal themed party table decor

Animal Paint Station

On our other kid-sized folding table, I set up an arts and crafts activity! These animals, paints, and brushes were all part of a kit. So much fun transforming the plain animals into colorful ones!

animal themed party activities play dough

Play Dough Tray

This invitation to play dough is all about using loose parts to create an animal habitat! I included blue glass beads, moss, rocks, and animal figurines in addition to lots of colorful play dough!

animal themed party wildlife show

Wildlife Show

Seeing and engaging with real animals was lots of fun for the kids! Research your local area to see if anyone offers a wildlife show like this where they bring animals and teach kids all about them!

What to Eat at an Animal Themed Party!

We went all out when it came to food for this party – from a beautifully crafted buttercream cake with animal figurines and a cascading waterfall, to cake pops, snacks, and a mobile pizza maker.

I always love to give the cake table extra attention because that tends to be where our best photo opportunities take place!

I was also able to find some fun animal-themed snacks for the snack table. Read about them below! 

animal themed party table decor photo dessert table cake cake pops
animal themed party table decor photo dessert table cake cake pops

Animal Themed Cake!

We go all out with our cakes whenever we have a themed party and this wildlife themed cake didn’t disappoint! No fondant here – just buttercream and realistic figurines create a beautiful edible scene!

animal themed party table decor photo dessert table cake cake pops

Cake Pops

We chose 3 animals to make into cake pops, including a fox, parrot, and alligator! But feel free to mix that up! We also got some wooden cake pop holder trays that had a natural look that worked well with the party’s theme!

animal themed party food

Snack Center

I got my hands on some fun animal cracker boxes, plus some no-sugar added bear gummies! We wanted to keep snacks in individual packs to prevent the spread of germs and to make access easy for the children to do independently.

animal themed party food

Mobile Pizza Maker

We splurged on our main food option and had a mobile pizza maker come to our house to make kids and parents custom pizzas. It was a big hit – not only delicious, but also a great non-buffet option during these times!

animal themed party table decor photo dessert table cake cake pops

What to Eat at an Animal Themed Party!

We went all out when it came to food for this party – from a beautifully crafted buttercream cake with animal figurines and a cascading waterfall, to cake pops, snacks, and a mobile pizza maker.

I always love to give the cake table extra attention because that tends to be where our best photo opportunities take place!

I was also able to find some fun animal-themed snacks for the snack table. Read about them below! 

animal themed party cake desserts

Animal Themed Cake!

We go all out with our cakes whenever we have a themed party and this wildlife themed cake didn’t disappoint! No fondant here – just buttercream and realistic figurines create a beautiful edible scene!

animal themed party table decor photo dessert table cake cake pops

Cake Pops

We chose 3 animals to make into cake pops, including a fox, parrot, and alligator! But feel free to mix that up! We also got some wooden cake pop holder trays that had a natural look that worked well with the party’s theme!

animal themed party food

Snack Center

I got my hands on some fun animal cracker boxes, plus some no-sugar added bear gummies! We wanted to keep snacks in individual packs to prevent the spread of germs and to make access easy for the children to do independently.

animal themed party food

Mobile Pizza Maker

We splurged on our main food option and had a mobile pizza maker come to our house to make kids and parents custom pizzas. It was a big hit – not only delicious, but also a great non-buffet option during these times!

animal themed party table decor photo dessert table

Animal Party Decor

What are we left with once the party is over? The pictures! So setting up a great photo op dessert table is always a priority for us!

I used a leopard print table cloth with a burlap runner that I bought in bulk. I was able to have enough material to make the kids arts & crafts tables in the same style!

I snagged some succulent plants from Trader Joes and a few other leafy plants from Home Depot and dispersed them across the various spaces to integrate living greenery.

Add some green vines, a happy birthday garland, wooden cake pop holder, and balloons (number and cheetah), and everything came together so well!

 

animal themed party activities lego

Wood Slice Cake Platters

We’ve used these rustic cake platters in the past for holding cupcakes, but since we didn’t have cupcakes this time, they were great for holding the prize eggs at our building-block station!

animal themed party table decor photo dessert table

Animal Shaped Planter

We scattered various planters throughout the tables at the party, filling them up with soil and succulents! We found these cute giraffes as well as a pack of other fun wildlife animals!

burlap decor dinosaur party

Burlap Runner

I love that this high quality burlap runner comes in a bulk roll! I was able to use it on 3 different tables and I have more to spare for our next party! It gave the tables such a great texture!

animal themed party table cloth set

Animal and Leaf Print Table Cloth Pack

This pack of 4 table clothes came with a leaf print and the following animal prints: cheetah, zebra, and tiger!

animal themed party cheetah balloon

Animal Themed Balloons

This cheetah balloon went on the wall where our dessert table was located. We also got an alligator and a tiger for the front door area for people to see when entering our home. 

animal themed party pool floats

Animal Pool Floats

If you are having a party during the warmer months, adding some animal themed floats are a great way to integrate the theme to the pool! We planned to do this, but it got too cold, and used these floats in our pool as decoration! We got a giraffe, alligator, and a parrot

animal themed party greenery vines

Greenery Vines

These greenery vines are a great touch to an animal-themed party backdrop! It comes with 12 different pieces, and we had plenty to spare for our next party!

animal themed party plates and napkins

Animal and Leaf Themed Plates and Napkins

In addition to animal themed plates and napkins, I also included some leaf shaped plates and wooden utensils.

More Party Ideas!

Looking for more fun details for your Animal Party? Here are some more ways to have a great time with this theme!

animal themed party party favors

Party Favors

We always opt to spend a little extra budget on a high quality party favor that kids will actually use more than once! Kid’s got to take home an animal-print bag with a bug catching kit, sunglasses, and a felt animal mask!

animal themed party outfits shirts dress

Animal-Themed Outfit

The boys got dressed up in a fun animal themed shirt, and my daughter wore an adorable dress with cheetah print. She even matches the table cloth!

animal themed party costume

Animal Costume

Instead of hiring someone to come dressed up as a mascot, have a family member do it instead! And this fox costume is so much fun, cute, and not scary! Also great to hold on for Halloween!

animal themed party pinata

Parrot Piñata

Piñatas are such a fun way to add entertainment to a birthday party. This parrot shaped piñata isn’t huge, so keep that in mind depending on your party size! We put squishy animals toys and animal themed bubbles inside!

animal themed party number balloon

Number Balloons

Number balloons are a fun way to shine a light on your little one’s new age! Make sure to use a very strong double sided tape to make sure it stays up on the wall throughout the party! 

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Happy Birthday Garland

This happy birthday garland comes pre-strung, which is such a time saver when you are already so busy setting up for a party!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Garland

This tassel garland is the perfect color scheme for a wildlife-themed party! The tassels have wooden beads in between adding for a natural jungle and woodland look!

animal themed party vest dress up

Explorer Vest

This adorable vest and hat set is a fun addition to have the birthday kid wear during their animal themed party! It is made of durable plastic and comes with lots of pockets!

What’s Next?

Dinosaur Party, Inspiring Ideas for a Roar-some Birthday

Dinosaur Party, Inspiring Ideas for a Roar-some Birthday

Dinosaur Party, Inspiring Ideas for a Roarsome Birthday

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Dinosaur fans rejoice! Everything you need to know to throw a roar-some dinosaur party! There are so many ways to make a party dinosaur-themed. We had a blast brainstorming how to make those ideas come to life!

When planning a kid’s birthday party, I always have a handy checklist so I don’t forget something important! Here are the main areas:

  • Food
  • Dishes and Utensils
  • Beverages
  • Activities
  • Decor: Table and Front Door
  • Outfits
  • Trash Can
  • Party Favors
  • First Aid and Other Essentials Basket

Keep on reading to get all the details and see some inspirational dinosaur party fun in action!

Skills:
Ages: 
Prep Time:

The Party in Action!

Before I get into all of the details, watch this video for a glimpse of our dinosaur party in action!

My son has been a big fan of dinosaurs and he was so excited to celebrate his birthday dinosaur-style. This is our 3rd themed party for him. When he turned 3 he had a construction party, and when he turned 4 he had a garbage man party! During his 5th birthday, it was the beginning of co-vid and we kept things simple and theme-less!

The Party in Action!

Before I get into all of the details, watch this video for a glimpse of our dinosaur party in action!

My son has been a big fan of dinosaurs and he was so excited to celebrate his birthday dinosaur-style. This is our 3rd themed party for him. When he turned 3 he had a construction party, and when he turned 4 he had a garbage man party! During his 5th birthday, it was the beginning of co-vid and we kept things simple and theme-less!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Dinosaur Party: Activities!

Whenever I plan my kid’s birthday parties, activities are always one of the most important things to figure out!

We opt for hands on, often sensory-based and arts and crafts experiences over bounce houses and other more costly alternatives. Read on below for the main activities we decided to do for the dinosaur party!

In addition to the pool, there are 3 places I like to set up activities – on our kid-sized folding tables, inside our sensory table, and sandbox!

We have a free printable dinosaur-themed activity you could include as well!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

 

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Clay Dinosaur Eggs

In our sensory bin, I filled up one tub with leaves, mulch, and clay dinosaur eggs each filled with a dinosaur inside! The other bin was filled with water, and I had two bowls filled with excavating tools!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Dinosaur Paint Kit

On our kid-sized folding tables, I set up an arts and crafts activity! These dinosaurs, paints, and brushes were all part of a kit. So much fun transforming the white dinosaurs into colorful ones!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Fossil Sand Dig

Inside our sand box, kids tapped into their inner paleontologist using sifting tools to find fossils underneath the sand. Other kids enjoyed hiding them right back under the sand for a friend to find!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Pool Time!

With warm weather, we kept the pool open and added several dinosaur themed inflatables. We also splurged and got a life guard to keep the pool activity extra safe and allow parents to chat!

What to Eat at a Dinosaur Party!

The star of this section is the cake! We added figurines and a volcano to decorate an 8 inch cake. To keep the look earthy, sprinkle graham crackers on the cake platter!

Since we are extra conscious of germs and keeping our guests healthy, we opted for a number sparkler instead of candles that are blown out. 

Dinosaur caddies filled with succulent plants with larger succulents in planters make for a fun decor around the cake too!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration
dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Dinosaur Cupcakes!

I originally planned to have cake pops, but I couldn’t find a baker on such short notice. Instead, I called Whole Foods and they were able to make these fun dinosaur-themed cupcakes after I showed them a few inspirational photos!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Disposable Plates and Napkins

There are a lot of dinosaur plates and napkin options out there, but I narrowed it down to these! I love that the design is the perfect balance between fun and realistic. Not cartoony and not scary! 

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Snack Center

Our only snack that was dinosaur-themed were our apple sauce pouches! Everything else was just easy, single-use options that kids would like. With the virus, we wanted to keep snacks individual to prevent the spread of germs!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Mobile Pizza Maker

We splurged on our main food option and had a mobile pizza maker come to our house to make kids and parents custom pizzas. It was a big hit – not only delicious, but also a great non-buffet option during these times!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

What to Eat at a Dinosaur Party!

The star of this section is the cake! We added figurines and a volcano to decorate an 8 inch cake. To keep the look earthy, sprinkle graham crackers on the cake platter!

Since we are extra conscious of germs and keeping our guests healthy, we opted for a number sparkler instead of candles that are blown out. 

Dinosaur caddies filled with succulent plants with larger succulents in planters make for a fun decor around the cake too!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Dinosaur Cupcakes!

I originally planned to have cake pops, but I couldn’t find a baker on such short notice. Instead, I called Whole Foods and they were able to make these fun dinosaur-themed cupcakes after I showed them a few inspirational photos!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Disposable Plates and Napkins

There are a lot of dinosaur plates and napkin options out there, but I narrowed it down to these! I love that the design is the perfect balance between fun, realistic. Not cartoony and not scary! 

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Snack Center

Our only snack that was dinosaur-themed were our apple sauce pouches! Everything else was just easy, single-use options that kids would like. With the virus, we wanted to keep snacks individual to prevent the spread of germs!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Mobile Pizza Maker

We splurged on our main food option and had a mobile pizza maker come to our house to make kids and parents custom pizzas. It was a big hit – not only delicious, but also a great non-buffet option during these times!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Dinosaur Party Decor

What are we left with once the party is over? The pictures! So setting up a great photo op dessert table is always a priority for us!

I used a leaf-themed table cloth with a burlap runner that I bought in bulk. I was able to have enough material to make the kids arts & crafts tables in the same style!

I snagged some succulent plants from Trader Joes and a few other leafy plants from Home Depot and dispersed them across the various spaces to integrate living greenery.

Add a cute garland, adorable wood-slice cake platter and cupcake platters, and balloons (number, dinosaur, and rawr!), and everything came together so earthy and fun!

 

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Wood Slice Cake Platters

One of my favorite items from this party is the 2-tiered cupcake platter. The wood grain is so natural and added so much texture to the decor.

dinosaur planter

Dinosaur Planter

We transformed dinosaur pencil caddies into planters by filling them up with soil and succulents! But you can also get these cute ones too that are designed to be planters!

burlap decor dinosaur party

Burlap Runner

I love that this high quality burlap runner comes in a bulk roll! I was able to use it on 3 different tables and I have more to spare for our next party! It gave the tables such a great texture!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Leaf Print Table Cloth

This palm leaf print table cloth is perfect for a dinosaur party (or a Hawaiian one too!). Each pack comes with 2 table clothes that are water proof!

More Party Ideas!

Looking for more fun details for your Dinosaur Party? Here are some more ways to have fun with this theme!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Party Favors

We always opt to spend a little extra budget on a high quality party favor that kids will actually use more than once! Kid’s got to take home a book for emerging readers and a ceramic dinosaur paint kit!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Dinosaur-Themed Outfit

Since we had a pool party, we went with dinosaur themed bathing suits, including dinosaur swim trunks and an adorable pink dinosaur onesie swimsuit!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Dinosaur Costume

Instead of hiring someone to come dressed up as a mascot, have a family member do it instead! Uncle to the rescue with this fun dinosaur costume. Also great to hold on for Halloween!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Dinosaur Piñata

Piñatas are such a fun way to add entertainment to a birthday party. This dinosaur shaped piñata comes with a stick and a blindfold. Fill it up with candy or small toys of your choice! 

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Number Balloons

Number balloons are a fun way to shine a light on your little one’s new age! Make sure to use a very strong double sided tape to make sure it stays up on the wall throughout the party! 

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Rawr Balloon

Add a little fun with this-dinosaur themed Rawr balloon! And add some dinosaurs balloons to the mix as well if you have the wall space! This double sided tape is the best.

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

Garland

This tassel garland is the perfect color scheme for a dinosaur-themed party! The tassels have wooden beads in between adding for a natural jungle and woodland look!

dinosaur party theme for kids ideas and inspiration

First Aid and Sanitizer Basket

Make a basket with first aid, sanitizer, and other essentials like bug spray and sunscreen! It will inevitably come in handy for someone! 

What’s Next?

Birthday Play Dough Kit – Easy Party in a Box!

Birthday Play Dough Kit – Easy Party in a Box!

Birthday Play Dough Kit – Easy Party in a Box!

birthday themed play dough kit

This birthday play dough kit is so much fun! You only need to assemble it once, but then kiddos can use the loose parts to make cupcakes time and time again! It’s such a great way to encourage creative and independent play. 

Celebrate Anytime with This Birthday Play Dough Kit

We love making play dough kits! And this one takes the cake (pun definitely intended – ha!). Play dough kits are easy to make and super convenient to have on hand – say if it’s a rainy day or you simply need a fast-to-set-up quiet time activity! 

One of our favorite things to do with play dough kits – give them as gifts! And this birthday-themed one is perfect for any young child as they celebrate turning a new age!

For more sensory-based activities, visit our comprehensive list of ideas! We have a lot of other great play dough ideas and kits including an ocean-themed kit, insect-themed kit, and a fun process of making play dough swirls!

Skills:
Ages: 
Prep Time:

How to Make Your Own Play Dough!

If you’ve never made play dough before, you may think it is going to be a lot of work! But, nope! Our simple recipe is super easy to make. There is no cooking involved, just using a microwave!

Making play dough together with kids is such a fun way to include them in the process. They can learn so much by just measuring and counting ingredients. Plus, if you’re like us, you’ll want to make it in every color!

How to Make Your Own Play Dough!

If you’ve never made play dough before, you may think it is going to be a lot of work! But, nope! Our simple recipe is super easy to make. There is no cooking involved, just using a microwave!

Making play dough together with kids is such a fun way to include them in the process. They can learn so much by just measuring and counting ingredients. Plus, if you’re like us, you’ll want to make it in every color!

birthday themed play dough kit

How to Set Up This Birthday Play Dough Kit

Whether you are assembling this activity in a kit or on a tray, it is a great way to give the kids everything they need for creative play.

Make sure to include lots of fun loose parts that are birthday-themed for kids to enjoy! Some items that work well are: fake sprinkles or rainbow rice (those are not real sprinkles featured!), cupcake liners, candles, large wooden beads, and lots of tools to inspire fine-motor strengthening (like a rolling pin, ice cream scooper, and tongs)!

Sit back and let the open-ended, independent play unfold as they create the perfect birthday cupcakes. Just make certain that they know it’s not a real cupcake that they get to eat!

All activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links.

Materials

Step-by-Step Instructions 

Step 1

Start by making homemade play dough. You can add glitter to it or use food coloring to make different colors based on your theme. In this kit, I included white for vanilla (no coloring) and and brown for chocolate (with food coloring).

Step 2

Once the play dough is cooled down, add it to the storage containers.

Step 3

Select loose parts, figurines, and other items you want to include.

Step 4

Close it up and cover in gift wrap if giving as a present!

Step 1

Start by making homemade play dough. You can add glitter to it or use food coloring to make different colors based on your theme. In this kit, I included white for vanilla (no coloring) and and brown for chocolate (with food coloring).

Step 2

Once the play dough is cooled down, add it to the storage containers.

Step 3

Select loose parts, figurines, and other items you want to include.

Step 4

Close it up and cover in gift wrap if giving as a present!

Beyond a Birthday Play Dough Kit – The Benefits of Playing with Dough!

Play dough offers so many great learning benefits. The kids will be able to use their fine motor skills to create while also using their sensory skills. I also love that play dough has the kids creating and thinking outside the box on fun things to create.

The more that they can create using play dough, the more that they’re going to be thinking creatively, too. You can even use play dough to teach the kids to learn their colors, letters, and numbers too!

birthday themed play dough kit
birthday themed play dough kit

Beyond a Birthday Play Dough Kit – The Benefits of Playing with Dough!

Play dough offers so many great learning benefits. The kids will be able to use their fine motor skills to create while also using their sensory skills too. I also love that play dough has the kids creating and thinking outside the box on fun things to create.

The more that they can create using play dough, the more that they’re going to be thinking creatively, too. You can even use play dough to teach the kids to learn their colors, letters and numbers too!

More Ways to Explore Sensory Play

Here are my top picks for sensory-based items that make set-up even easier!

sensory bin build you own bin michaels

Build Your Own Sensory Bin Bundle

This fun bundle allows you to choose between different compounds, figurines and other accessories.

sensory bin marine creatures

Pre-Made Sensory Bins

Whether you want to explore the ocean, dinsoaurs, ice cream shop and more. These pre-made kits make set up easy!

sensory play monster truck bin

Monster Truck Arena

This sensory-play item is perfect for the monster truck fan! It comes with 2 pounds of monster dirt and a monster truck!

sensory book quiet time busy fine motor

Sensory-Based Book

Sensory play doesn’t have to be messy! This fabric book is full of hands-on sensory-based activities!

What’s Next?

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