6-year-old birthday party ideas
Emily Gulla
WriterThis page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.
Planning a six-year-old's birthday party might seem like a huge task, but we know that organising a special celebration for your child is important for you and for them. This is everything you need to know, from venues to food to gifts.
Indoor party ideas
By six years old, your child will likely be a seasoned attendee of their friends' and classmates' birthday parties, so they'll have a stronger idea of party structure and probably a better idea of what they want!
If they've enjoyed a few of their younger birthdays at home, this might be the time to branch out to an exciting external party venue. However, if your child would prefer to celebrate at home or is still shy around bigger groups, there are lots of different ways you can make an at-home party more fun.
Otherwise, there are plenty of other indoor venues to choose from that cater to different budgets, so why not try some of our other ideas below?
Your own home
At six years old, your child will be more aware than ever that it's their birthday, but it also means their expectations will be higher than ever when it comes to games, decorations, a theme, food - everything!
They'll most likely have started to develop their own interests and hobbies, and these can make for a great birthday theme - whether it's dancing, football, swimming or theatre. Otherwise, classic themes like princesses, superheroes, animals or a film or TV show they love will work really well.
You can make or buy decorations, like bunting and balloons, make themed food, and tell your guests to dress accordingly.
For an at-home twist, try an arts and crafts party where everybody makes something to take home, or a karaoke party where each guest takes it in turns to perform. There are loads of karaoke videos on YouTube that you can get up on the TV - just provide a microphone for added effect!
A party in your own home is also a great way to keep the cost low, and it offers you more control over how many people you invite and how long the party lasts for. However, just be mindful of numbers, as you don't want to make it more stressful by having a completely full house!
Activity parties
By six years old, your child will be old enough to enjoy an activity party, and it's a great way to do something that's a bit different than the parties they might have been to in the past. If they already take part in a hobby outside of school, see if the centre they attend also offers parties. Many dance schools will host dancing parties with games and music, and some football clubs will host mini soccer parties which can be great fun.
An arts and crafts party is also a chance to do something a bit different. Many craft shops will host workshop parties where kids can each paint an object, whether it's a mask, a wooden initial or painting ceramics. Plus, they'll enjoy taking their hard work home!
Soft play centres
At six years old, your child will still be at a good age to enjoy a soft play party - and now they're older they'll be able to tackle the bigger areas and the scarier slides! It's also an easy, hassle-free way to entertain a group of six-year-olds.
Most soft play parties will come with a party planner, food and sometimes even party bags included, so all you need to do is sit back and enjoy! And if you're inviting children of different ages, there will likely be areas for different age groups, so everyone will be catered to!
You can browse your local soft play centres with our handy search tool here.
Village hall or community centre
Your local village hall or community centre is another great indoor party venue and it gives you more space for a longer guest list, especially if your child wants to invite a large number of their school class!
It's a great option that means you won't be restricted by the size of your own home or the per-head cost of soft play. Plus, it's an ideal space for six-year-olds to run around and burn off all that energy!
Hiring a hall will be the main cost you have to front, but you'll probably want to add a bouncy castle, play equipment or a kids' entertainer to keep your guests busy, which will make it that bit more pricey.
For less hassle, many halls will offer catering included, or if you want to keep costs down then consider making the food yourself (just bear the numbers in mind if you're doing so).
Check out your local halls for hire using our search tool - and remember to check that they offer children's parties as not all will.
Outdoor party ideas
Petting zoo
By six years old, your son or daughter will be curious about everything, and they'll probably LOVE being outside, so a trip to a petting zoo or farm can be an exciting and a semi-educational birthday party.
If your six-year-old is already familiar with smaller creatures like guinea pigs, bunnies and chicks, look for a petting zoo with larger animals, like goats and ponies, to really make them go 'wow'!
The kids will all get a chance to stroke or hold the animals if they want to, and you'll be able to snap some super cute photos to look back on! Just be prepared to answer a tonne of questions about getting a pet if you don't already have one.
Garden party
A garden party is the perfect compromise when it comes to an outdoor party that still maintains the familiarity of your own home, especially if you think your child might feel shy or daunted around a bigger group in an unfamiliar setting.
You can decorate the garden with bunting, hire a bouncy castle, or organise some ball games if you've got the space outdoors. Plus, you have freedom when it comes to the theme, with animal, dinosaur or football themes working well outside.
Lay out a long table or some picnic blankets to treat the kids to a picnic lunch, complete with all their favourite foods.
During the summer months, a water play party in shallow paddling pools will be endless fun and something a bit different. Just of course make sure to supervise at all times.
Adventure playground
Now that your son or daughter is a bit older, a party at an adventure playground is a great way to get them out and about on their big day. Have a look for adventure parks in your area, though you might need to venture out more rurally, to see what they offer.
Many will include climbing equipment and obstacle courses, crazy golf and even mini go karts. So, if your child loves being active, this is sure to excite them!
Who to invite
Now that your child is at least a year into school, knowing who to invite to their birthday party can be a tricky one.
First of all, it depends on where you're hosting. If you're having the party in your own home, you probably won't want 20 or 30 kids running around. However, if you're in the village hall this might be more do-able. For day trips like a farm or adventure playground, keep the guest list to a small group of close friends.
When it comes to etiquette rules to consider, if your child has been invited to a classmate's birthday party, then it's only kind to invite them back. Secondly, if you are planning on inviting a large number of your child's class to the party, don't just leave out a handful of kids as they might feel excluded.
However, at this age, it might still be nice for your child to spend quality time with a small number of their closest friends - and this way you won't have the hassle of entertaining a full class of kids.
This is also the age where some parents might be considering dropping their kids off at the party and collecting them at the end. Make sure you have enough adults on hand, whether it's family or friends, to supervise when considering the numbers.
You could consider specifying on the invites whether you expect parents to attend or not. If you don't want parents to stay, arrange for a few close friends to hang around and give you a hand.
When it comes to invitations, it's a nice idea to sit down and make some handmade invitations with your child, so they feel even more involved. It's ideal to send invites out between two to four weeks in advance, and ask for RSVPs early too so that you can get organised.
Games and activities
By six years old, kids will be used to the rules and structure of school, so they'll be happy to get involved in a game and might even get quite competitive! Still, it's a good idea to have some smaller prizes to give to all of the children, so that nobody feels left out if they don't win the game.
At this age, some children might also be happy to sit and get on with some craft activities in smaller groups, so you could always set up a craft table for those who don't want to join in with a loud game.
Games like What's the time, Mr Wolf? and duck, duck, goose will be ones they are used to in the school playground. If you've got a large enough space to play with, an obstacle course will be really exciting for the kids. Or if you're at home, you could play the floor is lava instead.
Meanwhile, musical chairs and pin the tail on the donkey are party classics that will be quick and easy to play. Or if you want something that adults will enjoy too, why not try a game of limbo?
You can buy ready-made limbo games to make things easier. See more details here at Amazon.
Check out some more party games for six-year-olds here.
Food and drink
Party food
Your child and their guests will be having so much fun at the party that it's unlikely they'll be sitting down to eat - so small, bite-sized food is your friend here!
If you’re worried about making sure there’s enough food to go around, fill up a cardboard meal box for each child. That way, you know no one will miss out and they can always take it home if they're having too much fun for food.
Party foods like mini hot dogs, mini pizzas and finger sandwiches will go down well (and the adults can eat some too!). To sneak some healthy options in there, include some carrot or cucumber sticks and pieces of fruit like melon, banana and strawberries.
For six year olds, it's a nice idea to get them involved in preparing the food, too. If you've got a small group of close friends at home, get some plain mini pizza bases and have the kids decorate with their own toppings. They'll love eating food they've made themselves!
For more ideas, check out our party food guide here.
Drinks
For drinks, the healthiest option is to stick to water or milk. If you want to give six-year-olds fruit juice or smoothies, the NHS recommends that you stick to no more than one 150ml glass per day, served with a meal.
The NHS advises against fizzy drinks and squashes with added sugar for children, so they're best avoided. But if you want to give them as a party treat, perhaps do so after the food, so you know they're getting something nutritious, too.
If you’re at home and are worried about damaging furniture or carpets, keep the food and drink in a designated room or the garden. You'll thank yourself later!
Birthday cake
There are plenty of different options for birthday cake, depending on how much of a baker you are!
If you're opting for a themed party and want the cake to match, most supermarkets will sell themed birthday cakes - or you can contact your local cake maker for something extra personal. Guaranteed your six-year-old will love seeing all their favourite things in icing form!
For a middle-ground hack, buy a supermarket sponge cake and add the personalised decorations yourself. The kids won’t know any different and it's an easy way to create something unique at a low price. We've got plenty of cake decoration ideas for you to follow here, from castles to trains, to a classic caterpillar cake or your child's favourite fictional character - whatever they'll love the most!
If you fancy baking your own cake, browse our library of recipes, from cupcakes to chocolate cake or rainbow cake, plus gluten free and egg free options, too.
Desserts
For extra dessert options other than cake, it’s a good idea to have some finger bites available, like little chocolate bites (though not too many!) and sliced pieces of fruit like melon, strawberries and banana to make sure the kids get something healthy too.
Jelly and ice cream is another classic party dessert, and one that the kids will love (and they'll likely start to expect, the more parties they attend!). To make it that touch healthier why not try some of our fruity ice cream recipes? Alternatively, you can serve sorbet as a dairy-free option that goes down a treat with kids.
Gift ideas
Whether you’re buying for your own child or giving gift ideas to friends and family, you want to make sure your child gets some birthday gifts they'll love! At six years old, they'll already be forming their own likes and dislikes, so you'll have a better idea of what they'll really enjoy.
At this age, many children will enjoy playing independently, whether it's creating their own world with dolls or action figures, or focusing on building a Lego set. There are plenty of themed Lego sets if your child is into a particular film or TV show.
If your child is creative, a magnetic drawing board will be endless fun. For something more tech-savvy, the Harry Potter wand coding kit is suitable for kids aged six and up.
You can buy the Harry Potter wand coding kit here at Amazon.
Have a browse through some more of the best gifts for six-year-olds here.
Party bags
Your six-year-old will likely have already been invited to lots of friends and family member's birthday parties, which means they'll quickly have gotten used to receiving a party bag each time, as will their friends! It can sometimes be tricky to know what to include ...
If you've thrown a themed party for your child, then having a theme to stick to for the party bags too makes it that bit easier. You can find cute stuffed animals for an animal theme or tiaras for princesses, for example. And if you host at a soft play centre or opt for an activity like dancing or football, often party bags will be included, which will save you time when it comes to organising.
For party bag gifts that won't end up straight in the bin, pop in some fun pencils, rubbers and notebooks for kids to get creative with. Story books are a nice keepsake, and traditional party blowers, balloons and bubbles are guaranteed to put a smile on children's faces. Classic big bouncy balls and cuddly toys will always go down well.
Plus, if you're worried about the plastic waste, paper or fabric bags are great alternatives. Oh, and don't forget the cake!
Check out more party bag ideas here.
Tips for a great sixth birthday party
As with any party, planning ahead and getting organised with a list of everything you’ll need to do in advance of the big day will make things whole lot easier. These top tips should help things run even more smoothly:
- Child-to-adult ratio: Make it clear on your invitations whether you'd like parents to stick around or not - that way, you won't end up stuck with more or fewer adults than expected! If you're hosting at a venue, check whether they need you to bring your own adults to supervise. And if you're at home, ask family members, friends, or the parents you know the best if they can stay. Make sure you reward them with some grown-up food, too (they'll be grateful!).
- Write down the gifts your child receives and who they're from as soon as your child opens them. You'll thank yourself later when it comes to writing thank-you notes!
- Set an end time on your invitations. If you're hiring a hall or a soft play centre, the party will have a time limit. But if you're hosting at home, make sure you specify an end time on the invitations. This way, guests won't outstay their welcome and all the parents will know what time to arrive to pick up. Around two hours is a good length for six-year-olds. Any longer and the kids (and you!) will start to get tired.
- Don’t drop your usual rules. Okay, a party is a time for kids to have fun - but that doesn’t mean you should drop your usual rules when it comes to tantrums and misbehaviour. However you usually deal with a tantrum, the best thing to do at a party is to take your child away from the audience, so going to a free room is a good idea. For the best chance of avoiding any upset during the party, make sure the birthday boy or girl has an early bedtime the night before, so they'll be less likely to be irritable.
Looking for more birthday party ideas? Check out our articles below, or swap tips with other parents in our forum.
Related stories
How to throw a kids' birthday party on a budget
CHAT: Present ideas for a 6-year-old girl
More on kids' parties
Does your child have a sibling with a birthday coming up? Check out our other birthday party guides by age:
1-year-old birthday • 2-year-old birthday • 3-year-old birthday • 4-year-old birthday • 5-year-old birthday • 6-year-old birthday • 7-year-old birthday • 8-year-old birthday • 9-year-old birthday • 10-year-old birthday • 11-year-old birthday • 12-year-old birthday • 13-year-old birthday • 14-year-old birthday • birthday ideas for older teens
Or browse party ideas by theme:
Dinosaur party • Disco party • Festival party • First birthday party • Frozen party • Mermaid party • NYE party • Pamper party • Pirate party • Pizza party • Sleepover party • Space party • Tea party • Toy Story party • Trampoline sleepover party • Unicorn party
