8-year-old birthday party ideas

Planning an eight-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

Now that your child is approaching eight years old, you have a little more freedom when it comes to birthday parties, as they'll now be old enough for a wider variety of activities. Plus, they'll 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, at this age it can also be nice to spend quality time with a few close friends at home.

There are plenty of other indoor venues to choose from that cater to different budgets, so why not try some of our ideas below?

Your own home

Even if your child has had some of their younger birthday parties at home, there are plenty of ways to make an at-home party fun and feel like a treat!

By eight years old, your child will probably love the idea of a sleepover with their closest friends - and they might have even already attended one at a friend's house too. It's a good idea to keep the numbers small; no more than five friends is ideal. A handy trick is to try to get it to an even number in total if possible, so that nobody ends up feeling left out.

Remember that some of your guests might be a little nervous, or it might be their first sleepover at a non-family member's house. But line up some films for them to watch, and some snacks as a treat, and they'll likely settle in easily!

For a sleepover or simply a daytime party, you could also host a spa at home. Have the kids wear slippers and robes and treat them to some child-friendly treatments, like having their nails or toenails painted or a cucumber eye mask. They'll love being pampered!

Other at-home party ideas for a smaller group include 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. Just pop the lyrics up on YouTube and get a microphone for added effect!

Activity parties

By eight years old, your child will most likely be starting to develop their own hobbies, and an activity party is a great way for them to do something that they love on their birthday. Whether they're a budding dancer, footballer or actor, check to see if their local club hosts birthday parties.

Cinema party

At this age, you might feel that your child is old enough to take a few friends out to the cinema for a birthday treat. This will make them feel extra grown-up, and it'll be exciting to go out and about with friends if they don't usually see them outside of school.

Cinema chains like ODEON offer party deals for screenings of kids films, with snacks and balloons included. Plus, if you want to push the boat out you could go for a viewing booth or a completely private screening. Your child's guests will feel extra special!

An aquarium

For an alternative day trip out, your eight-year-old will now be old enough to properly appreciate a trip to the aquarium - and they'll likely be floored by the huge fish! This is an ideal party for a small group and a great chance to do something a bit different.

Swimming pool party

By eight years old, you might feel that your child and their friends are old enough for a swimming pool party. Swimming parties can be loads of fun, especially if the pool provides inflatables to play on! Different children's confidence levels can vary a lot at this age when it comes to swimming, but most pools will have a shallow end or a baby pool for less-confident swimmers.

You'll usually need a large amount of adult supervisors for a swimming party, unless the pool provides them, so ask parents in advance if they'll be able to help out.

You can browse your local swimming pools here.

Soft play centre or village hall

At eight years old, your child will still be at a good age to enjoy a soft play party or a big run around in your local village hall if you want to keep things more simple. Hosting a party at an indoor venue like this is also a good option if you want to invite a bigger group of children. Plus, catering and entertainment can often be included, which takes the hassle away from you!

You can browse your local soft play centres with our handy search tool here, or look for your local halls for hire here.

Outdoor party ideas

Exotic animal party

If you've got a little animal-lover and feel that farm animals just don't cut it anymore, then an exotic animal party is sure to impress them! You can arrange for the party provider to come to your house or venue with a collection of their most impressive creatures, from spiders to snakes to birds of prey. This will definitely be a memorable event so make sure to have your camera at the ready!

The zoo

Another animal party option is to take a small group of friends on a day trip to the zoo. This is a great option if you want a long and fun-filled day out - and it'll be a great chance for your child to spend some quality time with their closest friends! Some zoos will offer party packages, but the kids will have just as much fun with a regular ticket and a day of looking at the animals.

It's better to keep your group small so that nobody gets lost - and stick some pillows in the car as they'll likely be worn out by the time you're ready to drive home!

Garden party

A garden party is the perfect compromise when it comes to an outdoor party that still maintains the ease and familiarity of your own home.

If your child would just like to invite a small group of friends, consider letting them 'camp out' in the garden as a treat. However, be prepared that they likely won't spend the whole night out there (and you probably won't want them to either). Perhaps suggest that they have a few hours in a tent in the early evening, before coming to sleep inside or heading home. The novelty of the tent will probably have worn off by then, too!

For a daytime garden party, you could host a picnic complete with all of your child's favourite foods. Simply lay out a long table or some picnic blankets, and decorate the garden however you like! Bunting, balloons and a fun tablecloth will be easy to pull off (just make sure nothing blows away!). And for some extra fun, you could hire a bouncy castle, or organise some ball games.

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

By this age, your child will most likely have already formed a close group of friends, and their birthday is a great chance for them to spend quality time together!

Don't feel under pressure to invite the whole class if you don't want to. But if you are planning on inviting a large number of your child's class to the party, try not to just leave out a handful of kids as they might feel excluded. And in terms of etiquette, if your child has been invited to a classmate's birthday party, then it's only kind to invite them back.

Otherwise, who you invite will mostly depend on where you're hosting the party, which will help to make the decision for you.

For a venue like soft play or an activity like a dancing party, you'll need to consider the per-head cost before inviting a big group. Plus, venues like this might have a limit on how many children can attend.

For day trips to a farm or adventure playground, you might find it easier to keep the guest list to a small group of close friends - especially if you want to fit them into one or two cars.

At this age, parents will probably want to drop their kids off at the party and collect them at the end. Make sure you have enough adults on hand to supervise, and if not, consider asking a couple of parents if they're happy to stick around.

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 eight years old, kids will be full of energy and keen to get involved in traditional party games. They'll enjoy following rules and will understand the concept of 'winning' and 'losing', and they'll be happy to take part in team games too. However, while they might not get too upset at the thought of losing, it's still a good idea to have some smaller prizes available to hand out to everyone - 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.

Now the kids are a bit older, you might be able to have them sit down for a game of bingo. Or if they've got energy to burn (and you've got the space), try lining them up for a game of tug of war.

For something more elaborate, you could set up an obstacle course. Even simple household items like boxes and blankets make great props for an assault course.

Similarly, you could set up a scavenger hunt where kids search for specific items, or a treasure hunt where they follow a trail of clues. Or for 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 eight-year-olds here.

Food and drink

Party food

If you're hosting your party at an organised venue, like a swimming pool or an activity party, it's likely that party food will be included, which will take the hassle away from you! However, if you're at home, in the garden, or bringing your own food to a party, here are some ideas of what to include...

Finger foods: Your guests will be having so much fun that it's unlikely you'll get them to sit down and eat for long, so small, bite-sized food is your friend here!

If you’re worried about making sure there’s enough food to go around, consider filling 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 make sure to include some carrot, cucumber or pepper sticks too as a healthy option.

If you're at home or hosting a sleepover, it's a nice idea to get the kids involved in preparing the food. You could get some plain mini pizza bases and have the kids decorate with their own toppings, or build a make-your-own sundae bar. They'll love eating food they've made themselves!

If you're out on a day trip, you might want to treat kids to some food while you're there. Just make sure to check with parents for any dietary requirements.

For more ideas, check out our party food guide here. 

Drinks

If you want to give kids a healthy drink that still feels like a party treat, go for sparkling water with added pieces of real fruit. And if you do want to give them fizzy drinks, perhaps do so after the food so they're not too full of sugar to eat anything.

Fruit juices and smoothies are also OK in moderation, and make sure that juice squashes are well-diluted.

As a handy tip, 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 eight-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 pieces or popcorn (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. 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 eight years old, your child will have formed their own likes and dislikes (although they might still change every day!) and they might have taken up some hobbies or joined some clubs, so you'll have a better idea of which presents 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. Plus, there are plenty of themed Lego kits 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 - and it's a great way to support their learning in a fun way.

You can buy the Harry Potter wand coding kit here at Amazon.

Otherwise, outdoor gifts like a bike or a scooter will mean hours of fun!

Have a browse through some more of the best gifts for eight-year-olds here.

Party bags

Now that your child is a little older, they'll probably want to say goodbye to 'childish' party bag toys. Still, it can sometimes be tricky to know what to include ...

For party bag gifts that move away from the usual plastic toys, you could include some more 'grown-up' games, like Top Trumps cards, or other playing cards or collector's cards.

Fun practical gifts like a 'make your own bracelet' kit can be fun for girls or boys, especially if it's a friendship bracelet which matches everybody else's.

Other practical gifts like a small paint set or a harmonica will avoid being thrown away, and stationery like pencils, rubbers and notebooks will always end up being used! Plus, traditional party bag presents like party blowers, balloons and bubbles will be guaranteed to put a smile on children's faces.

If you host at an organised venue, party bags will often be included, which will save you time when it comes to organising. 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 eighth 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 a whole lot easier. These top tips should help things run even more smoothly:

• Child-to-adult ratio: If you're hosting somewhere where you'll need extra adult supervision, like a swimming pool, make sure to ask in advance if parents are able to stick around - or state it on the invitation (and check ahead of time how many adults you will need). If you're taking a group out on a day trip to somewhere like an aquarium or a farm, be sure to plan ahead when it comes to how you'll actually get there. If everyone won't fit in your car(s), ask a family member or a parent of one of your guests in advance if they'll also be able to help with lifts. Plus, if they stick around they'll get to enjoy the party too!
• 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 hosting at an organised venue, the party will have a time limit. But if you're hosting at home or elsewhere, 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.
• Ask for your child's input. At this age, your child will have a better idea of what they want to do and who they want to invite than they have done in previous years, so it's a nice idea to involve them in the planning. Have them help to make the invitations or decorations to give their party that extra personal touch!
• 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 misbehaviour. If tempers get frayed, 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.

Take a look at

100 fantastic kids' party ideas

Whether you're planning a child's birthday party, kids' Halloween party, mini disco or any other type of kids' celebration, our top 100 children's party ideas will help you throw an event to remember. With great ideas for decorations, party food, party bags, party games and entertainment, you'll find all the inspiration you need to host a fantastic kids' party, for any age.

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