Celebrating Preschool Kids: Throwing a Birthday Party on a Budget

From space rentals and party favors to special treats and gifts, planning a birthday party on a budget for your preschooler can be stressful. Once your little one enters the birthday party circuit, even attending parties can be expensive, let alone hosting one. Thankfully, these celebrations don’t have to break the bank. We compiled some of our best birthday party ideas on a budget for an affordable and unforgettable celebration.  

Birthday Party on A Budget: Guest List and Timing Tips

When it comes to hosting a birthday party on a budget, keeping the number of attendees small and the duration short are key. 

• We love the one-guest–per-year rule. This means that your four-year-old can invite four friends, five-year-olds can invite five guests and onwards. While you may feel pressure to invite your child’s entire class, keeping things small is worth it.
• Send text invites using an artificial intelligence application or Canva to create an invitation. Or, utilize free invite options like Evite или Paperless Post. You will want to send a reminder since these can sometimes get lost in email or text messages. 
• Keep the party time to two hours or less. This gives kids enough time to play, eat and celebrate before melt-downs begin. 

Ideas for Cost-Friendly Birthday Places: Utilize Free or Low-Cost Spaces

Regardless of the season, there are a range of options for free event spaces if you think creatively. 

Some of our favorites include:

• Playgrounds and parks — covered spaces can often be reserved for free or at low cost with the city of Denver. Вашингтон Парк offers scenic picnic areas and a boathouse. Paco Sanchez is a music-themed park with a summer splash pad. For larger parties (up to 75), try the City Park Pavilion which has indoor space. Also, check our list of inclusive and sensory-friendly parks and playgrounds.
• Shared green space – neighborhood parks and open green spaces are other great options that may be free to use for residents and their guests.
• Backyards — whether in your own or at a friend or neighbor’s backyard, this outdoor space is a safe area for kids to get out their wiggles and celebrate. 
• Recreation Centers — call your local rec center for party-room or group day-fee rates. Many rec centers often have private event rooms or tiered party packages. Many Denver rec centers offer access to a pool party room, swimming, and entry for up to 20 guests starting at $120 (be sure to book at least 30 days in advance. Or, for smaller birthday party options on a budget, locations like Central Park Rec Center have an indoor pool, a lazy river and accepts the MY Denver Card for free access. 

For a slightly higher fee, Denver offers a range of indoor party options that are guaranteed to be a hit with your little one. 

• Kids Wonder indoor playground in Centennial offers party packages starting at $129 for up to 6 kids. 
• Lava Island in Aurora has a range of party packages starting at $300 for up to 25 guests, which includes a themed party room. Choose from an assortment of themes including space, builder, ice, princess and island – bring along some fun props of your own for an unforgettable time!

Easy Birthday Party Theme Ideas

Asking your preschooler to choose a theme for their party may leave you with a confusing answer such as “dinosaur space princess.” You’re not alone. Here are some fool-proof themes that are easy to bring to life using things you may already have at home. 

• Art Party — bring out all of your crafts, paints, stickers and a huge roll of paper or poster boards and let the kids go wild.
• Stuffie Celebration — have guests bring their favorite stuffed animal and then make castles, forts or special homes for their stuffies using blankets or cardboard boxes. 
• Nature Explorers — create a scavenger hunt in your yard or park with must-find bugs, leaves, rocks and dirt. 
• Bubble Party — pick up several packs of inexpensive bubble bottles at your local dollar store or create your own using shallow tubs or aluminum pans  of dish soap and DIY wands made out of straws and plastic cups or pipe cleaners.
• Science fun – Gather up a few common household items and throw a science experiment birthday party on a budget. Use our science experiments for preschoolers’ blog post for ideas. 

Also, be sure to check out these fun themed ideas and suggestions, “Birthday Parties on a Budget” from Colorado Parent magazine. Looking for more ideas, including upcoming free days at local museums and attractions (which could make for an easy birthday party on a budget)? Check out our spring and summer activity ideas for preschoolers (including tips on scavenger hunts and more). 

Birthday Party on a Budget: Buy This > Not That

When it comes to food, party favors and activities, a few small shifts can add up to notable savings. 

• Cake mix not pre-made cake — If you have the time, make your own cake or cupcakes and save the upcharge for labor and decoration. Or pick up a cake at Costco (which cost around $16 and taste delicious!). 
• Swap out cake for a sundae or cookie bar — Save yourself the leftover cake in the fridge and purchase a large tub of ice cream or cookies and one or more toppings (sprinkles, fudge, whipped cream, or fruit). Let kids make their own sundaes or frost and decorate their own cookies.
• Block of cheese + crackers versus party tray. Don’t pay for the labor and slice your own snacks to keep them cheap. Kids don’t know the difference between Cabot and Costco. Other affordable options include popsicles, veggies + fruit skewers or cups of popcorn. 
• Homemade activities instead of bounce houses — Party rentals are famous for being overpriced. Save yourself some money by choosing a more cost-effective activity like sidewalk chalk, bubbles, sticker books or yard games (check out our “Let’s Chalk About It: Sensory-Friendly Sidewalk Chalk Ideas” blog post). You can also save shipping boxes and have kids decorate their own spaceships or make a fort together. 
• Borrow don’t buy — Ask friends, neighbors and other families if you can borrow birthday decorations, games, or other activities to keep costs down. 

Make Birthday Parties Easy on Yourself

Making birthdays memorable for kids can be easy, low-stress and affordable. Your guests will never remember what flavor the cake was or how expensive the party favors were. Make your life easy and say no to the things that don’t work for you (reference our Guide to Self-Care for Parents and Caregivers of Preschoolers for additional tips beyond birthday parties). 

The low-stress “Party Survival Tips”  blog post from MetroFamily magazine also has great insights. Some of our favorites are:  

• Avoid having party favors altogether
• Keep the food simple and interactive, creating a two-for-one activity
• Play a fun birthday music list from your mobile phone or tablet 
• Use YouTube and Netflix birthday-themed and musical wallpapers to showcase on your TV rather than purchase decorations
• Stay minimal on the themed elements with homemade signs, balloons and other items you can use year after year like stickers or wall clings.

Remember that making this day feel special for your preschooler is easier than you think. You can start the day celebrating with a surprise breakfast with your family, enjoy a small party with close friends and create a calming and quiet moment together before bed. Raising little ones is a balance of making memories while taking care of ourselves in the process. 

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