ML Interest Tag: birthday-card

55 Totally Funny Birthday Jokes for Kids & Adults

by Amber Guetebier

What’s the cleanest type of birthday party joke? One that’s a soap-prise

It’s your kiddo’s special day so once you’ve figured out the birthday party theme and the birthday gift, you’re ready for a cuddle and a laugh. Our kid-friendly and kid-approved birthday jokes are perfect for their special day. Get ready for sweet laughs, and be sure to drop one in their lunchbox for some LOL fun!

If you need more birthday party fun, check out our favorite birthday desserts that aren’t cake, party favors kids will actually use, outdoor birthday party ideas, and the best indoor birthday party ideas around!

birthday jokes are fun at a party
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1. What do you say to a rabbit on its birthday? 

Hoppy Birthday! 

2. Why do candles always go on the top of cakes?

Because it's hard to light them from the bottom. 

3. What do cakes and baseball teams have in common?

They both need a good batter. 

4. What goes up but never comes down?

Your age. 

5. What does every birthday end with?

The letter Y.

6. What did the pirate say on his 80th birthday?

Aye matey. 

7. What did the tiger say to her cub on his birthday?

It's roar birthday! 

8. Why did the girl put her cake in the freezer?

She wanted to ice it. 

9. Why did the cupcake go to the doctor's office?

It was feeling crumby. 

10. What one thing will you get every year on your birthday, guaranteed?

A year older. 

kids holding balloons and telling birthday jokes
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11. What do you give a 3100 lb. rhino for his birthday?

I don't know, but you better hope he likes it. 

12. Why did the baker laugh in the bakery?

Because the eggs kept cracking jokes. 

13. Why did the little girl hit her birthday cake with a hammer?

It was a pound cake.

14. Did the teddy bear want cake on his birthday?

No, he was stuffed. 

15. Why did we have to send the cake to the doctor?

It was feeling crumby.

16. Why did the student eat their homework?

Because the teacher said it was a piece of cake!

17. Why did the robber break into the bakery?

She heard the cakes were rich.

18. What kind of music is bad for balloons?

Pop. 

19. What do clams like to do on their birthdays?

Shell-ebrate.

20. What song do you sing a Snowman on his birthday?

"Freeze a jolly good fellow..."

birthday jokes are fun for toddlers
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21. Did you hear about the tree's birthday celebration?

It was really sappy. 

22. What did the cake say to the ice cream?

You're cool. 

23. What kind of cake do ghosts like?

I Scream Cake.

24. How do pickles celebrate their birthday?

They relish it. 

25. What kind of candle burns longer than the others? 

None, silly—they all burn shorter. 

26. What's the cleanest type of birthday party joke?

One that's a soap-prise. 

27. What happens when you invite a thief to your birthday party?

They take the cake! 

28. What kind of cake do you eat if you are sick on your birthday?

Coffee cake. 

29. Why can't kids remember past birthdays?

Because they are too focused on the present. 

30. What did one candle say to the other?

Don't birthdays just burn you out?

31. Why was the birthday cake so hard?

It was a marble cake! 

32. Knock knock! 

Who's there?

Wanda.

Wanda who?

Wanda wish you a happy birthday! 

33. What do you say to a kangaroo on their birthday?

Hoppy Birthday! 

34. What's hairy and covered in fondant? 

A coconut cake. 

35. What did the cake say to the donut?

You're looking glazed over. 

little boy smiling at a birthday joke
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36. What happens when your dad chugs 8 sodas at your birthday party?

He burps 7-Up. 

37. What do you call a bunch of balloons in the bathroom?

A birthday potty. 

38. What do frogs drink at their birthday parties?

Diet croak. 

39. If you have a dozen eggs in one hand and 10 cupcakes in the other, what do you have?

Crazy-big hands. 

40. How do cats bake cake?

From scratch! 

—young reader Jacey

41. What did the cake say to the fork?

You wanna' piece of me?? 

42. How did Darth Vader know what Luke Skywalker was getting for his birthday?

He felt his presents. 

43. What happens if no one comes to your birthday party?

You can have your cake and eat it, too. 

44. What kind of music do balloons hate?

Pop music. 

45. What do you call a spaghetti noodle pretending it's his birthday?

An impasta

46. What did the birthday card say to the stamp?

Stick with me, we're going places! 

47. What is a tornado's favorite party game?

Twister! 

48. Why did the cupcake cross the road?

It had muffin else to do! 

49. Why don't owls give each other presents on their birthdays?

Because they don't give a hoot! 

50. What did the King of the Underworld say when Zeus gave him boring socks for his birthday?

I Hades! 

51. What did the mama say to her baby on his birthday?

Nappy Birthday! 

52. What did the ocean say on its birthday? 

Nothing, it just waved. 

53. Why isn't Elsa allowed to have a birthday balloon? 

Because she'll just "let it go." 

54. How do you make sure a birthday party in outer space is super fun?

You planet. 

55. Knock Knock

Who's there?

Bacon

Bacon who?

Bacon a cake for your birthday! 

 

Our Favorite Jokes for Kids

Stormy All via Unsplash

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13 Things to Throw Out That You’ve Been Desperately Clinging To

by Elizabeth Broadbent

We’re drowning in stuff. We desperately need to get rid of some stuff. And there should be an easier way to go about it. Marie Kondo (who’s actually come around after having kids) made an empire out of ditching everything that doesn’t “spark joy.” But my vacuum and dish rags do not spark joy. Once in a while, my children don’t spark joy, either. I cannot Kondo any of them out of my house, no matter how much, some days, I might want to.

Any time I’ve embarked on a massive decluttering spree, I’ve regretted the epic scale and whirlwind effort later. Yes, I really chucked all my winter clothes in the middle of summer more than once, because, unlike lab rats, I do not learn from experience. Do not follow my lead—there’s no need to go all in.

Instead, let’s focus on certain categories of items that can be purged without repercussions. You can chuck these without guilt, intense spousal consultation, or lingering regret. Donate and recycle what you can, and trash what you can’t. You can do this; I believe in you.

1. All that art
Picasso probably created 50,000 works of art in his lifetime. Your kid appears to be headed in that direction, too. We know your son or daughter is precious, but do you need to keep every single drawing they have scrawled in their lifetime? Keep the best, maybe one from each month, and throw out the rest. Your kid doesn’t want you to keep them all. My mother-in-law gave us reams of my husband’s childhood scribbles. I wish she had kept it to a few—they would mean more.

2. The bad pictures
You have a million billion photos of your kid. In some of them, they’re making a weird face or scratching their butt or ducking under the table. You don’t need these pictures in your life. Do future you a favor: Narrow it down from 57 ever-so-slightly-different snaps to a handful of winners from every event—big or small—or day. (Psst, the Tinybeans app can help with that.) You’ll feel less overwhelmed, we swear.

3. The presents you feel guilty for hating
Someone gave you a thing. They put thought into the thing. You want to like the thing, but you don’t like the thing, and you feel really bad, you do, and it’s such a sweet thought, but it’s not your thing. Donating the thing is not disavowing the kind thoughts. It is passing on the kind thoughts. Just donate the thing and stop the guilt freight train. It’s just running you over every time you peek under your dresser.

4. That thing your kid loved but has ignored, and it’s now developmentally inappropriate, and they won’t notice if you chuck it
I don’t care how much they loved it. They don’t need it, and they don’t want it, and it’s taking up space in your house. Caveat: You can keep it if it’s a stuffie. You are allowed to keep a stuffie or six.

5. That iPhone box
The impulse to keep iPhone boxes remains a great American mystery.

6. Birthday cards
One day, you imagine, your child will want every birthday card they ever received. Pause. Think about your end game. Do you want to hoard every birthday card you’ve ever received? You wouldn’t look at them. You’d vaguely resent them. Don’t be that mother who saves all of her kid’s, then calls them in 20 years and attempts to pass the torch. Throw them out now and save the argument later.

7. Those clothes your kids refuse to wear
My oldest wouldn’t wear jeans. He had a drawerful. Instead, he favored ratty athletic pants or shorts. Why keep a literal drawer full of clothes (jeans take up a lot of space) when I could fill them with clothes he’d actually use? The same goes for your toddler who insists on wearing a dress every day and hasn’t touched her sweatsuits in ages. Let. Them. Go. Eventually, I purged all my kids’ closets—or rather, I let them do it because they’re old enough that I can’t force them to wear what I pick any longer (cue dramatic, tearful sniff). We traded with friends for clothes the kids liked. Then I bought my oldest cargo pants.

8. The fair/amusement park tickets of yore
Once, you visited a magical land of child slot machines. Yes, you said as you dragged your spawn from the blinking hellscape, wishing there was a matching version of Gamblers Anonymous. We will return one day to use the approximately three dollars and 25 cents worth of tickets that you can trade for a loud, plastic toy. Do not think about how much money you dropped to earn those tickets: They’re banking on that. The game was always rigged, and your kid had fun at the arcade. Ditch ‘em.

9. The mud-caked shoes
Sometimes, no matter how much you spray a pair of white sneakers, you can’t get the mud out of the cracks. Sometimes, you’re too icked out to scrub it with a toothbrush. This is not about the mud. This is about the sneakers: They’re ancient and they smell bad, and you can use the mud as a convenient excuse to toss them. Your children will not argue because mud is disgusting, and they think those shoes are hopelessly contaminated, anyway.

10. The old magazines
You will never look at that issue of Southern Living again. Admit it. You’re not going to cook the squash casserole, okay? Your kid would cheerfully choose cannibalism over zucchini. Pulp the magazines and back away slowly.

11. Tupperware without lids
Where do the lids go? That’s a trick question—you will never ever find out. Accept what you cannot change—the lids are gone—and even if they do appear at the bottom of a cabinet, they’ll be dusty and gross and you won’t want to use them anyway.

12. Sippy cups and bottles
To confront them is to confront mortality. Be brave. Remember—sippy cups come with grubby paws and sticky faces and diapers. Lots of diapers. Remember those diapers and the screaming nights and the times you never slept? Maybe you don’t: You didn’t sleep. You do not want to return there. Ditch the cups and bottles as soon as you’re able. You are not going back. And if you’re still in that season of life where you’re drowning in dozens of parts, keep the faith! Your day will come soon enough.

13. The idea of achieving a perfectly clean space
Throw this one away while you’re at it, too. It’s not going to happen. You have children and a life, and work’s never done. Get rid of the idea that you’re getting rid of everything. Nothing’s ever perfect. Your to-do list never ends, and you’ll drive yourself batty if you think it will. Sing the Frozen “Let it Go” song. You’re doing the best you can, and honestly, that’s plenty!

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IKEA Hosted a Kids’ Birthday Party, Complete with Swedish Meatballs & Cool Decor

by Christina Marfice

IKEA hosted a birthday party for a 3-year-old, complete with Swedish meatballs, and now we want to know if this is available for adults, too

What is it that makes IKEA the best place on Earth? There’s just something simultaneously thrilling and calming about winding through those maze-like display floors, admiring furniture and decor you can actually afford (if you can figure out how to put it together). Everyone loves IKEA—but no one loves IKEA like the 3-year-old who had her now-viral birthday party there.

TikTok mom @cyaatia narrates the video, which has exploded with views from Swedish-furniture-loving millennials all over the world.

“Come with me to have my three-year-old’s birthday party at IKEA Tampa,” she says, showing the very excited toddler walking into the store.

They’re first met by the Tampa store’s “event leader,” which is a thing we didn’t know IKEA offered, but we’re thrilled to find out. They adorn the birthday girl with a special sash and lead the way to the party room, which has been decorated in the store’s signature blue and yellow colors with streamers and balloons. The camera then pans over the lunch buffet, which includes all our cafe favorites—including the famous Swedish meatballs, obviously.

And then, and this is the best part, the kids at the party were led through the showrooms on an IKEA-themed scavenger hunt the store’s staff designed. If my next birthday doesn’t include a furniture-themed scavenger hunt, I don’t want it.

@cyaatia

Lucy’s 3rd Birthday Party 🥹 💙💛 I will never stop talking about this party. Thank you to @IKEA USA @IKEA

♬ original sound – cyaatia

The party wrapped up with cake and singing, and @cyaatia revealed that the Tampa store’s entire staff had signed a giant birthday card for her daughter. They seriously pulled out all the stops, just when we didn’t think we could love IKEA any more.

In follow-up videos, @cyaatia answered questions from the video’s comments section, mostly from people wanting to know A) how she managed to book a birthday party at a furniture store, and B) whether we can all plan our birthdays at IKEA, too.

@cyaatia

Replying to @krstn #ikeabirthday #ikea #ikeabirthdayparty #ikeatampa

♬ original sound – cyaatia

She explained that her daughter has always loved IKEA because it’s a place where she can “play with toys, jump on beds, and eat pizza all in the same store.” Relatable, TBH. So she reached out to their local branch to ask about the birthday party idea, and the team there loved it. They went above and beyond to pull off the party we saw in the video. And while IKEA doesn’t offer birthday parties like this one at all its stores (for kids or adults 😩), @cyaatia did note that the brand is watching her video’s comments and that this may be something they offer in the future.

@cyaatia

Replying to @harold’s chicken all the details #ikea #ikeaparty #ikeabirthday #ikeatampa

♬ original sound – cyaatia

So for now, you’ll have to get your birthday meatballs to go. But IKEA, if you’re reading this, we’re begging: make birthday parties a thing.

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A Woman’s MIL Shamed Her for Not Reminding Husband About Family’s Birthdays & Why Is It Her Job Anyway

by Christina Marfice

This mother-in-law thinks it’s her son’s wife’s job to remind him about family birthdays, so she asked the internet to weigh in

Another day, another story about a useless man who thinks his wife is automatically his personal chef, maid, secretary, and handler. In today’s edition, we’re heading to the always hilarious-yet-rage-inducing “Am I the A**hole” subreddit, where a woman is asking the internet to weigh in on her fight with her mother-in-law over whose job it is to remember family birthdays.

“My MIL’s birthday was about two months ago. They live on the other side of the country, so it would typically mean a phone call and maybe a birthday card. Well, I guess my husband forgot about it and didn’t call her or send her a card,” she writes. “I found this out because she called and was disappointed that she didn’t hear anything from us. I told her that my husband probably should have put her birthday in his calendar and set a reminder, and that he never does.”

AITA for not reminding my husband about holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc?
byu/Quiet-Guidance inAmItheAsshole

She continues, “She asked me why I didn’t keep track of this stuff for him, because ‘he’s a guy, they don’t care about that stuff.’ She mentioned he’d skipped his sister’s birthday and niece’s and nephew’s birthdays too, and that I should start trying to remind him. And then she said ‘And don’t forget Mother’s Day, either.'”

The wife, who has the patience of a saint, says she’ll talk to her husband. But that’s not good enough for mother-in-law.

“She got annoyed and told me that like it or not, it’s kind of ‘my job’ to keep track of this stuff, because again, guys don’t care,” she says. “I said ‘Well, if he doesn’t care, he doesn’t care. I’m not his mom.'”

To no one’s surprise, husband took his mom’s side.

“He said that we’re a team and that he’s obviously not good at this, so I should step up,” she writes. “I asked him what the release date for a video game he’d been talking about was. He said the exact date. I just looked at him for a minute, and he got pretty defensive and said ‘That’s totally different.'”

Right.

So the wife came up with a great solution: she and her husband would start a shared family calendar with important dates like birthdays entered in, with reminders. That makes sense, right? Except, of course, husband couldn’t be bothered to pull his weight, once again.

“I started the calendar, entered in my dates, and it has been sitting there, unused for the past two months. What happened? He missed another birthday, and the whole thing started again,” the rightfully frustrated wife writes.

So amid this ridiculous war with her husband’s family, she’s asking the internet if she’s the a**hole in the situation. The internet, thankfully, sees reason, and the response is overwhelming: she is not. Obviously.

“I hate this stuff, the mental work load that is automatically assigned to women. You’re his wife, not his secretary. Also nice move with the video game date. A wonderful comeback would have been ‘Oh you’re right, it is different, you actually care about the game,'” one commenter wrote.

Another weighed in, “Send him back to his mother so she can finish raising him.”

This scenario is all-too-common—research shows that in heterosexual marriages, it is virtually always women who do more child-raising, housework, and mental and emotional labor, even when both parents work full-time jobs. And husbands (and MILs) like this one are only perpetuating that problem.

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Totally Unique Birthday Gifts for 2-Year-Olds

by Gabby Cullen
Partner Content

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation.

Bouncing from one activity to the next, toddlers are a busy group. They’re full of energy and curiosity, so when it comes to keeping them engaged long enough to even think about what to make for dinner, you’re going to need a full arsenal of cool and unique toys. To help you out, we’ve done the research and have curated a list of unique gifts for kids that can’t seem to stop (except, hopefully, for that mid-day nap). From beautiful wooden puzzles to a kitchen helper tower to get them in on the action, keep scrolling to see our birthday gift ideas for two-year-olds.

This article is sponsored by LeapFrog, a leader in electronic learning toys that’ll prepare your child for a lifetime of learning. Learn more information about LeapFrog here.

LeapFrog® My Pal Scout Smarty Paws™

$25 BUY NOW

Give the gift of learning with My Pal Scout Smarty Paws™! This interactive plush toy is the perfect gift that can be customized right in the box with a child’s name, favorite color, favorite animal and more. Scout’s ears and touch-sensitive paws play music, games, mindfulness exercises and silly reactions. Explore feeling words, animal sounds and personalized songs.

Scoot Ride Highwaykick 1 Scooter Scandiborn

Scoot & Ride Highwaykick 1 Scooter

$125 BUY NOW

You'll get years of use out of this scooter, which transitions from a ride-on to a two-wheeler—no tools needed.

John Deere Tomy Big Scoop Tractor Toy

$53 BUY NOW

Scoop rocks, sand and even LEGO bricks with this tractor with front loaders.

Busa Play Tunnel

$30 BUY NOW

Not only can this be used both indoors and out, but this classic toy (that folds up neatly for easy storage) is more than just a tunnel—it's an entrance to a pillow fort, a hide and seek spot, a secret passageway to faraway lands—whatever your kid imagines, this tunnel can take them there.

STICK O Cooking Magnetic Building Blocks

$25 BUY NOW

This set of magnetic toys is a new take on a cooking set, plus it helps with fine motor, STEM and color recognition.

 

Glo Pals Light Up Bath Cubes

$32 BUY NOW

Birthday bathtub rave, anyone? These cool cubes have battery power that lasts 12-14 hours, are sealed inside for safety, and a portion of your purchase goes to the Batson Children's Hospital of Mississippi.

I Sang You Down from the Stars

$14 BUY NOW

Written and illustrated by Indigenous women, this sweet story shares how babies are a gift to their mothers, and mothers are a gift to their children.

 

Kitchen Helper Tower

$180 BUY NOW

An updated look on the classic learning tower that lets your toddler help in the kitchen. This adjustable piece grows with your child, safely allowing them to participate in the heart of the home.

Hape Pretend Outdoor Toddler Picnic

$19 BUY NOW

You'll be excited to play along when your little one serves up the pretend brie and French bread in this adorable set.

Personalized Alphabet Growth Chart

$44 BUY NOW

Think how fun it will be for them to see their name while you chart how much they've grown over the years.

Green Pinata Toys Subscription Box

$30 a month BUY NOW

A meaningful birthday gift for kids that grows with them! For ages six months to five years, choose toys based on what is best suited to your kid (and keep them as long as you like), and when they're done, return the toys your child doesn't love.

Dolphin Bubble Machine

$25 BUY NOW

Trust us, a bubble machine can turn any bad day around. This one gets top reviews from parents for its quiet motor, and kids love the aquatic design.

Odin Parker's Weather Station

$58 BUY NOW

A beautiful toy that teaches future meteorologists about rain, snow, sun and more. It has four moveable parts and five weather symbols.

3D Cupcake Birthday Card

$11 BUY NOW

How adorable is this 3D birthday card? You can order it on Amazon to be delivered in time for the big day.

—Gabby Cullen

Featured image: iStock 

RELATED STORIES: 

11 Fun Birthday Gifts for 3-Year-Olds

Cool Birthday Gifts for Kids 4 & Up

 

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Cool Birthday Gifts for 4-Year-Olds

by Andie Huber
Partner Content

Shopping for a four-year-old’s birthday present is so much fun—this age is bubbling with curiosity, creativity and is full of non-stop energy. Of course, you want to gift something extra special for your little mover and shaker so whether you’re a parent, friend, aunt or uncle looking for a cool birthday gift for kids or a unique birthday gift for kids, we’ve gathered our favorite picks for four-year-olds below.

This article is sponsored by LeapFrog, a leader in electronic learning toys that’ll prepare your child for a lifetime of learning. Learn more information about LeapFrog here.

LeapFrog® LeapLand Adventures™

$35 BUY NOW

Take learning to the next level with LeapLand Adventures™, the perfect gift for a child’s first video game experience. Kids can explore a world full of letters, shapes, numbers and colors. Set up is easy so little gamers can jump right into a learning adventure. No downloads or Wi-Fi required – just plug in and play!

birthday gift ideas for 4 year old

Pop Up Birthday Card

$11 BUY NOW

Whether you're celebrating in person or need to send a gift through the mail, this happy, colorful and adorable animals 3D pop-up birthday card will make their day extra special—becoming a keepsake they'll cherish year, after year.

best gift idea for a 4 year old

World Map Coloring Tablecloth

$30 BUY NOW

Great for on-the-go kids, this creative map can tuck in your car to pull out at the park, while camping, at a restaurant or anywhere you need a fun project to engage them.

birthday gift idea for a 4 year old

Personalized Super Hero Cape

$35 BUY NOW

For your little superhero—this personalized cape comes in 21 color combinations and an optional accessory kit.

best gift idea for a 4 year old

Balsang Scooter Bag

$30 BUY NOW

For little ones that love to scoot, bike and be on the go! State's first bike and scooter bag comes in three color options and has a variety of snapped and zipper pouches that can carry a water bottle, small toys and more. It easily clips on, so kids can have everything they need on their adventures.

best birthday gift idea for a 4 year old

Cat Eye Sunglasses

$20 BUY NOW

Fashionistas and those who love to accessorize will adore these cat-inspired, two-tone sunglasses that are so on-trend, we're wondering if they make them in adult sizes to match our mini-me.

best birthday gift ideas for a 4 year old

Chalkscapes Mandala Stencils

$22 BUY NOW

Little artists will adore being able to upgrade their sidewalk chalk skills with eye-catching stencils that also inspires good vibes.

best birthday gifts for a 4 year old

Hape Dollhouse

$171 BUY NOW

This award-winning, classic 3-story wood dollhouse comes fully furnished and all but guarantees hours of imaginative, independent play.

best birthday gift ideas for a 4 year old

An ABC of Equality

$11 BUY NOW

It's never too early to introduce social justice ideas. We adore this beautifully illustrated book that teaches kids how to celebrate differences.

Space Elevator Marble Run

$60 BUY NOW

Get those engineering gears running with this infinite loop marble run that also glows in the dark for late-night play.

birthday gift ideas for a 4 year old

Super Smalls Super Stack Bracelet Set

$44 BUY NOW

Give your mini fashionista a cool stack of stretchy bracelets that add a touch of sparkle to everyday outfits. Even better, split the set for a mommy and me matchy-matchy dress up day.

best birthday gift idea for a 4 year old

Wooden Play Kitchen

$500 BUY NOW

This classic pretend toy play toy is giving us major design envy. Watch in wonder as your kids cook, put away dishes and even plan the week's menu on the chalkboard.

best birthday gift for a 4 year old

Mystery Center Fantasy Dough

$15 BUY NOW

This sculpting putty is so pretty in its container, you may be hesitant to play with it but let your kid at it and watch as they smoosh their way through compostable glitter and clay to create something even prettier than what showed up in the package.

birthday gift ideas for 4 year old

Giant Inflatable Dinosaur Bowling

$40 BUY NOW

Essential for any dino-loving kid, this indoor/outdoor bowling game isn't just fun, it's hilarious watching those T-Rex's get knocked over.

HABA Hanging Doorway Puppet Theater

HABA Doorway Puppet Theater

$60 BUY NOW

Let their imaginations go into overdrive with this puppet theater that attaches to any doorway using a tension rod. Bravo!

—Andie Huber

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation.

RELATED STORIES:

Totally Unique Birthday Gifts for 2-Year-Olds

You’re Number One! First Birthday Gift Ideas

11 Fun Birthday Gifts for 3-Year-Olds

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10 Indoor Birthday Party Spots That Bring All the Cheer

by Annette Benedetti

With the rainy season on the horizon in Portland, planning an outdoor birthday party becomes a bit of a challenge. But don’t fret. Our city knows how to keep birthdays popping year-round with a multitude of indoor birthday party places Portland kids and parents love. Trust us, they promise to make your birthday babes feel like the sun shines just for them. Each one is packed with tons of fun offerings for that very special day, and many make it super easy for parents too. If you’ve got a birthday party to plan, we’ve got just the spot.

The Wiggle Room

Lyle Poulin via The Wiggle Room

There are a lot of great options out there for parties for older children but parents of little ones are left with very few choices. Thankfully, The Wiggle Room has helped to fill a void for birthday locations built for little-ones and their parents to enjoy. This cool spot provides exclusive access to The Wiggle Room for a full two hours. The host gets an additional 30 minutes on either side of the party for decorating and breaking down. But, Wiggle Room staff do final cleanup! The rate is $325 for a 2 hour party for up to 15 kids. Adults are free. Outside food is always welcome. Contact The Wiggle Room for pricing for your unique event.

1925 N.E. 42nd Ave.
Portland
Online: thewiggleroom.com

Related: Celebrate! The Best Birthday Portland Party Spots for Every Age

Mad Science

Mad Science for Portland and Vancouver
Mad Science

Exploration and discovery of the unknown make for a fantastic time for all involved. Mad Science brings the excitement that only science can bring to your child’s birthday party. Basic science parties in the lab begin at $235 for up to 12 kids with themed and outdoor-friendly options available. Diverse packages, optional add-ons and ready-to-go goody bags, loaded with multiple science-themed toys, are just some of the perks! The Mad Science Lab even offers virtual parties for parents that want to keep it extra safe.

1522 N. Ainsworth St.
Portland
Online: portland.madscience.org

Lumberyard Bike Park

Lumberyard Bike Park

Bike riding doesn’t have to be a summer-only activity. If you have a little mountain biker in the making, perhaps a party at the giant 70,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor North East Portland Lumberyard Bike Park is in order. The Bike Park has hosted gangs of 3-year-olds on balance bikes all of the way up to 50-year birthdays and even a wedding. Party packages at the Lumberyard include a two hour ride time, a reserved table and great food. There is an arcade for additional entertainment options and plenty of add ons to consider.  table in the Fox Event Room, a party hostess, paper goods, personalized Happy Birthday card from Lumberyard Staff, a water bottle for each rider, and a snack for each rider. Starter packages begin at $100 for reservation of the room.

2700 N.E. 82nd Ave.
Portland
Online: lumberyardmtb.com

Related: Outdoor Party Venues for Your Kiddo's Next Bash

The Merry Kitchen

The Merry Kitchen

Do you have a future chef on your hands? Celebrate your child by giving them a gift that will continue to give (perhaps even to you in the future) by hosting a cooking lesson party at Merry Kitchen in North East Portland. A party at Merry Kitchen can be any theme from their website or one of your own creation. The two hour class may include the creation of an entire meal that can be eaten at the end. You can even choose to bake the birthday cake in class. The Merry Kitchen will also host events in your home. Party pricing starts at $40/person. See The Merry Kitchen website for full list of pricing options and to book your party. 

5202 N.E. 72nd Ave.
Portland
Online: themerrykitchen.com

Echo Theater Company

Want high-flying fun for your little one? Parties at Echo Theater include trapeze, acrobatics, and physical theater class. The space offers several party packages, but are also happy to stretch imaginations to include a specific vision! Echo Theater Company parties are enjoyed by attendees from ages 3 – 100 (no really)! All parties include a creative and fun imagery-based warm-up, theater and creative movement games, acrobatics, and single-point dance trapeze. Trapezes are hung low enough that students can push off the mat with their feet to swing or spin and can climb up onto the bar to sitting, standing or hanging upside down! Acrobatics can be adjusted to the skill-level of the students and usually includes partner and group trick. Great for photo ops! Party packages start at $200.

Good to Know: All students/guests 5-17 years of age will be required to provide proof of at least one dose of a vaccine against COVID-19 in order to enter the building by Jan. 17. All students ages 5+ years are required to provide proof of being fully vaccinated by Feb. 28.

1515 S.E. 37th Ave.
Portland
Online: echotheaterpdx.org

Oaks Park

Oaks Park
Oaks Park

The appeal of indoor skating rinks did not die off in the 90s. Skating birthday parties are just as popular, and fun, as ever. Oaks Park has brought the fun since 1905 so they know how to throw a party. Birthday party packages are available during Open Skate Sessions Saturday and Sunday only and packages include open skate admission, skate rentals, a reserved table, themed table ware, food, drink and more. . Packages start at $190/per hour.

7805 S.E. Oaks Park Way
Portland
Online: oakspark.com

Related: PDX Birthday Party Venues for Active Kids

The Craft Factory

The Craft Factory

Giving your guests an opportunity to be creative and work their imaginations is a gift in itself.  The Craft Factory is a craft studio and birthday party specialist located in the heart of Multnomah Village in SW Portland. At a Craft Factory birthday party you and your guests will enjoy a one of a kind celebration!  Your private event includes birthday decorations, serving-ware, party hosts and a craft for each guest.  Make a choice of over 20 crafting opportunities and endless embellishments for decorating it. See the website for pricing and crafting options. Birthday packages start at $200.

7832 S.W. Capitol Highway, Suite B
Portland
Online: craftfactorypdx.com

Related: Put the ART in Party: 8 Spots for Creative Birthdays

Bricks and Minifigs

Bricks and Minifigs Beaverton

Creations of Lego bricks and mini-figures (mini-figs) seems to transcend the ages and is still a popular interest for children of today as well as the young-at-heart. Make your lego-loving kiddo’s day by hosting their birthday at Bricks and Minifigs in Beaverton, Oregon. Birthday packages start at $175 and include 90 minutes in the Minifig Hideout Room, plenty of Lego bricks to play with, a birthday certificate and shirt for the birthday child, and a favor option of either a container of Lego pieces or 2 build-your-own-minifigs.  Want to make it even easier on yourself? You can hire a Party Host for an additional $50 and they will run all the activities and games for the first hour of the party.

Good to Know: Bricks and Minifigs also has a NE Portland location, as well as several locations throughout Oregon.

3205 S.W. Cedar Hills Blvd.
Beaverton, OR
Online: bricksandminifigs.com

Pietro's Pizza

Pietro's Pizza

The classic pizza party will never get old. But, hosting a pizza party at Pietro’s Pizza in Beaverton or the Milwaukie location will still set your party apart. Party package are $7.50 per child and include a Kid’s one-topping pizza, soft drink, four game tokens, ice cream cone, and themed table decorations. Add mini golf, laser tag, or a swashbuckler-pirate to make your party even more enjoyable.

13281 S.W. Canyon Rd.
Beaverton, OR

10300 S.E. Main St.
Milwaukie, OR

Online: pietrosrestaurants.com

Related: 7 Places to Host a First Birthday Party in Portland

Game Truck Portland

Sometimes you just need the party to come to you. Game Truck Portland offers a variety of mobile party entertainment that can come to your location. Give your little gamer a party of a lifetime when a a big-rig truck shows up filled with high-definition TVs and over 200+ age appropriate video game titles. Have access to a large space and want something more active? Laser Tag and Bubble Soccer are other popular Game Truck party options. Call for party package pricing.

Online: gametruckparty.com/portland

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7 Birthday Party Hacks That Will Absolutely Save Your Sanity

By Tracey Gee

Remember getting invited to a friend’s birthday party when you were a kid? Remember feeling so excited to get to see your friends, do something special and have birthday cake? It was such a blast!

How about now? How do you feel when your child gets invited to a birthday party? Excitement? Dread? Mix of both? Last weekend, my kids were invited to a friend’s party and they were super excited to go. While I was there, I was chatting with one of the dads who said, “My social life is bringing my kids to parties. We have three today and another one tomorrow.” I laughed because four seemed like a record weekend and yet I could easily see how that could happen.

Like it or not, the birthday party circuit is a part of your life as a parent. There’s tons of advice out there on how to reduce the stress of planning and throwing a party—but how about managing all the birthday party attendance that becomes part of your life as a parent? Yes, you can take the stress out of going to birthday parties and having fun going to them, too!

If you have younger kids, know that tagging along on the birthday circuit doesn’t last forever. My oldest is 10 years old and his parties are all of the drop-off variety these days, which has opened up a whole different kind of reality. Last month, I ran into some friends who were out on a date night while their kids were both at simultaneous birthday parties. Living the dream! If the stars ever align like that for us, I’ll be pretty excited. But in the meantime, I also really do like doing the birthday party thing and look forward to going to them. Once both my kids are older, I think I’ll genuinely miss it.

What’s so great about birthday parties, anyway? Here’s what I think.

Birthday parties offer a chance to see your kids hanging out with their friends. 

I long to be a fly on the wall when my kids are at school to be able to watch them and play with their friends. It’s one of my favorite parts of hosting playdates and a great chance to see a part of their world that I might not normally get to see. Parties let you do all that and get to know their buddies and see them together.

You get to connect with other parents in your community. 

I love talking to fellow parents. At this last party, I had a great conversation with another mom about why she chose to send her kids to the schools they were going to and I really learned a lot. I genuinely find these conversations fascinating and a great way to meet parents within our school and neighborhood, trade information and make parent friends.

Your kids learn how to be a good guest. 

My kids look forward to these times because of all the fun naturally. But I think it’s also great for them to learn how to be generous and thoughtful about their friends. They learn how to be a good guest. We try to teach our kids about giving and generosity in other ways too but this might be one of the most tangible ways that they learn to do that.

So, how do you maximize the fun and cut back on the stress? Here are my seven best tips for how to have more fun at your next kids’ birthday party.

Plan Your Savvy Birthday Party Circuit Strategy

1. Find your magic number. How many parties are too many parties? Through trial and error, figure out what works best for your family and politely decline the ones that go over your number. For our family, I have learned over the years that we can do one birthday party a weekend and have a blast—any more than that and things start to come apart at the seams. For a special circumstances we might break that rule, but generally we try to hold to it—and we’re all happier because of it. But your family may be different. Maybe you’re like the dad I talked to and four is great for you. Find your sweet spot as a family and try to stick to that.

2. Divide and conquer. If you’re co-parenting and only one partner goes to the party, the other one can do something else and relieve you at another point. One of you may enjoy the birthday party scene and the other not so much. Or if you know another family that is invited too, carpooling might save time and energy.

Tackle All Those Gifts Like a Boss

3. Stock up on birthday cards. If your kids don’t like making cards and you don’t want to have to run to Target just to buy yet another a birthday card, stock up on gender neutral birthday cards ahead of time.

4. Keep some gift cards towards experiences on hand. My son once got a pair of movie tickets as a birthday gift and loved it—so now, we often like to give those as gifts to others. Other experience-type activities that are great are gift certificates to a local frozen yogurt place, ice cream shop or kids bookstore. Another upside with these kinds of gifts is that there is no wrapping required! Just stick it in the card.

5. Save yourself a trip to the store. If buying a gift, put your Amazon account to use and order it as soon as you RSVP so you aren’t scrambling with that last-minute Target run.

Party Like a Pro With Your Kids

6. Talk through expectations. You can remind your kids about wishing the host happy birthday and thanking them for the invitation. If you think there’s something at the party they may struggle with—taking turns, watching someone else open gifts, not being the one who gets to blow out the candles—talk about it ahead of time. While having these talks don’t guarantee these issue won’t surface at the party, they’re good to have regardless.

7. Ask a follow-up question. After a party, I really like asking my kids not just if they had fun but also asking them how they were a good friend or demonstrated kindness to others. Over time, I think this helps them learn that it’s nice to have a good time but that it’s also really important to be kind and celebrate others. If I noticed them doing those things, I point them out too.

Do you love or hate the birthday party circuit? What are your tips on how to take the stress out of juggling multiple birthday parties?

Featured Photo Courtesy: timkraaijvanger via Pixabay

Tracey is a working mom of boys who loves to blog about that crazy journey at her site www.balanceisboring.com. She is a devotee of black coffee and list making and is an incurable loud laugher. 

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