Age characteristics
After 9 years of going to birthday parties and having hosted them, children know exactly what they want at this point, so consult with your child about what party theme they would like and what they would like to do. As they get older, they begin to feel very grown up about parties. They like to show off and compete and have a desire to win in games that involve active participation.
Guest list
Invite schoolmates and friends. Some children prefer to only have children of their own sex at their party. Since as they get older, children typically tend to have one intimate group of friends, the guest list might not even be that large. And parents need not be at the party.
Length of party
2 -2 ½ hours
Entertainment for age
Girly things such as spa, manicure, dress-up for girls parties are great since the girls love to feel grown up at this age. You don’t even have to hire a professional, buy a couple of nail polishes, mud masks, and clean out your closet full of old clothes you don’t even wear and tell them it’s vintage clothing. They’ll have a blast trying things on!
For boy parties, physical activities, including attending a sporting event with friends are great. Create your own little league in the back yard, or make dad take the boys to a basketball game.
Good music, fun pickup foods and a DJ Emcee helps to insure the success of a party at this age. Dance games with lots of prizes help to keep the dance floor filled. A strolling entertainer, such as a sleight of hand magician, works well to entertain those kids that shy away from the dance floor.
Games & Activities
Relay Races
Scavenger Hunt Relay Races
Sack Race
Lip Sinc Contest
Karaoke
Safety for age
Make sure to have all the phone numbers of the guests’ parents.
Circus/ Carnival Party
Birthday Child’s Starring Role
Acting as ringmaster for the day, your child will be the hit of the party. Everyone will enjoy being under the “big top”.
Party Settings & Games
A large open space is ideal for this party. Whether in your home or a local gymnasium. Create a mini carnival with different stations: face painter, fake tatoos, bean bag toss, etc. Don’t forget to have plenty of game prizes which can double up as favors. Use lots of decorations of your own or cheat a little with this Giant Carnival Decorating Kit
Buy trinket prizes
To make your own booths, ask friends and family members to be in charge of each booth.
- Basketball Shooting (draw a line on the driveway, 3 shots per try)
- Ball Toss (toss 3 softballs into a basket, win a grand prize)
- Mini Golf Putting Challenge
- Guess the number of jelly beans or animal crackers in the jar (and win them all at the end of the party)
- Quarterback Test (throw a football through a hanging hula hoop)
- Face Painting (have easy to draw designs like rainbows and suns, or use peel off tattoos)
- Mystery Box (put your hand inside a cardboard box and guess what lies within. Peeled grapes can feel like eye balls and really give you goosebumps.)
- Hot Dog Vendor.
- Photo board
cut outs. Have a fun or silly image on a cardboard with a cut out for the face. Take plenty of photos or use a Polaroid camera so kids can take their special momento home.
Enroll a family member who is great at juggling or magic to teach the guests. And don’t forget a popcorn stand with retro popcorn boxes.
As your guests arrive hand them out a ticket
Party Leader
Hire a circus act or a clown to join your party. Ask the leader to hand out Clown Noses 
Party Tunes
Circus, carnival music
Party Menu
Carnival and boardwalk food are ideal for this party. Corn dogs, french fries, soft serve ice cream, cotton candy and lots of juice to keep hydrated. Top your juice
Party Finale
A circus parade showing off the new skills learned by the guests or their freshly painted faces led by the ringmaster will certainly be a hit. Videotape the procession and let the children watch during cake time.
Birthday Presents & Favors
Juggling Balls
