Dinosaur Birthday Party Ideas Kids Will Roar About

Dinosaurs never go out of style. They work for a toddler's first theme party and for a seven-year-old who can name every species in the book. Here are ideas for every part of the party, from the invitation to the goodie bags, most of which need nothing more than a trip to the craft store.

Start with the invitation

The invitation sets the tone, so pick a design that feels like the party you're planning: bright and friendly for little ones, a bit more adventurous for older kids. These Birfy designs are made for a dino party:

A few wording ideas:

Stomp on over! Theo is turning 5 and it's going to be ROAR-some.

Calling all little paleontologists! Join us for a dino dig to celebrate Mia's 4th birthday.

Dino-mite news: Sam is turning 3! Come stomp, chomp and celebrate.

Decorations

You don't need much to turn a living room or backyard into a prehistoric jungle:

• Green everything: green balloons, streamers and tablecloths, with a few brown and orange accents.
• Big leaves: paper palm leaves or real ferns on the table and walls.
• Dino footprints: cut large three-toed footprints from paper and tape them from the front door to the party area.
• Toy dinosaurs: plastic figures make easy table decorations, then double as party favors.
• A "volcano": a simple papier-mâché or cardboard cone with red and orange tissue paper "lava" makes a great photo spot.

Food with a dino twist

Kids care more about fun names than fancy food. Use small signs to rename the snacks:

• Dino eggs: hard-boiled eggs, grapes, or round cheese balls.
• Fossil fuel: juice boxes or a bowl of punch.
• Herbivore greens: veggie sticks with dip.
• Carnivore bites: mini sausages, chicken nuggets or meatballs.
• Volcano cake: a chocolate cake with red frosting "lava" running down the sides, or a simple cake topped with toy dinosaurs.
• Dirt cups: chocolate pudding with crushed cookie "dirt" and a gummy dinosaur on top.

Games and activities

Fossil dig

Bury plastic dinosaurs or dino "bones" in a sandbox, a kiddie pool of sand, or a big tub of dry rice. Hand out paintbrushes and small shovels and let the excavation begin. It works for every age and keeps kids busy for a long time.

Dino egg hunt

Hide plastic eggs with small dinosaur toys inside around the yard or house. Give each child a basket "nest" to fill.

Freeze dance, dino style

Play music and have kids stomp like a T. rex, flap like a pterodactyl or crawl like a stegosaurus. When the music stops, everyone freezes.

Pin the tail on the dinosaur

The classic party game with a prehistoric twist. Draw a big dinosaur on poster board and make paper tails.

Hatch your own egg

For older kids, freeze small dinosaur toys inside balloons filled with water the night before. Peel off the balloon, and kids "hatch" their dinosaur with warm water, spoons and small toy hammers. Have towels ready.

Party favors

• Small plastic dinosaurs, or the ones from the dig
• Dinosaur stickers, stamps or temporary tattoos
• A dinosaur coloring sheet and crayons
• Mini "fossil" soaps or chocolate rocks
• A small sand-dig kit for older kids

Keep it easy on yourself

Pick two or three ideas from each section rather than doing everything. A fossil dig, a volcano cake and a trail of footprints are enough to make the theme feel complete, and kids will remember the fun, not the details.

When you're ready to send the invitation, Birfy gives you a dinosaur design, RSVPs and a gift wishlist in one link that guests open on their phone, no app needed.