How to Throw a Toddler's Birthday Party for Under $10

Here is an easy plan to throw a toddler's birthday party for under $10.00. You can do-it-yourself, save time and money, and throw a one-of-a-kind party your child will love. Here are tips to cut costs and throw a frugal preschooler's outdoor party.

Games

Toddlers have short attention spans, so keep activities short - 15 to 20 minutes. Design your party around centers like: active games like Duck, Duck, Goose or Musical Chairs, balanced with quiet fun like play dough, or pretend play. Total cost: Zero.

Fun Activities

No Lose Musical Chairs

Music

Use lively music like: Yankee Doodle Dandy, Do Your Ears Hang Low, and other childhood favorites. Let them shake, rattle, and roll, or give them a fake microphone for sing-along fun. Visit your public libraries for free music. Total cost: Zero.

Yankee Doodle Free Download

Do Your Ears Hang Low Free Download

Location

Throw your party outdoors if weather allows. Being outside is better for this age group because preschoolers need room to run and be active. There are fewer items to break, and it is easy to set-up and clean-up. A child-size table or blankets provides seating, and the birthday child gets to decorate with their toys like stuffed animals, large plastic vehicles, or dolls. Total cost: Zero.

Party Outside

Fun Ideas

Set out a big box of old clothes, purses, and jewelry for dress-up play. Costumes like fire fighter or police uniforms are other creative play items, but use what you have. All ages and stages of kids love to pretend play and kids will use their imaginations in unusual ways. Here are links for DIY outdoor play items. Total cost: Zero.

Clothesline Theater
Ship Ahoy!

Invitations

Call people to invite their children, or send free email invitations. Cheap invitations are available at discount and close-out stores or online for free. Total cost: $1.00 for a package of eight invitations from Dollar Tree.

Free Invitations & Ideas

Refreshments

Serve mini-cupcakes and ice cream bites. Small children do not need a huge piece of cake and giant scoop of ice cream - most of it usually ends up in the trashcan. Total cost: $4.99 for package of mini-cupcakes, $1.99 for Sara Lee ice cream bites = $6.98.

Be radical --skip cake and ice cream. Buy a watermelon, cut it open, and let them eat it with their hands. It may not be proper etiquette, but it is memorable and fun. Serve water to drink, and clean off the remaining watermelon with wet washcloths. Total cost: $3.88 (Kroger watermelon)

Cost Estimates

If you buy invitations and serve mini-cupcakes and ice-cream bites, your total cost will be about $7.98. Opt for no printed invitations and watermelon, and your toddler birthday party costs a mere $3.88. Actual prices will depend on your geographical location, but grocery stores in the Mid-Atlantic region are advertising watermelon for around $3.88 on this date, and Dollar Tree has invitations.