It’s that time of year again – time to start thinking about your child’s next birthday party. How is it that no matter how far in advance we try to plan, the big day always sneaks up on us? Planning a birthday party might feel like one more thing on your busy to-do list, but it doesn’t have to be a stressor.
We’ve done the work for you and compiled some of Plano’s best birthday party ideas for children under six years old no matter your budget or vibe you’re going for.
With all the options available, you can plan a party that you will enjoy too!
More: Over 80 Most Popular Places to have a Birthday Party near me
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Try any of these Birthday Party Ideas at Home
You can rent a Bounce House
For a toddler, bounce houses never get old. And for parents, it’s the perfect way at a birthday party to let your toddler get some energy out. Depending on the inflatable you’re looking for, there are several local companies to consider – Bounce N More, Let’s Jump Rentals, and the Bouncy Kingdom to name a few.
Another budget-friendly idea – check your local Facebook marketplace or Wayfair to purchase an inflatable at a discount.
It might be worth it to buy a bounce house if you have kiddos close together – or share one with a friend’s family!
Plan a character appearance!
Are you watching Frozen on repeat? Have a little boy who is scaling the walls like Superman? Your kid will love a surprise appearance from their favorite character.
From Star Wars to Disney movies, your options are endless! Consider a Frozen-themed party with an Elsa appearance or a superhero-themed with Batman or Spiderman.
Check out Happily Ever Parties and Characters.io to book an appearance from your kiddo’s favorite character or even Clowning Around.
Host an at-home Petting Zoo
Bring the farm to your backyard! Cathy’s Critters offers a mobile petting zoo.
Depending on the size of your Birthday party, different packages are available to accommodate anywhere from 10 to 60 people. This is one of the best unique birthday party ideas you can think of!
You can choose between an assortment of small animals like goats, rabbits, chickens, and hedgehogs and one larger animal such as a donkey, llama, mini horse, or cow.
Your kid will love getting to feed and pet the animals in their backyard.
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Make it a theme party
Choose your kiddos’ current obsessions – whether dinosaurs, mermaids, superheroes, or outer space and transform your home into a whole other world. For little girls, consider a mermaid theme with a visit from Ariel, or a Princess Party (did you know you can rent an actual unicorn?
Little boys will love birthday party ideas like a dinosaur theme, outer space, construction, or airplane theme.
Get creative and transform your backyard to go along with the theme such as creating a Super Mario obstacle course, a fairytale kingdom, or even a circus.
Have an Arts and Crafts Party at Home
It’s easy to entertain countless kiddos with arts and crafts in your home. Consider different stations each with an individual project such as beading friendship bracelets, rock painting, and tie-dye t-shirts outside.
Your guests will love getting to make their party favors and taking home their creations!
Plan a Taylor Swift Dance Party
Didn’t snag tickets to the Eras tour for your daughter? Don’t fret – you can make it up for her on her birthday with a Taylor Swift-themed party in your home.
Little girls will swoon over the Lover Taylor Tribute who comes decked in Eras tour outfits. Go all out and rent a karaoke machine so your girlies can sing and dance along.
Hosting a Toddler’s Birthday Party on a Budget
Henry’s Homemade Ice Cream
Looking for something easy to do that’s outside your home? You can host your next birthday party at Henry’s Homemade Ice Cream – and obviously, dessert is covered and you won’t need any birthday party supplies!
The cost is only $12 per child and kiddos get to enjoy a Sundae bar where they can choose their own ice cream and toppings.
More: 50 Great Shops with Ice Cream Near By and Fro-yo places
Party at the Park
Hosting your kid’s birthday party at the park is always a fun, affordable option, especially for the first, second, and third birthday.
The littles will love playing on the swing set and all you have to worry about is packing a cooler with some drinks and snacks, dessert, and maybe some fun decor.
More: a complete list of Parks and Rent a Pavilion ahead of time.
Tom Muehlenbeck Recreation Center
This local rec center offers indoor and outdoor fun complete with a private party room that’s more affordable than other locations. No matter what time of year your kid’s birthday is, you can enjoy a pool party!
This rec center pool offers indoor slides, a lazy river, and a splash pad that kids will love. Rent one of the private rooms for the birthday cake celebration and all your entertainment is taken care of.
One of the best summer birthday party ideas, the outdoor pool also includes slides and splash pads. Plano residents get an additional discount on rental fees.
More: Plano Recreation Centers
Find a McDonald’s Near You
That’s right – you can throw your kid’s birthday party at a McDonalds. They’ll handle food (yes Happy Meals), cake and your kids can enjoy playing on the indoor/outdoor playground.
This is one of those great budget birthday party ideas. Contact any McDonalds near you to get your party started!
Birthday Parties for Young Kids with Differences and Disabilities
Heard Museum Guided Hike and Animal Encounter + Dino Birthday Parties
Location: Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 1 Nature Place, McKinney, TX 75069
This unique party experience features a guided hike and a live animal encounter! Being outdoors is a great option for children with disabilities who might get overstimulated indoors with loud playgrounds. You have the choice between an outdoor hike or a walk through the Animals of the World exhibit.
If your child is a dino lover, check out the Heard Museum’s Dino party experience which takes kids on a guided hike through lifelike dinosaurs on the Dinosaurs live exhibit trail. One of the most memorable birthday party ideas, this is only available from September through mid-February when the exhibit is open.
Dino Kidz
Location: 201 West McDermott Drive #112, Allen, Texas 75013
Dino Kidz offers several different birthday package options that make throwing your kiddo a birthday party a breeze. With a large indoor playground, a stage for dance parties, and a separate toddler area, kids will have endless opportunities for fun here.
This venue makes it easy to add on options such as face painting and goodie bags. Dino Kidz is not just for dino lovers. You can choose your birthday theme for anything from unicorns, superheroes, ballerinas, circus, and more! Check out all the options here.
Bonus – this venus is ADA Compliant, and they have padded floors as well as padded rails in the entire playground area.
We Rock the Spectrum
Location: 1941 PRESTON ROAD, SUITE 1022, PLANO, TX 75093
While this location offers similar amenities to others (think private party room, trampolines, indoor play area), We Rock the Spectrum has taken special care to cater to kids and guests with all abilities.
Special offerings include a calming room for kids who might be feeling over-stimulated so they can regulate their emotions and sensory-based toys and equipment. With several party packages and ideas available, this is a great, inclusive option to consider for your next party!
Frontiers of Flight Museum
Location: 6911 Lemmon Ave, Dallas, TX 75209
Calling all aviation lovers! The Frontiers of Flight Museum is a dream birthday party for airplane, space, and history lovers of all ages.
Birthday parties here allow for up to 30 guests and include access to a private room. This museum is sensory-inclusive and their website is a great resource to share with guests ahead of time so they know what to expect when they arrive.
This also makes for creative costume birthday party ideas – calling all guests who are budding pilots! It could be a very memorable celebration.
New and Quirky Birthday Party Ideas
Safari Run
Location: 2300 Coit Rd #300, Plano, TX 75075
Safari Run is a tried and true birthday party venue for toddlers and kids, but you can customize this package in so many ways that each party feels different.
Complete with a huge indoor jungle gym, slides, arcade games, and a private party room, Safari Run can take care of all your party needs – even pizza at the party!
Peek n Play
Location: 2805 Grapevine Mills Cir E #150, Grapevine, TX 76051
Kids will love exploring a town where everything is just their size! You can customize your party package with as little or as much help from the venue as you’d like. The Peek’s Custom package allows you a party specialist who will take care of everything from creating invitations to designing a custom theme your kid will never forget.
Play Street Museum
Location: 5946 W Parker Rd. #120, Plano, TX 75093
This children’s museum has locations across the metroplex and each location has its theme. At the Plano location, kids will get an interactive outdoor adventure as soon as they arrive complete with fishing and camping.
You can choose from over a dozen different themes for birthday party ideas in your private room – anything from storybook kingdom to dinosaurs, unicorns, and superheroes.
Here, you get the entire museum to yourself for your little one’s special day!
Bubbles Eat & Play
Location: 201 Town Pl, Fairview, TX 75069
This new family-friendly cafe in Fairview offers great birthday party packages. The best part about Bubbles is the healthy food options that both kids and adults will enjoy. The cafe is complete with an indoor play area.
This venue is ideal for smaller, more intimate parties. The maximum number of people allowed is 25, including both children and adults.
Sci-Tech Discovery Center
Location: 8004 Dallas Pkwy Suite 100, Frisco, TX 75034
The new Sci-Tech Discovery Center offers several different birthday packages ideal for kids three years old and older that will teach your kiddos educational science skills while also having a blast.
Party packages revolve around different science experiments for your kid from bubble-making fun to blasting off rockets. You can also have your choice of a list of creative add-ons such as a fire show, reptile roundup and even making liquid nitrogen ice cream.
Cheeky Monkey
Location: 8300 Preston Road 150, Plano, TX, United States, Texas
Cheeky Monkey is a 3,000-square-foot indoor play area that has it all for children’s birthday parties- a special arts and crafts area, separate soft play spaces for toddlers, slides, trampolines, and ball pits. With over 20 different party packages and a private party room, you can tailor your party to your exact needs no matter what birthday your child is celebrating.
Kid Mania
Location: 7252 Chase Oaks Blvd, Plano, TX 75025
Kid Mania boasts a five-story indoor play area, an arcade center with the latest video games, and an adventure area called the Mania Maze with slides, tunnels, and even a magic carpet. If you’re celebrating a third birthday or younger, check out the “MiniMania” area for toddlers under three with equipment designed especially for them.
There’s even a special area for adults complete with massage chairs, wifi, and thick glass to cancel out any noise.
Choose from two preplanned packages with optional upgrades for a stress-free celebration.
The Cove at The Lakefront®
Location: 417 Lakefront Dr, Little Elm, TX 75068
Perfect for hot or cold weather this is one of those unique birthday party ideas. Bring the beach to your child for their birthday! The Cove is a 42,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor waterpark that makes kids feel like they’re going on vacation for a day.
Open year-round, The Cove features a lazy river, splash pad, surf machine, climbing walls, and private rooms and cabanas for rental.
More: Get admission for free with a Pogo Pass membership!
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WOGA
Location: 1937 West Parker Road, Plano, TX 75023
You’ve likely heard of WOGA Gymnastics classes, but they offer fun birthday parties for children as well. The Plano WOGA location is ideal for kids four and older.
Activities are specifically tailored to your kid’s age and include gymnastics and tumbling, foam pit, music, and games.
All you need to worry about is bringing the cake and refreshments and WOGA handles the rest – including a fun t-shirt for the birthday girl/boy.
More: The Best Places to do Gymnastics for Kids in Collin County
KidStrong
Location: 6101 Windhaven Pkwy #110, Plano, TX 75093
KidStrong is a great venue for toddler birthday parties as young as 14 months (ideally, babies will be walking before enjoying this party venue!)
When hosting a birthday party here, you get the whole place to yourself, and two coaches will create and host a party with activities designed to bring out the best in kids.
Coaches help with set up and clean up to make hosting here as easy as possible.
My Gym
Location: 6505 W Park Blvd #208, Plano, TX 75093
Whether you’re looking for first birthday party ideas or planning a party for your six-year-old, check out My Gym Plano.
My Gym works with you to incorporate all your child’s favorite games, music, and activities into their special day. No two birthday parties are the same so you can celebrate here year after year. The famous Space Flight Zip Line, Birthday March, and circle time are favorites at parties here.
What else do you need?
Birthday Cakes
You can either hire an inhome cake maker – but be sure to give them as much notice as possible, or consider using Market Street or another grocery store that offers cakes.
73 Really Awesome Ways to Score Freebies for Your Birthday
Not just for the kids, but we all love freebies when our birthday rolls around each year. These companies and stores offer great specials and gifts, so make sure to check the list and sign up on their email lists or mark your calendar to redeem your freebie
10 of the best Happy Birthday Yard Signs Companies around Plano
And you must not forget to let the whole neighborhood know about the special celebration happening in your home and give the birthday boy or girl the best surprise when they see the yard sign appear suddenly.
These companies offer customizable yard signs to your heart’s content!
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Whitney Hi, I’m Whitney. I’m a storyteller at heart and am most passionate about telling stories that inspire change and help others. I have nearly 15 years experience in marketing, communications and community relations at industry-leading brands such as Southwest Airlines, Hilton and most recently, Baylor Scott & White Health. I’m a new(ish) mom of a one year old little girl, dog mom, and wife. We live in Richardson and love exploring kid-friendly places and especially love being outdoors. In my spare time, you can find me at the park with my daughter, checking out a new hiking trail, reading a book or planning my next getaway. View all posts
