Use these ideas from our daughter’s 11th birthday party at Christmas as an inspiration for your Christmas kid’s next birthday party! This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.
Our second daughter’s birthday is December 22 and this year, we did her a party on her actual birthday. I don’t remember the last time we actually did this since the holidays can be quite the time when everyone is out of town. It’s usually a week or couple days before.
This year, we decided to go ahead with the day of her birthday, especially knowing that our son’s birthday was the following week and we just didn’t want to push back her party this time. Last year, we were travelling and did her party mid-January, together with our son’s.
Gingerbread Decor – Slumber Party – Christmas Birthday Theme
We discussed doing a birthday theme with Gingerbread decorations, then have gingerbread making, a hot cocoa station, s’more roasting, etc… Since the theme was “Slumber Party” we mixed the two with some Gingerbread décor and some “night time.” There are so many ways you can go around the holidays. Such a fun time. The only thing is figuring out activities they can do to keep them busy the duration of the time. Yes, you can do a bunch of holiday games if you are willing too for the evening… but for a mix of ages, including kids who are 10 & 11, we wanted to make sure they were entertained all through. They may have fancy hot cocoa, roast marshmallows on a fire, and build & decorate a gingerbread house but what will the actual main activity be that would keep their attention during the party?
Pictures of her the night before her birthday
Ropes Obstacle Course
WE did a rope obstacle course the day before her birthday. Well, the kids did the course, the parents just got them there. They seemed to have a ton of fun climbing the ropes and going through the course. It was the one outdoor activity our daughter requested to do for her birthday with her family.
Kids Birthday Party Ideas for Christmas Time Birthdays
For 11, if you can, you may can think of doing a spa party for girls. Just make sure the spa activities will hold their attention so you’re not trying to figure out what to do next. We were going to do a spa and I knew I didn’t want to mess things up so was going to hire someone to do it. But then I thought of the smaller kids and boys that would be coming along with the 10 and 11 year olds, and decided to go with a bubble house instead. Something they can jump in for the evening along with some games while they enjoy the delicate holiday themed food stations.
Here are some ideas for a birthday party during the Christmas holidays
- Gingerbread Theme – With gingerbread house decorating as an activity
- Hot Chocolate Theme – With a Hot Chocolate bar self serve
- Smore’s Themed – With a marshmallow roasting and s’mores making
- Movie Theme – With a Holiday movie, popcorn, snacks, etc.
- Ice-Skating – Ice-skating, and hot chocolate
- Nutcracker theme (this one just popped in my head) – Watch the polar express and serve hot cocoa (I just thought, you could pick any favorite holiday kids movie and build a theme around it. Like The Grinch – Have the kids come in green or Grinch type clothing. Watch the Grinch movie, play a few Grinch games, make a Grinch craft, and serve up a bunch of green food and drinks. Hmmm, that idea sounds good to me.
Depending on the kids ages, it may be help to have an alternate activity for any of these parties. In efforts to avoid boredom, if you can afford, bring in someone to help with games, or hire a party gamer, Princess, Spa professional, a bounce house (they will come and set it up and come back to take it down – well they have done ours twice so it may be helpful to know how they do things in your area first). I hope these ideas will help you out at your next holiday birthday party.
The Cake for the Birthday in Focus
This is the simplest cake I’ve ever seen her pick for her birthday. Vanilla cake with white buttercream frosting and orange and pink roses with green leaves. Funny that coincidentally, it went well with the gingerbread paper plates, napkins and red and green plastic forks I had bought. She was not trying to match the designs and some of the colors because I believe she went with dad to pick the cake – she just liked the cake.
I was not sure the bubble house would be enough for entertaining for the evening but the owner assured me that it is a ton of fun at parties and good enough for keeping them entertained throughout the parties. Well, it was… the kids were excited and kept going to the bubble house. The parents who came by or to pick up their kids were amazed by the bubble house and some even got into it. By the time it occurred to me to get into it, it was already being taken down because the party was ending.
The party ended up being so much fun! The children made themselves at home with the food and snacks and were very cooperative when we asked them to do an activity. What very fun time!
She looketh well to the household, and eateth not the bread of idleness (Proverbs 31:27).
