12 Fun Birthday Party Ideas for a 1 Year Old

Birthday Party Ideas for a 1 Year Old? A birthday party for a 1 year old boy or girl might not seem like a big deal (they won’t even remember it, right?), but it’s still a big milestone to celebrate. I’ve put together a short list of fun birthday party ideas for a one year old.

Whether it’s a boy or girl, you’ll want to plan food and activities that are easy for the parent and guests to participate in together. Some of these activities are actually food recommendations, too! When I host birthday parties for 1 year olds, I like to keep it simple.

Okay, let’s get started with our birthday party ideas for a 1 year old, shall we?

Birthday Party Ideas for a 1 Year Old

Here are 12 birthday party ideas for a 1 year old:

1 – Ice Cream Party

Who doesn’t love ice cream? No, seriously, who doesn’t love ice cream?! It’s just about the best food, ever. Miniature ice cream cones, ice cream sandwiches, cookie ice cream sandwiches, ice cream tacos, cake pops, and cupcakes are all fun treats for a 1 year old’s birthday.

Guests can enjoy a few ice cream treats and talk with other party-goers at a table set up with some birthday party essentials, including:

• Ice cream cone holders
• party hats (or at least a hair ribbon to act as one)
• A birthday sign with the birthday boy or girl’s name and a colorful, handmade craft project (pom poms, torn paper, glitter, etc.)

2 – Finger Food Party

This is another simple, yet fun birthday party with no mess to clean up after yourself! Finger food includes:

• Veggies and dip
• Crackers with peanut butter or cheese
• Cheese and crackers
• Sliced fruit or veggie-filled sandwiches
• Mini-chocolate chip cookies
• Meatballs or other small individual-sized sandwiches

3 – Breakfast Party

Breakfast is always yummy. And you can switch it up with work, school, or dishes, too! Some breakfast party ideas are:

• Pancakes (or waffles)
• Fruit and yogurt parfaits
• Mini-egg sandwiches
• Mini-bagels with cream cheese

If you’re planning a birthday party for a 1 year old, you’ll want to make sure you have the following:

• A table with a decorated birthday sign (see #1)
• A few fun birthday party games for the kids to play (see #4)
• Birthday-themed gift for the birthday boy or girl (see #5)
• Some coloring books and crayons for the birthday boy or girl to play with

4 – Birthday Party Games for a 1 Year Old

There are some fun birthday party games that you can play at a 1 year old’s birthday party. Even if your youngster isn’t at this age yet, there’s a good chance some of his or her friends are. So grab some colorful birthday party favors and make some fun games for your attendees to play.

Any variety of LEGOs, blocks, cars, or other small, cheap toys will do for the kids. You could also make some homemade games like pin the tail on the donkey, or pass the parcel. You could even make up your own game! The idea is to give guests something to do (especially the children).

My gift-giving philosophy is that of a hobbit. On my birthday, I like to give away a lot of gifts. So, when throwing a birthday for a one year old (hobbot-like in many ways!), be like a hobbit and try to give a small gift to all the guests who came to the party. The baby wills till get gifts. Don’t worry.

5 – Birthday Party Gifts for a 1 Year Old

If you’re looking for a birthday party gift for a 1 year old boy or girl, it can be difficult to figure out what to buy. Most 1 year olds are still in diapers, so you could get a set of cloth diapers and some cloth wipes (the kind you can just wash with laundry afterwards). You could also get a small stuffed animal or robot that’s safe for the baby to play with.

You can always ask the parents what the child likes. If you’re looking for something a little more modern and fun, you can check out gift cards, too. Amazon is filled with ones for toys and games. Their parents would then be able to get what they need for the one year old.

6 – Adventurous 1 Year Old Party

If you’re planning a birthday party for a 1 year old girl, you might want to incorporate some of her favorite toys into the whole experience. If she likes to play with her sister’s dolls or her play kitchen toy set, this is a fun activity for her. You can make a station for kids to play with the toys, or ask parents to bring the toys with them when they come to the party.

7 – Simple Birthday Party at Home

You don’t have to go out to have a fun birthday party. There are ways you can plan a party for a 1 year old at home so that there’s no mess, you don’t have to worry about everyone in one room, and everyone can have fun.

As far as decorations go, you can use streamers, colorful balloons, and streamers, or paper plates and cups to decorate the room. Add in the streamers and balloons to the tables, too. You can also do this yourself, instead of paying a party planner. And if you have a big family, they can help decorate.

8 – Party Supplies for a 1 Year Old

If you’re looking for party supplies for a 1 year old boy or girl, you might want to start with individualized party favors and decorations. You can find some fun party favors for under $10, and you’ll want to make sure you have the basics, too.

If the birthday party is going to be a cake celebration, you’ll need:

• Cake mix and icing (check the grocery store for the little tubs of icing)
• Candles (or you can put on a light show to make it more fun)
• A birthday songbook with the birthday boy or girl’s name on it
• A table with some cute themed paper plates and cups
• A table with some fun party favors for each guest

If it’s just a simple snack party, you’ll just need some food to put out. Some of the ideas from #1 through #3 are good to put out for a simple snack party, too. If you’re planning a birthday party for a 1 year old boy or girl, you might also want to check out some of the party supplies that are on sale. You’ll be able to find some wonderful generic party supplies for a great price. Take a look at your local dollar store for some great deals.

9 – Birthday Party Desserts for a 1 Year Old

If you’re planning a birthday party for a 1 year old boy or girl, you’re going to want to have some birthday cake. There are several different kinds you can have, too. And you can make it yourself, if you want to.

There are some fun and easy birthday cake recipes for kids. You can also make them yourself from scratch, too.

When it comes to birthday party desserts for adults, you could serve up some cupcakes to go along with the cake for the children. Or you could make some cookie ice cream sandwiches. You’ll want to make sure you have enough for adults and children to enjoy together.

10 – DIY Crafts for a 1 Year Old

There are some fun crafts you can make at a birthday party for a 1 year old. DIY crafts give the children something fun to do while they’re enjoying the birthday party, and they can take home a little something they made – or a memory of the party. You can also use them to decorate the birthday party location.

Some DIY crafts you could make include:

• Paper plate and string wreaths (a fun birthday decoration)
• Paper plate hats or crowns (a simple party game for the kids to play)
• Paper plate butterfly or bird crafts

11 – Finger Painting for a 1 Year Old

If you’re planning a birthday party for a 1 year old boy or girl, you might want to have them do some finger painting. Even if their motor skills aren’t the best, finger painting is a great party game for the kids. You can have them paint on paper or on a white sheet you have on the wall. And finger painting can be a great craft, too – you can provide the paint and paint brushes, and the kids can make a small painting to take home with them.

12 – Karaoke Party Ideas for a 1 Year Old

If you’re planning a birthday party for a 1 year old boy or girl, you could have a karaoke party and let the kids sing their heart out in the microphone. There are a lot of different kinds of karaoke machines at Amazon you can get for a birthday party, too. They’re very affordable, and a lot of fun for the kids and some of the adults. Overall, it’s a fun theme (music) to have for a one year old’s first birthday.

Birthday Party Ideas for a 1 Year Old: Final Thoughts

Birthday parties for 1 year olds are so much fun – for the children, and for the parents. You can plan the party at home, or you can go out and have a great time. If you’re looking for some ideas for your next 1 year old party, you’ve hit the jackpot.

Enjoy selecting the perfect game or craft for your party, and enjoy making the invitations and decorations.

We’ll have more birthday party guides in the future. We’re just getting started here at HCB.