"As your little one approaches 4 years old, birthdays start to become even more exciting. As parents, you’re past the phase of throwing a birthday party for mostly other grown-ups and cute photo ops. By age 4, kids start to have their likes and dislikes, like favorite shows and movies, and may even have some close friends they love to play with versus inviting the whole class to a party. Turning 4 is generally the first time kiddos have a real say in how they celebrate, and you might be looking for 4th birthday party ideas.
All that excitement aside, a fourth birthday party can also come with more preparation. Like any good party, having a theme can aid in planning. Even a loose theme will help determine decorations, food options, and fun activities for birthdays. Some kids may know without a doubt what theme they want for their fourth birthday (Bluey-obsessed kiddo? I got you!), while others may benefit from a little inspiration. Here, you’ll find 25 cute and fun 4-year-old birthday party ideas, including themes kids will love, games they’ll enjoy, snacks they’ll eat up, and birthday party goodie bag ideas they’ll be excited to take home.
Fun 4th Birthday Party Themes and Ideas
The themes are organized into ideas for boys and girls, but, of course, each theme can be used for any child, depending on their interests. Scroll on for the most epic 4-year-old birthday party themes and 4th birthday party ideas they’ll never fourget.
‘Bluey’ 4th Birthday
The Aussie pup Bluey, from the show by the same name, and her family have officially entered icon status for kids and parents alike. Since Google searches for “Bluey birthday” shot up in 2023, you’re sure to find plenty of party decor and snack ideas—oh, biscuits anyone? Plus, guests can play party games like Pin the Tail on Bluey, Keepy Uppy, or any number of creative games from the popular show.
‘Four-Ever’ Wild
Help your kiddo celebrate their love for animals with this ultra-fun theme, whether you go jungle-, safari-, or zoo-themed with decor. We love the idea of having party hats to mimic real ones worn for exploring the jungle or going on a safari to really get the kids into the theme. Make this one really special by including face painting, where each kiddo can pick their favorite wild animal.
‘Toy Story 4’ Birthday Party
All of the Toy Story characters are fair game with this movie-themed birthday party—from Buzz and Woody to Bo Peep, Rex, and Slinky Dog. And since the fourth movie in the Toy Story franchise was set at a carnival, fourth birthday party decor and snacks could include cotton candy or popcorn.
‘Roar Four’ Dinosaur Party
This may be one of the most popular 4-year-old birthday party ideas for preschoolers. So many party stores will easily accommodate this theme with dino balloons and decorations. Plus, cake decorators probably have this theme for birthday cakes down to a prehistoric science. Take the party a step further and encourage your kiddo and their friends to dress in dinosaur costumes. If you really want to step out of the box, they could even dress up as characters from Jurassic Park or have a few adult attendees dress in theme to be surprise guests.
Puppy Birthday Party
Puppy parties have been one of the cutest kid’s birthday party themes trending in recent years. Kiddos love ‘adopting’ a stuffed pup to take home, and easy snacks like Scooby-Doo Grahams can be perfectly on-theme. Plus, if you’re a parent with a house already full of toys, ask guests to bring a pet toy or item to donate to a local animal shelter in lieu of gifts. Then later include your 4-year-old in dropping off the items.
‘Paw Patrol’ 4-Year-Old Birthday ‘Paw-ty’
If your kid is more partial to certain puppies like Chase, Marshall, or Everest, a Paw Patrol ‘Paw-ty’ might be in your future. Toddlers and preschoolers love Paw Patrol, so all your child’s friends will be just as excited about this themed party as your birthday guy or gal. Plus, there’s no shortage of decorations and party favors for this birthday bash. Consider serving “puppy chow” alongside birthday cake for a creative dessert.
Four Fiesta
A fiesta fourth birthday party can include a nacho or taco bar. And it wouldn’t be complete without a piñata! For a fun activity, have little party guests decorate paper bags to house all the treats that will fall out of the piñata. (Pro tip: keep an extra bag of treats for the kids too scared to jump into the pile when the piñata breaks.)
‘Fore’ Golf-Themed 4th Birthday Par-TEE
I anticipate this year’s Masters Tournament and the cute factor of Poppy McIlroy will inspire plenty of golf-themed parties in 2025. Perfect for a spring or summer birthday when littles can be outside, lean into games like putt-putt golf and green and white decorations. Just be cautious about giving kids any real golf clubs… Preschoolers don’t quite understand backswing safety.
I Scream ‘Four’ Ice Cream
Of course, all kids would likely love an ice cream-themed party. This birthday party idea lends itself to a make-your-own sundae bar and plenty of sprinkle-themed decor. Be sure to have a dairy-free option to accommodate guests with any allergies.
Pancake & Pajamas 4th Birthday
For a fun and casual morning 4-year-old birthday party, consider letting guests come as they are in PJs and make their own pancake plate with fun toppings like whipped cream and sprinkles. Better yet, all the little guests will be home in time for their afternoon nap time.
Birthday Party Ideas for a 4-Year-Old Boy
‘Cars’ Themed Birthday
Lightning McQueen is a certified celebrity for a lot of preschoolers. So lean into a Cars movie-themed 4th birthday party with checkered racing flags and other fun details. If hosting the party indoors, keep the Cars movies on in the background for kids who need a little chill time amidst the party chaos.
‘Fantastic Four’ Superheroes
Because they’re turning fantastic four, help them celebrate with their favorite superheroes. Whether that be the Marvel gang, DC Comics, Ninja Turtles, or others, they’ll be sure to have a super special birthday celebration. This is a great theme to have guests play dress up or give superhero capes away as party favors. And if you want to go all out, have some adults dress up as their favorite superheroes for a surprise appearance.
A Pirate’s Life ‘Four’ Me
Costumes encouraged for this one! This may be one of the most fun 4-year-old birthday party ideas on our list. Whether you go for a Pirates of the Caribbean route or a classic “He’s Turning Fourrrr” pirate theme, this one is just too fun. Be sure to set up a scavenger hunt—or should we say, treasure hunt—to entertain party guests.
‘Star Wars’ May the Fourth Be With You
Kids have probably been yearning for Star Wars birthday parties since the movies debuted in the 1970s. And with The Mandalorian as a family favorite show on Disney+, a Star Wars birthday party is sure to please a galaxy full of 4-year-olds, especially if Baby Yoda makes a cameo.
All Aboard the Party Train
Whether your kiddo is a fan of Thomas & Friends or simply loves all things railroads, a train theme is always a fun idea. We picture invites being sent out in the form of ‘tickets,’ a conductor’s hat for the birthday kid, and fun themed decorations. Have a ‘fueling station’ for treats, and set up toy train car tracks throughout the space for attendees to play with.
‘Having a Ball’ Sports-Themed 4th Birthday
Have a kiddo who’s always ready to get active? This may be the perfect theme. Decorations, table settings, and party favors will be a breeze to find at your local party supply store. Plus, the themed activities will be simple. Consider setting up sports stations for basketball, football, and more.
Birthday Party Ideas for a 4-Year-Old Girl
4th Birthday Barbie Party
As if the theme wasn’t popular enough already, after the release of the Barbie movie, a Barbie party is here to stay. Fill goodie bags with tons of fun stuff like sunglasses, sparkly stickers, and, if you want to go really big, a Barbie doll. And Barbie photo boxes are still available to buy or DIY as a fun photo prop.
For the First Time in ‘Four-ever’ Frozen Birthday
Frozen parties are still all the rage for little Elsa, Anna, and Olaf fans. Any party store will have plenty of Frozen-themed decorations, and paper snowflakes are an easy DIY decor option. Not to mention, with two epic Frozen movie soundtracks, you’ll already have a built-in party playlist.
Princess 4th Birthday Party
If Elsa and Anna aren’t the only princesses she loves, consider this classic theme for any little one who can’t get enough Disney in her life. As an added bonus, party supplies are truly endless with this theme. Consider hiring a professional princess—or have someone you know dress up as your kiddo’s favorite characters—for a memory they’ll never forget.
‘Let’s Par-Tea’ Fancy Tea Party
Let’s ‘Par-Tea’! As the sweetest theme on our list, this option has so much potential. Go the classic route with inspiration from a traditional high tea, or tap into Alice in Wonderland for endless possibilities. Encourage party guests to dress “fancy” and serve finger sandwiches and tiny desserts. Take a cue from the American Girl cafe experience and invite little guests to bring their favorite dolls or stuffed animals to enjoy the party, too! Not only do the toys add in an element of pretend play, but you can make the event extra special with mini-versions of whatever the kids are eating, like mini-cupcakes or teacups!
Enchanted ‘Four-est’ Fairy Party
This magical, woodsy theme is perfect for little ones who love fantasy stories, fairy gardens, and more. Decor for this party will be all about the whimsical details, but they don’t have to cost a fortune. Fill mason jars with string lights to mimic fireflies, line tables with faux greenery and wildflowers, and provide fairy wings as party favors.
Happy Birthday ‘Boo’
Just like the Hocus Pocus films, this spooky Halloween birthday theme will be just as fun for parents as it will be for kiddos. There are tons of decorations on the market, and bakeries have mastered the spells to create perfect cupcakes and treats to fit the theme. While perfect for little ones born in October, a kid in their wizard or witch era could have this birthday party theme any time of year.
Unicorns and Mermaids 4-Year-Old Birthday Theme
With so many kiddos mystified by the magical creatures, putting together a unicorn- and/or mermaid-themed party starts with adding rainbow and sparkly decorations. We love the idea of grabbing some unicorn horn hats or headbands for the kiddos to wear and grabbing a giant blow-up unicorn for photo ops. And it feels only right to add water to a mermaid-themed party, whether with inflatable pools, splash pads, or sprinklers. The kids can get dressed up in mermaid costumes or swimsuits, splash in the pool, and pretend to be mermaids themselves.
‘Bonjour Four’ Birthday Party
Lean into the Parisian theme with French carousels and Eiffel Tower vibes—or try a party theme based on your little one’s favorite feisty book character, Madeline. For food, frites and French pastries are sure to be a hit with the 4 and under crowd.
‘Gabby’s Dollhouse’ Kitty 4th Birthday Party
If your little one is as obsessed with the Netflix show Gabby’s Dollhouse as Gabby is obsessed with kitties, this 4th birthday theme might be the perfect theme. Incorporate cats and crafts into the party, just like Gabby does in the show!
Best Games and Activities for a 4-Year-Old Birthday
Preschoolers don’t need much by way of entertainment. Their imaginations are bursting with ideas and their bodies are bouncing with energy, so it can be best to have both creative and active play opportunities. Here are some 4th birthday party ideas:
- Bounce House or Ball Pit: Bounce houses are a crowd-pleaser with the 4-year-old crew, and they can get the wiggles out, especially after birthday cake. But if you don’t have a big yard or basement to assemble a bounce house, a small ball pit using a blow-up pool and balls can be a fun alternative.
- Face-Painting: Hire a professional—or some talented middle or high schoolers—for this fun 4th birthday party activity idea.
- Craft Station: You don’t need much for little ones to have fun crafting, plus crafts can often double as a party favor. Add stickers to cups or water bottles, paint small canvases for an art project, or decorate cookies as a DIY dessert.
- Dress-Up Photobooth: Grab all your kiddos’ dress-up clothes for a dress up station and photo booth. Add themed props and use your phone or an Instax camera to capture birthday party memories.
- Petting Zoo/Reptile Experience: For animal-loving little ones, look into visiting a petting zoo or reptile center or perhaps bringing a few animals and critters to your own backyard, led by an expert, of course.
- Old-School Carnival Games: Old-school carnival games like beanbag tosses and pin the tail on the donkey can be easy games to execute for 4-year-olds. Bonus: Hire a balloon animal maker as a major preschooler pleaser.
Tips for Planning a 4-Year-Old Birthday Party
Preschoolers can be a lot to wrangle, so sometimes it helps to book a birthday party venue. Otherwise, backyards, parks, or a designated party space inside your home all work, too. Here are some other planning details to consider:
To Drop Off or Not
A 4-year-old birthday party might be the first year you consider a drop-off party for little ones, but be sure to let parents know they’re welcome to stay for the duration of the party. Have snacks and refreshments for adults on hand for anyone who wants to stay.
Ideal Party Time and Duration
Generally, you’ll probably want to keep a 4-year-old birthday party to around two hours. An hour for play/activities, 30 minutes for gifts (if opening at the party), and 30 minutes for cake. And most birthday party venues have rentals for that time period. If you want to save on food, plan a morning or afternoon party outside of mealtimes so you don’t have to feed the whole crew.
4-Year-Old Goodie Bags
Additionally, while parents don’t love birthday party favors, preschoolers do expect to come home with a little something from the party. If you don’t want to give junk, consider any number of goodie bag alternatives like craft kits, snacks for the ride home, or themed take-home gifts.
Brett Nicole Hayden, Editorial Assistant
As the Editorial Assistant, Brett works with the editors of The Everymom on the content creation process by updating stories, sourcing images and graphics, and pitching and contributing her own articles. Her favorite topics to write about are culture, relationships, and living. She’s also The Everymom’s resident baby names and family movies expert!
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
Kathy Sisson has been a key contributor in the editorial parenting space for eight years, not only as a full-time editor at The Everymom but previously as a freelance writer for top parenting sites, including Scary Mommy, Motherly, Parent Co., and more. As an editor at The Everymom, she has produced hundreds of articles on a range of parenting topics, reviewed dozens of family-focused products, interviewed leading experts in the children and parenting world, and created viral parenting social media content. A mom of two, she is committed to sharing the honest, helpful, and often humorous stories of motherhood.