Littlest Pet Shop Birthday Party

Simple. You read here for great ideas, crafts, games and more to help you put together a party that looks like you spent a million bucks, but did not. That is The Party Animal's Specialty.

There are so many ways you can go with this party:
You can focus on one animal and use that to create your theme
Do a zoo style theme
Just do a basic animal party and you can incorporate any of them

We will try to keep it simple as best we can so you can do this without going crazy.

The main things here is ANIMALS

Different size party packs are available depending on what you need.

A Basic Party Pack includes:

Dinner Plates (8) Luncheon Napkins (16) 9 oz. Hot/Cold Cups (8) Invitation and Thank You Note Comb (8 each) Citrus Green Plastic Cutlery (set of 8) Green Bright Tone and Purple Deep Tone 11" Latex Balloons (12 each) Hot Pink 54" w x 108" l Plastic Table Cover 66' Cerise Curling Ribbon Our Deluxe Kit-N-Kaboodle includes everything in the Basic Kit-N-Kaboodle plus: 10" x 30" Attach N' Go Banner Littlest Pet Shop 18 inch Mylar Balloon (1) Zig Zag Swirl Candles (pkg 8) 81' Fuchsia Crepe Streamer 81' Purple Crepe Streamer

Shop Littlest Pet Shop Party Supplies

Well it is Littlest Pet Shop - so lets start by thinking Animals. I am not big on spending a ton of money on this stuff and I always try to find things I already have to save the cost of going overboard. There are ways to decorate without costing you a fortune.
I go by this party rule "KISS" Keeping it Simple Saves.
You just need touches of decorations. Spend your money on other things. What I love to do at parties is use Helium Balloons and this is why. It is festive, inexpensive and I have the kids take one on their way out the door - they think they are getting something extra, but really they are helping me clean up. So what you can do is this: Get a whole bunch of Colored balloons (even ones with paw prints or draw on your own with a marker) blown up and find some trinkets like, nail polishes, single pet shop toys etc,.. useful items with some weight. Cut the strings at different heights and tie one of those items to the bottom. Place your balloons all over the room - they will float and be weighted down by the item you tied them too. Then as the kids leave the party have them take one - so now they get a balloon and a trinket and you do not have to deflate them all later.
Also try and find things your child may already have that is Littlest Pet Shop related or that will fit the theme and decorate some with that. Of course you will want to add some more stuff you may have to purchase, but if you can defer the cost - then do it.
You can really go crazy buying decor and there is a lot out there - but small touches are just enough to get the theme across.
Just be creative.
Some other Ideas
Paw Prints hung around the house
Littlest Pet Shop Pictures printed or colored from the internet
If you are doing a single animal theme like Dogs - then find dog related items.

For me again - I like it simple, but boy can you really out do yourself here with this theme. I usually never buy plates with the designs either, but I may buy maybe the napkins or cake plates only with the theme on it to just add to it - for that touch. For me plain colors work, but many like the theme decor plates. Sometimes plain with one or two touches is enough. I also like fancy cups, in this case the Animal Themed cups (see below to purchase), have the guests name on them and then they become favors too. I love multi purpose items.
Some inexpensive touches you can do is add some Cheap dog food or cat food dishes to your table for snacks. Choose a solid color table cloth - or one of my favorites as well as the kids is this:
Get some white paper - you can find this in big rolls at some of your local office or craft stores, and use this as your table cloth. Then have a bunch of crayons on the table so the kids can draw pictures on the table. You can even have some pre-done before they come or stamp paw prints here and there.
Another cool table cloth idea is to do one pick with a clear on top of that with photos you can print from the internet or have colored, or photos of your child in between - they love that too.
Some other ideas:
Dog Biscuit Place Cards

This is yet another area parents tend to go crazy. From my years of party planning I have seen parents really go crazy with the food to only be left with tons of left overs when the party is over. So many kids do not eat much at parties - they are too distracted or just don't plain eat. So again use my "KISS" rule here - Keeping it simple saves.
I find finger foods to be best for the kids - simple small things they can just grab and eat. You can still do this and have fun with it, but do not go crazy with a three course fancy meal - save yourself the money - they are not gonna eat it. The other rule is this - if you do not want to feed kids a meal and save money then choose to have your party in the safe time zone. I say that is between 1-5pm. Also have on the invite - Snacks and cake will be served so parents know to feed their child before the party.
So with that said lets talk fun snacks for the kids.
Things you know the kids would like to eat - just because this is a Paris party does not mean they are gonna eat crepes. Just make the ordinary look extraordinary - use normal food on fancy pink plates. But still have the kids favorites like Pretzels, Chips and Popcorn.

Party Food - Think Animal with kid tastes in mind
Keep with your Animal theme
Pigs in the blanket - looks cool and they are bite size and kids love them
Dog Chow - see recipe
Dog Biscuit Cookies
Goldfish
Gummy Bears
Chicken Nuggets
You get the idea

Some Good Websites I like for food ideas:
Family Fun
and
Kraft Foods

Now the fun part - Game ideas. When planning your party always be prepared with everything you need including an itinerary for your games - in case you forget something. It can get overwhelming with all those kids in the house. Keep the games simple and age appropriate. I will give you some of my favorite game ideas for this type of party, but again the internet is full of great ideas so if mine do not work for you then just give it a search and find some that will.

Tips for planning games:
Decide ahead if you will be giving out prizes or just play for fun - remember prizes can add up the cost of the party.
Always have enough games so you do not run short and have nothing to do.
If an child does not want to play do not force them to do so.
Be prepared - have all your props in one box
Make an itinerary of games on a piece of paper ahead of time so you know what you are doing.

A great game idea resource is:
Birthday Party Ideas

Meowing Contest - Lets get those kids meowing and acting like cats. Have them sit in a circle and starting with the birthday child have them give a nice meow, then follow by the next child and so on. The kids laugh so much doing this. Then have them do an angry meow, a cat fight meow and a good try at a purr. You can award a prize for this if you like, but the laughter is the best prize.

Thirsty Pet - Get some disposable bowls and fill each with the same amount of water using a measuring cup. Maybe 1/2 cup will be enough. Then have all the bowl on the ground lined up and have each guest get on all fours like a cat and on go who ever can lap up their water without using their hands is the winner.

Tail Tag - Animals love to chase tails - well mine do at least - so this is good. Get some material and cut it up in 3-4 foot lengths by a few inches. Each guest will stick this out from their pants in the back. This is played like tag, but each guest must save their tails. They have to chase each other and grab the others tails. When you lose your tail you are out. Last tailed cat wins!!!

Pass the Flea - Also based on the classic Hot Potato. Find a black Bean bag or something you can pass off as a flea. No cats like fleas ya know!!! So get the music started and which ever cat is left with the flea - well they itch!!! I like to have prizes for all the kids and let them pick from a basket of cheap, but useable items as they get out of the game. Everyone is a winner really. What would be really cute is to find a sound track of the flea commercial and use that music - I got no fleas on me...

How many cat treats? - Guess how many cat treats are in the jar. Find a cool jar and add some goldfish, swedish fish or anything you think looks like cat treats and have the guests try to guess how many are in the jar. Whoever comes the closest wins them!! For the losers maybe make little bags up so everyone really is a winner.

Kids love the Pinata - What can I say about this one? Personally I like the one you bash, but now a days it is the strings. So here are some tips to add some extra fun.
Pinata Tips:
Tie some play jewelry on the strings - then when they pull they get a prize - be sure to have enough for all

It is always fun to have a craft at your party and a lot of times these crafts will also work as your favors to save you money of having to do both. Below are some fun ideas for you.

Stuffable Plush as shown in the picture can be found on our website here: The Party Animal

We have many styles and sizes for any Budget - so stop by and check it out

So we are nearing the end of the party and it is now Cake Time. There are so many creative ideas.Or make it simple and place some of your child's Littlest Pet Shop Toys on top.

Maybe you do not want cake and you want to make things easier: Then do cupcakes with a simple Paw Print on top.

This is another area where people seem to go nuts. People seem to think they need to send the kids home with an expensive gift as a thank you. Remember favors are just a small token to say thanks for coming - not christmas gifts. I do not know at what point favors became $20 dollars to each child - that is just insane. Now kids do look for favors at the end of a party - them love them, but you can keep them simple and inexpensive too.
A lot of times party crafts can become the party favor - so you spend the money on crafts and it also serves as the favor - like in the stuffable plush party (seen above).
Just when choosing your favors - think useful items - I cannot stand when my son or daughter comes home from a party with bags full of pounds of candy and junk. I know you all know what I am talking about. So just think of what you would not mind your child coming home with and watch for sales and great deals on bulk items. Once again utilize the "KISS" rule - Keeping it simple saves.

Littlest Pet Shop Favor Pack

Buy at AllPosters.com

Buy at AllPosters.com