Six-year-olds are confident, sociable and full of imagination, which makes them the perfect age for a proper dinosaur adventure. By now they know exactly which dinosaurs they love, they can follow the rules of a game, and they get a real thrill from themed activities. Here's our guide to planning a roaring dinosaur birthday party your 6-year-old will remember.
By six, children have settled friendship groups at school, so your child will have firm ideas about who to invite. A guest list of around 10-15 works well at this age. A useful rule of thumb some parents follow is to invite the same number of children as the age being celebrated, but with dinosaur parties being so much fun, most people go a little bigger. Just balance the numbers against your space and how many adults you have to help supervise.
Six-year-olds have plenty of energy and a longer attention span, so you have lots of options:
Around two hours is ideal for a 6-year-old's party, long enough for games, food, cake and presents without the children flagging. Late morning or mid-afternoon usually works best, fitting around school-night routines and any younger siblings' nap times. If you are hosting on a weekend, an 11am or 2pm start tends to suit most families.
Getting the invitations out in good time helps parents plan, so aim for two to three weeks ahead. You can buy ready-made dinosaur invitations, many of which can be personalised, or make your own with your child as a fun pre-party activity. Whichever you choose, make sure the invitation includes all the key details:
Here are a few of our favourite dinosaur invitations for a 6-year-old's birthday party
Set the scene for a prehistoric adventure! Six-year-olds love a fully themed space, so go big:
Here are a few of our favourite dinosaur party decorations for a 6-year-old's birthday party
This is the age where organised games really come into their own, as six-year-olds understand rules, love a bit of competition, and can play together brilliantly. Here are some dinosaur games and activities that go down well:
Include plenty of small prizes so every child comes away having won something. Here are a few of our favourite dinosaur party games and activities
Six-year-olds work up an appetite, so a proper party tea goes down well. Finger foods are still easiest to manage: sandwiches (try dinosaur cookie-cutter shapes), sausage rolls, cheese, fruit and vegetable sticks, and crisps. Themed treats like fossil biscuits or a dinosaur birthday cake add to the fun. Serve savoury food first, keep drinks to water, milk or diluted juice, and always check for allergies and cater for any adults staying to help.
Send your little guests home happy with a dinosaur goodie bag. Good fillers for 6-year-olds include:
A few well-chosen quality items always beat a bag full of cheap plastic. Here are a few of our favourite dinosaur party bags and fillers for a 6-year-old's party
Around 10-15 works well at this age, when children have settled school friendships. Balance the number against your party space and how many adults you have to help supervise.
About two hours is ideal, long enough for games, food, cake and presents without the children flagging. A late morning or mid-afternoon start usually suits best.
Six-year-olds love structured, competitive games: pin the tail on the dinosaur, a fossil dig, a dinosaur egg hunt, musical dinosaurs and relay races all work brilliantly. Include small prizes so everyone wins something.
A finger-food party tea works best: sandwiches, sausage rolls, cheese, fruit and vegetable sticks, plus themed treats like fossil biscuits or a dinosaur cake. Serve savoury first, offer water, milk or diluted juice, and check for allergies.
Small dinosaur toys, stickers or stampers, a mini fossil excavation kit, dinosaur stationery, and a slice of cake with a small treat. A few quality items beat lots of cheap plastic.
