How to host a construction themed birthday party kids will dig
If your little one has had a thing for bulldozers and cranes since before they could even toddle to the sandbox, have we got a party theme for you! Hint: Get ready to swap those birthday hats for hard hats.
Construction themed birthday parties are tons of fun and perfect for active kids who have an eye for design or a burgeoning knack for engineering. They’re equally great for youngsters who just love playing in the dirt. And best of all? With just a bit of thoughtfulness and preparation, there’s very little heavy lifting involved.
If your party plans are still under construction, read on for tips on the decor, food, games, and custom invitations that will help you nail the theme.
Image by Well-Dressed Events; “Can You Dig It?” by Hello!Lucky for Paperless Post.
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Demolition-zone decor
Break out the blueprints—it’s time to build the ultimate construction party zone.
Remember that your party space doesn’t have to be perfectly polished. In fact, messiness is sort of the point. You’re creating an homage to construction sites and worksites, so if the dog runs through the garden and then stomps all over the carpet, well, all the better. He’s just decorating.
Yes, setting up a construction-themed party and collecting party supplies requires a certain level of creativity and humor. Stick to a color scheme of vibrant, bold colors—those yellows, greens, oranges, blacks, and reds that you might see on signs and workers’ vests—and use them on the construction party invitation or any construction party printables.
Welcome guests with a set of orange traffic cones at the front door, and don’t underestimate the power of bright yellow caution tape, which can find a perfect second life as streamers paired with yellow and black balloons. Cement the tone of the day with construction party supplies like a faux-brick photo backdrop or inspire your guests to think big picture with a step-and-repeat that resembles grid paper.
Consider this party an excuse to pull all of your little one’s favorite construction truck, cranes, excavators, and shovels out of the toy chest and repurpose them as party decor. These kid-size tools will introduce an atmosphere of play while hammering in the construction party decoration theme.
“Party Ahead” Flyer by Paperless Post.
Remember that safety always comes first in a construction zone. You wouldn’t want your guests to dig around your worksite without the proper protective gear, so be sure to stock a trove of mini hard hats and vests for your guests. Adorable and practical, these birthday party supplies and props are sure to be a smashing success with kids and parents alike.
“Dig It” by Meri Meri for Paperless Post; Image by Funkissd.
Foreman-approved fun
Constructing a memorable party isn’t just about nifty decor. You’ll also want to plan a few activities to carry your crew from presents to birthday cake.
Here are some construction-themed party games that your little guests will find riveting:
— DIY dream house: Supply a stash of popsicle sticks, markers, glue sticks, glitter, feathers, construction paper, shoe boxes, pipe cleaners, and more and let those little architects and carpenters work their magic! Tell your participants that the only limit is their imagination and see what magical structures they can dream up.
— Demolition piñata: A party essential that’s made to be broken, candy-stuffed piñatas provide the perfect opportunity for your wrecking crew to put their demolition skills to work. Try to find a construction or building-themed pinata that can add a bit of flair to your festivities (before it’s smashed to smithereens).
— Cardboard house painting: For every little builder who loves to bust down walls, there’s a restoration specialist just dying to give their project a bit of a refresh. Indulge their passion with a cardboard cut-out “house,” some colorful paints, and brushes. Encourage your guests to work together to give the home a fresh coat of paint.
— Sandbox soiree: Construction may be hard work, but it can also feel like play—especially if you’ve got a sandpit that you can dig around in. Fill your sandbox with bulldozers, shovels, cranes, and dump trucks, and watch how your mini guests delight in the tactile fun.
Image by Simply Beautiful by Angela; “Down in the Dumps” by Paperless Post.
Treats they’ll dig
To fuel all of that manual labor, supply your guests with fortifying snacks, beverages, and desserts. Construct a menu that pays homage to your theme, both with the types of treats you serve and what you serve them in.
Start with the visuals and layout. A banner that reads “Come dig in!” not only welcomes your guests to your feast, but also makes a clever nod to your theme. When it comes to serveware, forgo your usual plates and platters and instead serve staples like chips and popcorn in the back of toy trucks. Display forks, spoons, and knives in a container labeled “Tools.”
The treats you serve should be both delicious and worksite-appropriate. Here are some easy, creative snacks that you can put out to honor your construction themed party idea:
— Cheese balls as wrecking balls
— Bubble tape as measuring tape
— Pretzel sticks loaded in the back of a toy truck as lumber
— Veggie sticks and queso “cement”
— Doughnut holes as boulders
– Chocolate pudding with cookie crumbles as cups of dirt
For something more substantial, pay homage to the hands-on nature of your theme with a build-your-own type of dish. BYO burger bars and taco stations with plenty of colorful topping options lend readily to your construction theme and will ensure that your crowd is not only well-fed but also having fun.
Don’t forget to set up a “fueling station” with juice, water, and construction-themed cups so that your guests stay hydrated on the job (and wash all of those snacks down)!
DIY desserts
A DIY moment can also carry into what your excitable guests might deem the most important part of the day—dessert.
Build a construct-your-own sundae station, complete with:
— Traffic cones (sugar cones dipped in white chocolate that’s been dyed with orange food coloring)
— Cement (vanilla ice cream)
— Gravel (crushed chocolate cookies)
— Beams (Kit Kat fingers)
— Concrete (cookie dough)
— Insulation (whipped cream or cotton candy)
— Varnish (caramel sauce)
— Tar (hot fudge)
Of course, no construction-themed (or otherwise!) birthday party would be complete without cake.
We’re partial to chocolate or chocolate frosted cakes that capture the down-in-the-dirt feel of the theme, especially when they’re topped with small yellow dump truck toys—filled with chocolate candy “boulders” of course. As with decor, a little bit of mess is your friend. Take advantage of crumbs as “soil” and any broken-off bits as “under-construction” zones.
Nail the invites
The real secret to a successful construction-themed birthday party? Laying the foundation weeks before the first guest arrives. With a clever, custom invitation from Paperless Post, you can build excitement and set the groundwork for the special day—clueing your guests in on what to expect, when to arrive, what to bring, and what to wear.
To get off to a strong start, choose from our array of colorful construction and truck-themed designs. Paperless Post makes it easy to personalize your invites, so you can add in your special spin with words, phrases, and puns that connect to the theme, including:
— Can you dig it?
— Nailed it
— Party zone
— Under construction
Use these invitation wording samples to get your gears turning:
“Enter the party zone for Anthony’s 1st birthday
Saturday, September 7 at 12:00 pm
Lunch, cake, and hard hats will be provided”
“Natalie is turning 3!
Can you dig it?
Please join us for cake at Huckleberry Park
Sunday, April 8 at 3:30 pm”
“Put on your hard hats!
Elijah will be turning 6
Join us online for games and celebration
Thursday, July 13 at 5:00 pm
Link to follow”
“Jenny’s 1st birthday party is under construction!
Please join us at 324 Bayard Court
Sunday, October 12 at 11:00 am
Coffee, brunch, and cake will be served”
Build the best birthday ever with Paperless Post
From customized invitations to personalized thank-you notes, Paperless Post can help you through every phase of your birthday party construction.
First, we’ll help you craft the perfect invitation in just minutes with one of our creative and adorable construction-themed designs. Then head to Paperless Post Party Shop to load up on unique decor and party supplies that match your invitations perfectly. We’ve got all sorts of special construction-themed goods your young guests will dig. Here are some of our favorites:
- Forego standard birthday hats for fabulous, foil-striped Construction Party Hats (1).
- Help kids refuel with cute Construction Cups (2).
- Bring on the bold desserts with a Construction Cupcake Kit (3).
- Signify the party site with a bright Knitted Flag Garland you’ll use again and again (4).
- Make your tablescape a moment with playful, holographic Dumper Truck Plates (5).
- Let guests know they’re in the zone with yellow striped Cocktail Napkins (6).
Looking to engineer even more ease into your planning? You can’t go wrong with our Construction Party Kit—complete with enough construction-themed plates, cups, hats, streamers, and napkins to delight your entire wrecking crew.
At this point, you’ve got all the tools you need to host a truly groundbreaking construction-themed birthday party. Ready to blow ’em away? Stop by the Paperless Post worksite today.
Browse Construction-Themed Invitations
Editor’s note: Party Shop shipping is only available in the continental US.
Hero image courtesy Meri Meri.
