Planning an ABC Themed Birthday Party for Your Toddler

Toddlers love learning their ABCs and singing the alphabet song. If you have a little one turning 2, 3, or even 4 years old, plan an ABC themed birthday party to celebrate their love of learning letters.

This article will give you ideas on how to plan an ABC themed party including decorations, cake, games, and take home surprises.

Pick Your Party Location
If you’re on a budget, then the best locations for your toddler’s ABC themed birthday party are either your house if the weather is chilly or a local park if the weather is nicer. If you have a few extra dollars to spare, consider renting a space at a local restaurant or kid’s play gym.

DIY: ABC Party Invitations
Once you have your location and date picked out, try making your own party invitations with the help of your toddler. Your computer is a great resource for this project or you can use scrap booking supplies.

To make ABC party invitations on your computer, use a hollow style font for the top of the invitation to say something like “You’re Invited to My ABC Birthday Party” or “Come to My ABC Party!” You can then have your toddler color in the hollow letters. Use a regular font to fill in the party details including when, where, and if you want gifts or not. Be sure to print the invitations on sturdy cardstock.

To make ABC party invitations using scrap booking supplies, purchase some light colored cardstock and some coordinating scrap booking papers. Look for papers that feature the alphabet. Cut out various letters from the scrap booking paper. You can have your toddler decorate these letters with glitter or stickers before adhering them to the cardstock. Cut the cardstock into an invitation sized square or rectangle. Print the party details in the middle of the invitation and then have your toddler help you glue the letters randomly around the invitation.

Order the Cake
Ask your local bakery if they have an existing ABC themed cake decoration set. If not, you can purchase your own cake decorations at a party store and have the baker add them to the cake.

If you’re baking a cake at home, you can find candied letters in the baking aisle at your local grocery store. If you have a steady hand, you could even write the alphabet around the outside perimeter of the cake. A great alternative to a cake is to bake individual cupcakes with different letters added to each one.

Create ABC Related Party Games/Activities
Since toddler birthday parties typically last just an hour or two, choose just one game or activity for the children. Chances are the children will want to spend most of their time just running around together.

What can you use for an ABC related party activity? One idea is to purchase wooden letters and some acrylic paint at your local craft store. Purchase the first letter in each guest’s name to decorate. Place a small amount of paint into bowls and provide the children with inexpensive paintbrushes. You could also provide alphabet stickers. Do this activity at the beginning of the party so that the paint will have time to dry. You may want to provide protective shirts or art aprons for the children to wear as this activity can become messy.

If you’d rather do an ABC related party game, have the children find various objects that begin with certain letters. You can set this activity up prior to the party by “hiding” various objects within your living room. For example, place a stuffed dog toy on top of the television to stand for the letter “d.” Have each child that attends the party pick a letter and then find the matching object. As a reward, give each child a sheet of ABC stickers.

DIY: Take Home ABC Cookies
For a creative touch, send each child home with special ABC cookies. Make this project the day before the party.

You can purchase alphabet shaped cookies cutters from online retailers or from specialty stores. I found a nice set made by Williams-Sonoma for about $25. Purchase some ready-made sugar cookie dough and cut out the letters of each child’s name and bake them. Have your toddler help you decorate the cookies once they have cooled. Wrap up each child’s gift in a decorative tin or bag. This personalized gift will be a big hit!