My firstborn turned 2 this past summer and he is obsessed with all things construction so we opted to lean into that for his party theme. We went all out for his first birthday and didn’t plan to go as big this year but still wanted some fun touches that would make him feel special on his big day. If you have an excavator loving little one feel free to snag these ideas for your own party!
1. Amazon Stock Up- Paper Goods
Amazon is great for getting your themed party paper goods at a reasonable cost. I found this pack that included plates (full size and dessert), cups, napkins, forks, a tablecloth and a banner all for under $20. You can’t beat that kind of deal! It includes enough for 25 guests which was perfect for the small get together we were having.
2. Decor
Our goal was keeping it simple so we didn’t use much extra decor aside from the tablecloth and banner from the kit on Amazon. But we also grabbed a bunch of orange, black and yellow balloons to tie to the mailbox, and around the party space. And to top it off we got a roll of construction zone caution tape to accent the party space.
3. Food
There are so many fun ideas for construction themed snacks on Pinterest (a favorite spot to look for party ideas). Check this post out for some inspiration.
One of my favorite ideas was to have sausage “wrecking balls”- it worked perfectly since we had a morning party. And of course the other key party food is…the cake! You can definitely get a store bought cake decorated to construction perfection, but if you would like to make your own this decorating style was simple to replicate and screamed construction! Use whatever flavor cake you want, chocolate frosting, some Oreos and a mini bulldozer and you’ll be set!
Activities
A great way to get the kids in the construction spirit is to get them some construction gear! We picked up these vests for the kiddos to wear during the party. You could also grab some construction hats or safety goggles too!
We intended to be outside since we had a summer party but it’s always a good idea to have an activity that would work in or out so I snagged this great GIANT coloring sheet and a few boxes of crayons. It is also a tablecloth so if you need it to do double duty it can. If not, you can just sprawl it over a table or on the floor for them to enjoy. Etsy also has several options, including some you can personalize!
Our main activity (aside from eating cake and letting 2 year olds run amok) was some DIY construction sensory bins. I grabbed a few bins, some kinetic sand and a big pack of mini construction vehicles and accessories. This truck set worked great and was very budget friendly!
I added some sand and vehicles to each box so they would all be able to have their own space and things to play and build with. And the best part, is at the end of the party, we popped the lids on and the kids could take their own sensory bin home as a party favor.
There are so many small touches you can add to make this birthday one your construction loving kiddo will remember!