Planning a children’s birthday party in Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole but don’t know where to start? Our ultimate guide to planning a children’s party in BCP is crammed full of helpful tips, advice and services in BCP to make sure your party is one to remember!

Use the list of links below to jump to a section in our Party Guide, or read the whole post and become a party planning expert! Our guide will help you plan the perfect children’s birthday party in BCP! 🥳

Party Planning Checklist
Venue & Equipment Hire
Party Providers
Party Entertainers
Birthday Cakes
Decorations & Party Bags
Party Food Ideas
Free or Low-Cost Activities
Birthday Parties at home

Party Planning Checklist

Planning a children’s party may seem like a daunting prospect. You can go easy on yourself (and pay someone else to do it all!) or be as elaborate as your imagination, free time and creativity allow. If you’re not sure where to start when planning your child’s party, follow our checklist below to ensure it is stress-free and organised.

1. Set a budget for the party
First, decide how much you want to spend as this will help you decide what to do and how many people to invite.

2. Involve your child in the planning
Get some ideas from your child as to what they would like to do or where to go or what theme they would like. They might need reining in or adapting but it is their party after all.

3. Pick a date
Decide if you want the party to be the weekend before or after the birthday or after school. Do you want certain people to be there, like grandparents? Check they are free first!

4. Decide on the venue
Are you going for a full party provider, where all you need to do is turn up and bring a cake? Or hire a venue and book an entertainer or go fully DIY and plan the party games yourself? Or host something at home?

5. Decide on a theme
If you are doing more of a DIY party, then why not pick a theme. What does your child love, but won’t be too difficult to pull off and have you up all night trying to copy ideas you’ve seen on Pinterest!

6. Pre-book for your ideal date
Book the party venue or hire the hall. If you are hosting your own party rent any equipment like a bouncy castle or book an entertainer or activities provider.

7. Write your guest list
Based on your budget and any minimum numbers a venue may specify, write your guest list with your child’s help.

8. Send the invitations
Send out the invitations. No time to write them all or want to save some money? Why not set up a WhatsApp Group for the party and invite people that way? It’s also a great way to share photos and thank people for coming along.

9. Plan the food
Once you know how many people are attending you can decide on what to do for the party meal, unless the venue includes the food in your package. Find out if you’ll need plates and cups so you can get or hire those too.

10. Sort the birthday cake
Don’t forget to order or make a cake, which might need to tie in with your chosen theme!

11. Get any decorations
Check with your venue if you can put up your own decorations or if you are hiring a hall, think about how you want it to look.

12. Organise party bags
Definitely an optional step but a nice gesture nevertheless.

Venue & Equipment Hire for children’s birthday parties in BCP 

If you decide to pull together your own party or fancy getting someone in to entertain the party-goers, then you might also need a venue or some equipment such as soft play or a bouncy castle.

There are loads of venues around BCP that can be hired out by the hour for children’s parties and are listed on the Mumbler website.

Generally, you get the use of a hall and kitchen area, but if you also need outside space you might want to check if this is available. Rates vary depending on the venue but for budgeting purposes are approximately £15-25 per hour.

One sure-fire way to keep lots of small children entertained and to burn off all that birthday party excitement is to hire a bouncy castle. All the party equipment you might need to hire is also listed on the Mumbler website.

Have a look at this great variety of different equipment you can hire for your children’s party:

The Playhouse Collective

The Playhouse Collective is a luxury soft play and event hire company bringing stylish, safe and fun-filled experiences to little ones across Dorset. From bespoke soft play setups and bouncy castles to beautiful balloon displays and curated party packages, we turn any occasion into a magical celebration. Perfect for birthdays, baby showers, weddings and more, our neutral and modern aesthetic blends seamlessly into any event theme which we can personalise.

Let us help you create unforgettable moments for your family and guests. 🎉

For more info about our hire packages email us and come and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Party Providers for children’s birthday parties in BCP 

If you want a hassle-free party with the minimum effort then you are spoilt for choice when planning a children’s birthday party in BCP. From role play to parkour parties, gaming parties, biscuit making parties, lego building parties or even pottery painting the hardest part of planning your party is deciding what to do! You can find a full list of all the party providers in and around the local area on BCP Mumbler.

Here are some fantastic party providers you can hire for your children’s party:

Farmer Palmers

Farmer Palmer’s offer a ‘baaarilliant’ party packed day! With so many things to explore, both indoors & outdoors, alongside our amazing animal activities, our exclusive party package guarantees stress-free planning for parents and a farm-fabulous party to remember for the birthday VIP!

“This exceeded any expectation! We’ve had annual passes for a couple of years, but the party was next level! I had planned doing one myself, but it was an absolute joy to come to celebrate at the Farm Park. Every kid had an absolute ball and all of the adults said how much fun it was too! I had zero organising to do, zero clearing up, and we got to go home and enjoy the rest of the day with our daughter. It was honestly spectacular!”

What’s included:
All day admission to the park for invited child
2 adults tickets (included with every child’s ticket)
Party bags (further details with what’s included on the website)
Choice of hot/cold party food
Tractor trailer ride
Dedicated party room (1hr)
Presentation birthday cake to blow out the candles

All of this for only £29.50 per party child!

For more info about our party packages head to our website Dorset’s Award-Winning Children’s Farm Park | Farmer Palmer’s or email us and come and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Lollipops Cafe

Lollipops Café, an independent soft play café and party venue nestled in the heart of Westbourne, invites you to experience our unique space. Housed in a beautifully converted church, we boast stunning stained-glass windows and a vaulted ceiling. We offer stress-free children’s parties with dedicated party hosts, various weekend and weekday after-school slots, and exclusive use of the venue, soft play areas, and children’s party food. Our coffee shop provides a delightful selection of treats, teas, and barista-style coffee. Packages from £195.

We look forward to helping you create a memorable party!

For details and bookings visit our website Lollipops Softplay or email us and come and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

BHLive Active Kid’s Parties

Active Kids’ Parties with BH Live Active – Fun, Hassle-Free and Full of Energy! 🎉

Looking for a party that keeps the kids active and entertained from start to finish? BH Live Active offers a brilliant mix of activity-based kids’ parties across Bournemouth and Poole, perfect for birthdays or other celebrations.
Choose from a variety of exciting options designed for all ages and energy levels. Water lovers can dive into Wet & Wacky, tackle the inflatable challenge on Crusher, or brave the Raptor Run for a splash-filled adventure. Prefer dry land? Our Soft Play and Bounce & Play parties are ideal for younger children to explore and bounce. For high-energy fun, AirJumpX offers a giant indoor inflatable obstacle course.

Got a football fan in the house? Our Football Parties are action-packed and led by one of our brilliant footy hosts – perfect for little strikers and goalkeepers alike!
We take care of the catering, activity and setup – so you can relax and enjoy the day too.

Available at multiple BH Live Active centres in Bournemouth and Poole, our parties are easy to book and even easier to enjoy.
👉 Click here to find out more and book your child’s perfect party at bhliveactive.org.uk/active-parties.

(all parties fully bookable online so don’t need to accompany with contact email/number)

You can also come and follow BHLive Active on Facebook and Instagram.

Moo Music BH West Party Entertainment

Moo Music BH West provides entertainment within the BH12-BH21 postcode areas. Your home, garden, a function room or the beach – you choose the location and we will be there!

Each child is different so we liaise with parents and carefully make a list of activities to perfectly suit the birthday boy or girl and match your chosen party theme.

We will create a unique playlist of our much loved Moo Music songs and provide all the props needed.

Expect to sing, dance, laugh and play together – we promise it will be a celebration to remember.

£150 for a 45-minute Moo Music session. We ask that a £50 non refundable deposit is paid to secure your chosen date and the remaining balance is then due 1 month prior to the party.

For more info about our party packages head to the Moo Music BH West website or email us and come and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Trainmaster Dorset

🚂 Love trains? Then you’ll love a Trainmaster Dorset party! 🥳

Our private parties are perfect for young train fans, with tons of track to explore, motorised trains, a ride-on train, and a Thomas Step 2 coaster there’s plenty to keep the little ones entertained from start to finish!

Each party lasts 90 minutes, with the option to upgrade to 2 hours if you’d like keep the fun going for longer! We offer three flexible packages to suit different party numbers and budgets, so you can choose the one that fits your celebration best.

Ideal for children aged 6 and under, our parties are calm, screen-free, and all about imaginative, hands-on play! We set everything up, and tidy it all away – so you can relax and enjoy the day too!

🎉 Whether it’s a birthday or just a special treat, we’re here to make it memorable.

For more info about our party packages head to the Trainmaster Dorset website or email us and come and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Jungle City Soft Play Parties

Planning a party?
Choose from our Standard (£225) or Exclusive (£275) party packages for up to 25 children.
Each package includes:

* Two hour use of the soft play and private party suite
* Disco lights, party music & unlimited squash
* A return voucher for the birthday child
* Two complimentary hot drinks for parents/carers of the birthday child
* Jungle City Mascot appearance
* King/Queen of the Jungle throne experience
* Additional children just £8 each
* Bring your own food or opt for our delicious cold buffet at £4.95/child

Exclusive parties guarantee private access, while standard parties run at reduced public capacity.

Party slots available Sunday, with exclusive times on Saturday & Sunday afternoons. Don’t miss out on the ultimate playdate – Jungle City is where memories are made!

Please contact Jungle City Soft Play via email or to find out more about our parties head to the Jungle City Soft Play website. Come and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

AK Children’s Themed Parties

Make Your Child’s Special Day Unforgettable with AK Children’s Themed Parties!

Looking to throw a party your child will never forget? Based in Dorset, AK Children’s Themed Parties are experts in creating exciting, magical, and truly memorable experiences that will make your child’s big day extra special.

From dancing to dazzling, we offer a fantastic range of party themes that kids absolutely love.

Choose from:
Dance – Cheer – Frozen – Barbie – Glow – Greatest Showman – Acro – Pamper
Whether your child dreams of twirling like a ballerina, shining like a superstar, or being pampered like royalty, AK has the perfect theme to match their imagination.

You bring the food, we’ll bring the fun!
Our two-hour parties are bursting with energy and entertainment. During the first hour, children will enjoy themed activities, games, and dancing led by our enthusiastic party team. Then, we’ll help serve up your party food and cake, making it stress-free for you and joyful for them.

We’re proud to provide parties across Dorset, travelling from Poole to areas including West Moors, Corfe Mullen, Ferndown, Christchurch and surrounding towns.

Looking for a venue? We also offer purpose-built party suites available to hire in Poole – perfect for hosting your child’s celebration in a safe and spacious environment. (Prices available upon request.)

So, if you’re planning a children’s party that’s full of laughter, magic, and lasting memories – look no further than AK Children’s Themed Parties!

Please contactAK Academy of Dance via email or to find out more about our parties head to the AK Academy of Dance website. Come and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Little Brick Club LEGO® Parties

Looking for a new and exciting party experience for your child and their friends? Why not have an awesome LEGO® party?

Our LEGO® Parties are unlike any other kids parties. We wow the children age 6+ (and adults) with thousands of pieces of LEGO®. We will run the entire party for you, keeping everyone engaged, entertained and having a great time, so you can relax and enjoy the party too!
With a mixture of free play, themed games and building challenges there really is something for everyone!
All we need is a venue with plenty of floor space & at least 4 tables to build on (a community centre or church hall is perfect), you supply the food, cake and party bags and we’ll bring along plenty of LEGO®, fun games and great challenges all around the famous plastic brick.

Please contact Little Brick Club via email or to find out more about our LEGO® party package & all the different themes we have available head to the Little Brick Club website. Come and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Party Entertainers for children’s birthday parties BCP 

If you’ve decided to hire a hall or host the party at home, you might want to outsource the entertainment, so all you need to worry about is the food and cake. There is a brilliant selection of party entertainers listed on the BCP Mumbler website. There is everything from Face Painters, DJ’s, Animal Parties to Princess Parties and Craft parties, to Circus Parties.

Check out these fabulous local entertainers:

Nikki’s Dance Parties – Children’s Party Entertainment

Create unforgettable celebrations with our dynamic range of children’s entertainment services. From energetic dance parties to magical character experiences, we bring joy and excitement to every child. We cover all areas of Dorset and surround areas.

Our Services: A Princess Wish, Beauty Bar, Themed & Classic Discos, U5’s & U7’s Character Discos, Dance Parties, Pamper Parties, Artzy Crafty Parties, Stuff me like a Teddybear Parties, Mascot Meet & Greets, Princess Appearances & Holiday Reveals.

We aim to cater for all age groups and work closely with the client to offer a bespoke party experience.

For more info about our party packages head to our website Nikki’s Dance Parties or email us and come and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Little Gizmo’s Children Entertainment

My name is Simon, AKA Super – Si I’m based in Bournemouth, however I travel all over to make that P.A.R.T.Y and events that extra special!!

I love putting smiles on children’s faces and due to my performing arts training, I have years of experience. Three things I always bring: EXCITEMENT, HAPPINESS and NON-STOP ENTERTAINMENT. I have passion, dedication and always pride myself on being the BEST at what I do!

We never leave a child out of a party.

What incredible things can Little Gizmos offer?

* 1 or 2 hours themed parties such as Pirates, Dinosaurs, Super-Hero and so much more, all include one Free Manned Mascots/Character.

All includes our music system, party lights, all the favourite children party songs and games, prizes to be won and glow sticks water summer birthdays parties as well.

* 30 Minutes Manned Mascot/Characters, Meet and Greets which can be to your hall, or to your home, place of work and field or even children and family events.

* Soft play hire with 11 amazing themed to choose from, which all comes with loads of soft play accessories.

* Big Celebrations for all and every occasion and of course any season themed.

* Easter events and our amazing rabbit to your home at Easter!!

* Christmas parties with Giggles and Dizzy The Elves.

And of course our very popular MAGICAL Giggles Elf To Your Home.

Christmas Grotto at Hotels, Cafe’s Pub’s and Restaurant’s.

We cater for all size parties and events for any age and we offer bespoke party packages for any occasion!

Please contact Si on 07972 827140 or via email.

You can find out more about Little Gizmos Entertainment if you visit littlegizmosentertainment.com and give us a follow on Facebook and Instagram.

Birthday Cakes

If you are not this year’s star baker and don’t want to make your own cake, there are lots of cake makers listed on the Mumbler website. Prices depend on the size of the cake, how you want it decorated and if you want it delivered to your venue.

You don’t need to be a great baker to create a brilliant birthday cake. Why not hack a supermarket cake? Buy a few plain cakes and jazz them up with extra frosting (buy a few tubs of that whilst you are shopping) and cover the sides in sprinkles.

If you are having a large party, consider making or buying cupcakes instead or alongside a smaller cake. It will be easier and quicker to give them all out.

If your birthday boy or girl isn’t too keen on cake, then here are some alternative suggestions:

A giant cookie
A doughnut tower
Rice Krispies cake
Whatever you do, don’t forget the candles and some matches!

Decorations & Party Bags

From balloons to sweet treats, if you don’t want to organise everything yourself, there are plenty of suppliers listed on the Mumbler website who can help you out. If you are looking for an alternative to the usual party bags fillers or want something more eco-friendly and useful, check out our list below.

A book, perhaps with a handwritten message inside or thank you sticker
Do some simple crafts at your party so the guests can take them home
A packet of seeds to plant & grow
A pair of kids sunglasses with a cool message on a tag attached to it
Set up a pick & mix stand with paper bags and let kids help themselves at the end of the party

Party Food Ideas

At most organised parties where you pay for a full package, party food will be included. However, if you need to take your own party food or are having a DIY party here are some tips and ideas.

Keep the food simple, the kids won’t be expecting a gourmet meal 😂
Ask your party guests if they have any special dietary requirements first
If you are having a large party, you might want to provide the meals in a box so you can do all the preparation in advance and just hand out the boxes on the day
Go for food you know the kids will love and don’t worry too much about it being super healthy!
Sausage rolls
Pizza
Sandwiches
Cheese straws
Crisps or popcorn
Vegetable sticks
Fruit kebabs
Fairy cakes
Biscuits
You could always make the food preparation part of the party and gets the kids to decorate their own pizzas or fill their own wraps from a choice of fillings
You can order platters of sandwiches and party food from most supermarkets as long as you order it in advance.

Finally, if you don’t want to make the food yourself there is a great range of caterers listed on the Mumbler website. Most providers will organise a party food package for you and even food platters for the grown-ups.

Free or Low Cost Activities

If you are planning to host the party yourself or feel you need to pack in even more fun, here are some free or low-cost ideas to keep all the party-goers entertained. Remember a party doesn’t need to be complicated or cost you a small fortune. Children really enjoy being with their friends and playing fun games together, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself for it to be perfect.

Musical Statues
Use your phone to play music or take a mini speaker along with you. Download or stream some party tunes and away you go! The hardest part is spotting who was still moving when you stop the music!

Treasure Hunt outside party games
Set up a simple treasure hunt around your venue or home. You don’t need anything fancy and could use something your child already has. Hid 10 of their teddies or Lego figures – let your imagination go wild. Just take a photo of them all, stick the photos into a document, number each one and print out enough sheets for everyone.

Charades
No explanation is needed for this classic. All you need to prepare in advance is a pad of paper & pen and think of a few ideas of words or phrases people need to act out! You could even match the game to the theme of your party. If you don’t want it to drag out, use the timer on your phone for each player.

Pass the balloon
Simply blow up a balloon and get the kids in a row then get them to pass the balloon from under their chin to one another without using their hands. Use two balloons, split the kids into two groups and have a race!

Pinata
These always seem to go down very well at parties but do need quite a bit of supervision to make sure the children take turns and nothing but the Pinata gets whacked! Maybe not for the faint-hearted.

Pass the Parcel
Another one that needs no explanation! You can add to the fun by having more than one parcel or simply fill a zip-up bag with treats if you don’t have time to wrap or don’t want to waste lots of paper.

Ideas for kids birthday parties at home

Here are some of the brilliant ideas and birthday parties you can create for your children at home brought to you by Mumbler Mum’s!

🌟Build a den🌟
“Make a den with chairs and blankets, indoor fairy lights, decorate it all inside with pictures, cushions, toys. I’ve yet to meet a person or adult of any age who doesn’t love crawling into a den. Play music in there, games.” Mumbler HD

🌟Set up a birthday present treasure hunt🌟
“Birthday treasure hunt with a present hidden in every room! Have easy clues (could make them rhyme eg There’s a special present you could find, search for a bear & look behind!). Spend time searching & building excitement, should make them giggle & fill the time!” Mumbler SP

🌟Create new birthday traditions🌟
“Maybe start some birthday traditions? Special PJ’s the night before, a birthday breakfast, making the cake together… could start something for years to come.” Mumbler KB

🌟Get your party frocks on🌟
“All get dressed up in your party dresses and have a party tea.” Mumbler RH

🌟Set up a cinema or disco 🌟
“I decorated the front room loads of balloon and banners. We had a lazy morning face timing/phoning family members up then we got dressed went to ‘the salon’ hair/make up and nails. We had party food picnic then went to ‘the cinema’ watched a film with sweets and pop corn then later on we ended the day with a disco. She really enjoyed it and said it was her best day ever!” Mumbler LM

🌟Ask your family to record messages🌟
“I’ve asked his friends and family to record a little happy birthday message and I’m going to compile them all together so he has a little video to watch in the morning!” Mumbler EN

🌟Have a home cinema night🌟
“I’ve decided in the evening to do a movie night, printed out tickets, got popcorn buckets, lots of his favourite sweets, trying to make it extra special. During the day he asked if we could bake and decorate his cake together! We’re going to facetime his friends and family on houseparty app while we do candles on the cake too.” Mumbler CRN

🌟Have a garden party🌟
“We put up a gazebo in the garden and had a bbq. We played games made out of recycling (bowling using plastic bottles, tin can alley). We also made a piñata from scratch which my little girl loved. I also asked friends and family to send cards, if they could. I then hid them so she had a huge pile showing her that people where thinking of her on her birthday.” Mumbler EC

🥳🥳 We hope you found our Birthday Party Guide helpful for planning a children’s birthday party in BCP. Whatever you decide to do, we hope you have a brilliant and memorable birthday party. 🥳🥳