Fun Birthday Ideas for Boys

• A visit to the fire station is a great way to celebrate a boy's birthday. playing boy with uniform of fireman image by Oleg Berlov from Fotolia.com

  Plan a birthday party for boys that includes a sense of adventure. Throw a theme party where the boys can role-play and engage in activities tailored to the theme. Your party guests will enjoy the opportunity to expel their energy as you provide a creative outlet for their rambunctious nature. Decorate your home to support the theme or host the party at a location that provides the adventure.

Firefighter Party

• Throw a firefighter party for the birthday boy and his friends. Check with local firehouses; many are happy to provide scheduled tours. After the tour, the station may have a party room available for rent, or bring the kids home for pizza and cake. Purchase fire truck invitations from a party supply store or make your own with fire engine stickers on yellow card stock. Print text that reads "Sound the Alarm! Fire Chief Andrew is having a birthday!" Give each guest a plastic firefighter helmet, which can also be found at party supply stores. The boys can wear these for the party and then take them home as party favors, alone or along with a bean bag Dalmatian doll.

Pirate Party

• Start your pirate party with treasure map invitations. Draw a map of your block with an "X" over your house. Add text that says "X marks the spot where we will celebrate Cap'n Sam's birthday!" When the guests arrive, supply them with eye patches and pirate hats purchased at party supply stores or toy stores. For the main event, send the little pirates out on a treasure hunt. Pick up a treasure chest or make your own from a cardboard box. Fill it with treasures such as chocolate gold coins, mini telescopes, plastic jewels and candy. Give them each a brown paper lunch bag to decorate with crayons, markers and pirate stickers. When they finish decorating their loot bags, give them a treasure map to assist them in finding the chest. When they find the chest, they fill their bags with the treasures. These will be their party favors. Check with the supermarket or bakery for birthday cakes with a pirate theme, or make your own cake in the shape of a parrot or a pirate ship.

Superhero Party

• The boys will love dressing up and playing superhero games at this theme party. Purchase superhero capes and masks from a party supply retailer. These can be the party costumes as well as some very cool take home gifts. Decorate the party table with a cloth that matches the capes. Tie colored or superhero-printed balloons to the backs of the chairs. A cluster of balloons tied down to an action figure toy makes a good centerpiece. Play "Pass the Kryptonite," a superhero version of hot potato where the potato is replaced with a green ball of kryptonite. Hide the cake and pretend it was stolen by an evil villain. Give the superheroes clues to assist them in the search and rescue of the birthday cake.

Arcade Party

• Have the party at an arcade that provides a room for birthday parties. Pizza and birthday cake will be served in the party room and the rest of the party will be spent playing video games, laser tag or mini golf, depending on the type of activities offered at the facility. Activities and tokens for the arcade games are typically included with the cost of the party room rental so kids can be entertained for the duration of the party at no additional cost to you or the other parents.