Dr. Seuss-themed parties are always a favorite for kids of all ages, and throwing one is easier than you may think! You don’t need to go overboard with your decorations or spend hours on food preparation- the little details will make all the difference in making your party stand out from everyone else’s. This article highlights some simple ideas that can help turn any ordinary party into an event your guests won’t forget.
Guest List: First start by compiling a guest list of everyone you would like to invite. You will want to make sure that the guest list is as diverse and kid-friendly as possible, so reach out to all of your family members, friends, neighbors, classmates (especially those with children), coworkers, etc. This way no one feels left out!
Budget: Once you have compiled your guest list, it is time to think about your budget. Dr. Seuss themed parties are usually inexpensive and easy because of the minimal decoration required for a great party! Be sure to keep in mind any costs you may incur such as decorations, favors (don’t forget those!), food, drinks, and other incidentals that may come up along the way.
Invitations: No party is complete without those first few touches. You can choose to send out your invitations in the mail or invite guests online via email by using a service like Evite or Paperless Post! If you’re looking for something more creative, why not have your child draw and color their favorite Dr. Seuss character? Once they’re done, you can print the picture on card stock and cut it out to make your own invitation.
Centerpieces: Whether you have a large party or small gathering, centerpieces always add something special to any event. Some ideas for Dr. Seuss-themed decorations are things like red balloons with yellow polka dots tied around them, Dr. Seuss books as centerpieces (wrapped in a bow or tied with ribbon), and balloon wands for the kids to play with!
Center Table: The centerpiece of any party is usually set up on a table right by the door, so it’s easy for guests to see when they come through. You can dress your table up with Dr. Seuss’s table cloths, a balloon bouquet in the middle, and other decorations that match your theme to make it stand out more!
Menu: If you want people to actually enjoy eating at your party, food is always an important consideration. Remember this when deciding what type of cuisine you’ll be offering for guests – a Dr. Seuss-themed party is no different than any other! You may be tempted to choose fried foods or heavy desserts, but in order to stay true to the theme, it’s best not to. Instead of thinking about what you can’t serve on your menu, think about what guests would want at a Dr. Seuss-themed event and make sure to include those items!
Games: Dr. Seuss is known for his delightful rhymes, so why not ask your guests to bring a favorite book of theirs and then put on an impromptu reading session? For the little ones that are too young or just really shy around new people, there’s always hide and seek outside in the backyard. You can place a pile of Dr. Seuss books in the middle of your yard, have kids find their favorite one, and then go back to where they found it and hide!
Party Favors: An easy way to thank all your guests for coming is with favors that are related to the theme or just things you know they’ll like – think the stuff that can be eaten! For a Dr. Seuss-themed party, some good ideas are:
- Candy and cookies (these could come in the shape of your favorite character or with bright colors!)
- Dr. Seuss books for guests to take home -A pencil case so they have something to remember the party by
- A small toy that’s a replica of one from the movie or can be used as an ornament (a specialized coloring set, for example)
- Mini backpacks with pencils and erasers so they have something to bring home after their fun adventures!
Cake: Once you’ve planned all your other activities, make sure you have a cake ready to go for when the party starts. You can choose from many different Dr. Seuss-themed cakes but we’re partial to chocolate because it’s always delicious! To personalize your cake even more, why not use some of those table decorating tools like glitter and piping bags? For other ideas on how to make your cake look even better, check out our article on Cakes for Kids.
Cake Toppers: There are many different ideas for how you can decorate the top of your cake and have it match the theme. For a Dr. Seuss-themed party, we recommend using red icing in flower shapes or yellow balls that look like the sun and moons. You can also use Dr. Seuss-themed stickers to make it more personal!
Treats: What party is complete without a few snacks? There are many different types of food you could offer at your event but we recommend sticking with sweets that look like they’re from “Oh The Places You’ll Go”! We recommend chocolate chip cookies, fudge pops, and ice cream sundaes!
Cookies: Cookies are a quick and easy dessert that can be made with only a few ingredients. They’re also very cost-effective because you probably already have butter, flour, sugar, eggs in your fridge or pantry right now. If they don’t want to be too plain, you can use an icing bag and piping tip when you put them on a plate. You could also decorate the cookies with sprinkles or Dr. Seuss-themed stickers!
Cupcakes: Cupcakes are great because they’re bite-sized so people can have just one if they want (or more!). To make them more festive, you can use different colors of frosting to make each one and then top with a Dr. Seuss-themed decoration (like the ones in our DIY section).
Games: Dr. Seuss games are a lot of fun and can be played by all ages! Some popular ones are “Pin the Cat on the Hat” or “Horton Hears A Who”. You could also have some coloring pages available for them to enjoy while they wait their turn at one of these games.
Party Favors: An easy way to thank all your guests for coming is with favors that are related to the theme or just things you know they’ll like – think the stuff that can be eaten! For a Dr. Seuss-themed party, some good ideas are:
Guest List Station: Grab some Dr. Seuss props and choose a color scheme related to your favorite book. For example, if you’re throwing a party for Dr. Seuss’s “One fish two fish red fish blue fish” book, try using shades of light pink and purple!
Picture Area: Guests will love being able to take pictures with their favorite Dr. Seuss character! We recommend using a backdrop like the ones in our DIY section and then printing off some of your favorite photos from those days as part of the decorations too.
After the Fun – Thank You Cards & Reviews: After all your work, it’s time to thank your guests with a round of applause, hugs, and cake! For an easy way to say “thank you” or show appreciation for their attendance at the party, have cards available on each table that they can fill out. We recommend sticking with one card per household so there are enough for everyone (in case someone forgets theirs). And don’t forget to ask for reviews on Yelp, Facebook, or Google!
