My Gym: Ten Fun Kid's Birthday Party Themes

If you have a kids birthday party to organize, the chances are that you're racking your brains for ideas. Sometimes children know exactly what they want, but when they don't it's difficult to know what they and their friends will enjoy. Here's a helpful list of ten ever-popular kid's birthday party themes guaranteed to provide lots of fun for everyone.

1. Pirates - This kid's birthday party theme is always a favorite. Use Jolly Roger bunting and string rigging to decorate your house, and encourage colorful costumes. Treasure hunts are the perfect pirate party game.

2. Animals - Encourage guests to bring friendly pets (not ones which will eat each other!) for everybody to pet and stroke. Play games where the kids pretend to be different animals, and give plushes as gifts.

3. Magic - You don't have to hire a professional to make this kid's birthday party idea work. A book of simple magic tricks will teach you what you need to entertain them. Flexible balloons for modeling are always popular.

4. Inflatables - You'll be surprised how inexpensive it is to hire inflatable toys for a kid's birthday party, and children always have lots of fun bouncing around on them.

5. Outer Space - Decorate a room with silver foil and cut-out pictures of planets, stars and rockets. Games can include building pressure rockets out of plastic soda bottles.

6. Knights and Castles - Cardboard boxes can be used to build great forts and children will love dressing up for this kids' birthday party theme. It's easy to make a cake shaped like a castle.

7. Sports - Decorate your house in the colors of your child's favorite sports team and give sports related gifts. Besides the sport itself, games can include quizzes about the team and league.

8. Jungle Adventure - Use strips of green crepe paper hanging from the ceiling to turn the party room into a maze. Children will love games where they have to escape from ferocious lions and crocodiles.

9. Robots - Children will enjoy dressing up in shiny clothes and having a go at robot dancing. Small robot toys make excellent party gifts.

10. Under the Sea - Whales on the walls and cut-out fish hanging from the ceiling set the tone for this kids birthday party favorite. Games can include fishing with magnetic rods and drawing pictures of sea monsters.