1st Birthday Barnyard Party Decorations

You have an exciting "first" coming up in your life: your child's first birthday party. So, what kind of party should you plan? How should you decorate? How about hosting a barnyard-themed birthday party, which is very appropriate for young children. Decorating for this type of party is affordable and simple. Here are some decorating ideas for creating a barnyard-themed birthday party for a 1-year-old.

Whether you have the party at your home or in a rented facility, sprucing up the walls is a nice way to set the theme of your barnyard party. Head over to your local discount store and purchase farm-themed coloring books (which you can then use as party favors) and plenty of colored poster board. Take a look at the coloring book illustrations, which often include simple barns, silos, cows, pigs, donkeys, dogs, roosters and other farm animals. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, use those farm illustrations as guides for creating your own larger designs on the colored poster board. This is also a great way to enlist the help of children and artistic friends. After you have created and cut out your barnyard decorations, secure them to the walls in the party room for an instant barnyard transformation.

Because this party involves very young children, make sure to baby-proof the entire party space. Once you have handled that task, it's time to really set the barnyard mood. Purchase some bales of hay from your local farm supply store and scatter them around the party area. This creates instant seating for adults while adding to your barnyard theme. Throw cowboy hats, flannel shirts and overalls on the hay bales to give the appearance that farmers are at the party. Place stuffed animals (especially cows, pigs, roosters, dogs and donkeys) around the room. Then add signs above doorways and on walls that say, "Welcome to the Farm." Consider having some friends help you put on a puppet show, which you can easily do behind two stacked hay bales.

Cover tables with black and white "cow-printed" fabric, red and white checkered tablecloths or flannel. Then use heavy tin buckets as weights to hold bundles of farm-themed balloons on each table. Place a farm-themed coloring book and box of giant-sized crayons at each place setting to use as party favors.

Ask your local bakery to design a farm-themed cake. Examples include cakes shaped like barns, silos, cows, pigs and other animals. Then serve the cake using a shovel and camping dishes.

If you have access to a tractor, position it in your front yard to really welcome guests to your party. Adorn your doorway and banisters with brightly colored streamers and balloons and set a pair of cowboy boots at your door to greet farmers.