Kids Birthday Party Face Painting Ideas

Face painting is one party activity that children love. You'll be surprised at how still a wiggly child will sit when he or she is getting adorned with imaginative characters and symbols. For the parent assigned to do the face painting, you may be bombarded with requests that are beyond your artistic capabilities, or you may get no input from a shy child. Have a poster paper on the wall with eight to 10 designs to choose from so children can have a choice of something you actually know how to draw. Here are several ideas for face painting that will get you through the party successfully.

Match the face painting with the party theme. A pirate party can have you making swirling moustaches, jagged scars, unshaved scruff and even skulls and crossbones. A princess party can feature rainbows, stars, flowers, hearts and even glitter and press-on jewels. Soldiers can have camo face paint or American flags. A Victorian tea party guest can have teacups, cupcakes, parasols and roses on her cheeks.

Cheek art is face paint that just covers one cheek. This kind of face painting is great for large crowds, when you need to do things pretty quickly. Think of simple and cool designs that kids love: hearts, balloons, ice cream cones, spiders, the Superman symbol, initials, flowers, shooting stars, paw prints, sports balls, smiley face and bats.

Use face paints to transform kids into something else. Full face art covers the entire face--forehead, cheeks, nose and chin. Try a tiger or kitty cat with a feline nose, whiskers and stripes. Paint a butterfly on a girl's face similar to glasses, with the nose as the body and the wings spreading out and around the eyes. Even random swirls, shapes and patterns look cool when covering the whole face.