Kids birthday invitations are some of the most fun pieces of stationery to choose, since they tend to be colourful, cute and a whole lot of fun. A well-chosen design sets expectations before any guest arrives: how dressed-up to be, what theme to run with, and whether to leave the kids at the door or stay for the party. Getting it right means choosing a design that matches the energy of the celebration, and including a few practical details that parents genuinely need to know.
Send kids birthday invitations 3-4 weeks before the party. Order one per household (not per child). Include start AND end time so parents can plan pick-up. Add a dietary note if food is served. A designer proof is delivered within 1-2 business days of your order, and includes two rounds of wording edits at no extra cost.
Themed Kids Birthday Invitation Designs
If you have chosen a kids birthday party theme, ensuring your invitation matches is crucial for setting the event's tone right from the start. Kids birthday invitations are built around the theme: the design does most of the communication before a single word is read. Paperlust's independent designers have created illustrated collections covering the themes children actually ask for.
Character and licensed-theme styles: Many kids have a firm favourite show or character right now, and matching the invitation to that world makes the whole celebration feel intentional. Popular character-themed styles include:
- Bluey birthday invitations: perfect for fans of the beloved Bluey series, these bring the fun and imaginative world of Bluey and Bingo to your party.
- Cocomelon invitations: invite guests to a joyful celebration with a Cocomelon theme featuring characters and elements from the popular children's show.
- Barbie invitations: ideal for little fashionistas and adventurers, Barbie party invitations can set the stage for a stylish and fun celebration.
- Sonic birthday invitations: speed into an exciting birthday bash with Sonic the Hedgehog, perfect for young gamers and fans of the speedy blue hero.
- Mario birthday invitations: bring the fun of the Mushroom Kingdom to your party with invitations featuring Mario, Luigi, and the whole gang.
- Hello Kitty birthday invitations: invite guests to a cute and memorable party with the timeless charm of Hello Kitty.
- Toy Story birthday invitations: take the party to infinity and beyond with invitations featuring the adventurous crew from Toy Story.
Illustrated theme collections: For parties built around a colour palette or a general visual world rather than a specific character, Paperlust's original illustrated collections include:
- Unicorn birthday invitations: make the party magical with unicorn-themed invitations, promising a day filled with wonder and enchantment.
- Dinosaurs: from bold, roaring statement designs to softer pastel dino prints for younger kids.
- Mermaids and under-the-sea: watercolour scales, pearlescent palettes, ocean lettering.
- Superheroes: bright primary colours with bold graphic typography.
- Rainbows: pastel arcs and watercolour skies, a perennial favourite for 4th and 5th birthdays.
- Jungle and safari: illustrated animals, leafy greens, warm terracotta backgrounds.
- Princess and fairy: soft pinks, illustrated florals, elegant script fonts that still feel age-appropriate.
- Space and galaxy: deep navy backgrounds, illustrated rockets, glow-effect lettering.
- Construction birthday invitations: gear up for a fun, hands-on party with a construction-themed invitation, promising a day filled with building and creativity.
- Halloween birthday invitations: for a spooky celebration, Halloween-themed invites can add a thrilling twist to birthday festivities.
For creative design direction and theme ideas, the birthday party invitation ideas guide on the Paperlust blog covers the most popular kids themes with design and wording examples. You can also explore the ultimate list of birthday themes for kids and adult parties for even more inspiration.
Choosing by Colour Palette
No matter what theme you have planned, colour palette is what really ties everything together for your kids birthday party. Use the same set of colours across your kids party invitations, your party decor, and any bits and pieces in between to keep it all cohesive. You might use one colour in different shades (think: green everything!) or use a combination (blush and navy blue work beautifully together). You may pick the colour based on your child's favourite colour or on the theme you have chosen. A beach-themed birthday might call for blues and yellows, while a space-themed party works well with a black, white and silver combination.
Photo Cutout Options for Kids Invitations
Photo-forward designs are one of the most popular choices for kids birthday invitations, especially for parties where family friends and relatives haven't seen the child recently. Paperlust's photo invitation collections feature dedicated cut-out zones sized to showcase a portrait or candid image of your child, embedded professionally into the design rather than simply dropped onto a blank background.
If your photo needs brightening, contrast adjustment, or light retouching, the designer handling your proof can do this as a special request at no extra cost. Browse photo birthday invitations for the full collection of photo-cutout designs.
What to Include on a Kids Birthday Invitation
A kids party invite has a slightly different checklist from an adult celebration. You're addressing the parents, not the child, so the information that matters most is what helps them plan the day around the party:
- Child's name and age being celebrated
- Date and start time, always include both on a kids invite
- End time, so parents know when to arrive for pick-up; this is different from adult invitations where end time is optional
- Venue name and full address
- Drop-off vs. stay: a simple line like "parents welcome to stay" or "drop-off party" removes a lot of awkward guessing at the door
- RSVP details with a deadline and a contact (number or email, not just a name)
- Theme or dress-up note if relevant: "come dressed as your favourite superhero" saves a child from being the only one not in costume
- Dietary or allergy note if food is served, even a brief "birthday cake and party food provided; please let us know of any allergies" is appreciated by parents of kids with dietary needs
- Party bags: optional, but noting "party bags provided" or "please do not bring a gift" helps parents plan
For detailed wording templates across different ages and themes, the birthday invitation wording guide covers kids party wording in full.
Kids Birthday Invitation Wording Examples
The tone should be warm and playful, parent-to-parent in its framing. The theme can appear in the language itself for an extra flourish.
Themed Wording (Dinosaur Party)
It's a DINO-MITE 5th birthday!
Join us for a roar-some time
celebrating Luca's 5th birthday party
Saturday, [date]
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
[Venue Name]
[Full address]
Come dressed as your favourite dinosaur!
Birthday cake and afternoon tea provided.
Please let us know of any dietary needs.
RSVP by [date]
[Parent name] · [phone or email]
Simple Wording (Any Theme, Drop-off Party)
You're invited to Isla's 7th birthday!
Saturday, [date]
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM (drop-off party)
[Venue Name]
[Full address]
Party food and birthday cake provided.
Please RSVP by [date] so we know how many little ones to expect.
[Parent name] · [phone or email]
How Many Invitations to Order for a Kids Party
For a kids party, order one invitation per household, not one per child. A class party of 20 children might need only 15-18 invitations once you account for siblings sharing an envelope.
| Party Size | Estimated Invitations Needed | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Small (8-12 kids) | 8-10 invitations | Add a buffer of 2-3 extras for late additions |
| Mid-size (15-20 kids) | 12-16 invitations | Siblings in same household share one |
| Whole class (25-30 kids) | 20-25 invitations | Keep one for the birthday child's memory box |
| Family celebration with adults | Add 5-10 for relatives | Adults often appreciate a keepsake card to keep |
Paperlust lets you order additional cards after the original run, so you can top up if your guest list grows.
Print Methods for Kids Birthday Invitations
Digital print is the natural choice for most kids birthday invitations. It supports full-colour illustrated designs exactly as the designer created them, and it is the most affordable option, making it practical to order a class-sized run. It is also the fastest print method, so it suits the shorter lead times that tend to happen with kids parties.
Your choice of print type can make all the difference to the finished look and feel. Available options for kids birthday invitations include digital print, flat foil, foil stamp, letterpress, metallic print, and white ink, with photo card designs, print on wood, and real foil on coloured card for something a little different.
For a first birthday with family and extended relatives on the guest list, flat foil adds a metallic accent that lifts the design into something that feels a little more special. Browse 1st birthday invitations for designs built for this milestone.
All orders include free white envelopes, a designer proof delivered within 1-2 business days, and two rounds of wording edits at no extra cost. Every order is backed by Paperlust's 100% happiness guarantee.
See how your chosen paper feels in person before committing.
Order a Sample PackPersonalised Kids Birthday Invitations
Personalised kids invitations are perfect for making the day all about them. If you find the perfect invite design but it's not in the right colour or you want to move some things around or change the font choice, Paperlust makes it easy. The on-site design tool allows you to drag and drop, moving things around and seeing how they look in real time. For more personalisation, ask our support team for further changes, or have our designers create a completely personalised birthday invitation from scratch.
If you have a very specific character theme in mind, such as Wiggles party invitations, get in touch with the custom design team to discuss your options.
Also Worth Browsing
Planning a first birthday or a bigger celebration? See the related categories below:
- 1st Birthday Invitations, keepsake-quality designs for the milestone first year
- Girls Birthday Invitations, designs filtered for a girl's birthday celebration
- All Birthday Invitations, browse the full range across every age and occasion
Kids Birthday Invitation FAQs
Kids birthday invitation wording is parent-to-parent in tone. Include the child's name and age being celebrated, the date, start and end time, venue name and full address, any theme or dress-up instructions, and RSVP details with a deadline and a contact number or email. For kids parties where food is served, add a brief note inviting parents to flag dietary needs. A playful line connecting to the theme ("come ready to roar", "dress as your favourite superhero") is optional but adds personality. For wording templates across different ages and themes, see the birthday invitation wording guide.
Order one invitation per household, not one per child. A class of 25 children might need 20-22 invitations once siblings sharing a household are accounted for. Add a buffer of 3-5 extras for late additions, keepsakes, or any that go astray. Paperlust allows you to reorder additional cards after your original run, so if your list grows you can top up without re-placing the full order.
Yes. Paperlust's independent designers have created illustrated kids birthday invitation collections covering the most popular themes, including Bluey, Cocomelon, unicorn, dinosaurs, mermaids, superheroes, rainbows, jungle, safari, princess, space and galaxy, and more. Each collection has been designed as a coordinated set, so the illustration, typography, and colour palette all work together rather than looking like clip-art assembled from a library. You can personalise every text element, and a designer handles your proof within 1-2 business days.
Yes. Paperlust offers a range of photo birthday invitation designs with dedicated cut-out zones built into the layout. You upload your photo and a designer embeds it professionally into the design, including adjustments for brightness, contrast, and light retouching if needed. Photo invitations are popular for first birthdays and for parties where family and friends who don't see the child regularly will appreciate the image. Browse photo birthday invitations to see the full collection.
Yes, always include the end time on a kids birthday invitation. Parents need to arrange pick-up and often have other commitments that afternoon. Without an end time, some parents will arrive early "just in case" and others will linger because they don't know when the party wraps. A simple "2:00 PM - 4:30 PM" removes any ambiguity. If you're running a drop-off party, add a brief note to that effect so parents know they're not expected to stay.
Three to four weeks before the party is the standard lead time for a local kids party. That gives parents enough notice to arrange the day without so much lead time that the invitation gets lost or forgotten. Set your RSVP deadline about one week before the party so you have time to confirm numbers with the venue or activity provider. If you're ordering printed invitations, factor in proof delivery (1-2 business days), production, and shipping when planning your timeline. A 24-hour rush print option is available for digital print orders if your timeline is tight.
Yes. Traditionally feminine birthday parties remain extremely popular for little girls, and you'll find plenty of designs with pink, florals, lace, ruffles and bows. For boys, there are designs featuring blues and greens, geometric patterns, and motifs like tools, construction, dinosaurs and superheroes. If you'd prefer to browse designs already filtered by occasion, see girls birthday invitations for a curated view. The gendered approach isn't for everybody, but it can be exactly right for the child you're celebrating.
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