Craft ideas for children's birthday parties should be quick and simple. Most kids enjoy creating crafts and having a fast, but fun craft project available at a children's birthday party can help keep things interesting. Of course, the younger the children, the easier the project should be.

Preschoolers aged three to five usually like any type of craft project as long as it involves a lot of color and it's not frustrating to do. Many craft stores sell large bags of mixed craft supplies such as pipe cleaners, large pieces of glitter, foam shapes and large beads. Even something as simple as helping young children decorate paper plates you've shaped beforehand to look like butterflies can be a good birthday party craft project. Make sure that the children are old enough not to put craft supplies in their mouths. Parents should help their children with the crafts as well as supervise the activity.

Good craft ideas for children's birthday parties for kids aged six and older may include painting t-shirts and/or sneakers. You could even specify on the invitation that kids should bring old sneakers and/or a t-shirt to paint and then provide all of the fabric paints and brushes needed. Individual models that kids can build together or simple jewelry such as necklaces and bracelets are other great craft ideas for children's birthday parties if you provide all of the materials.

You can use painter's drop cloths to cover your table and the floor area under the table when the crafts will need any kind of painting or gluing. Not only will it protect your furniture, but it will make clean up easier for you. One of the best craft ideas for children's birthday parties is to feature the crafts at the beginning of the party to help get less talkative kids something to focus on and provide some opportunities for interaction and discussion. If you have some adults supervise a more active game with the kids after the crafts while other adults clean up, this can vary the activity level of the party to keep children interested and also keep the mess under control.