Dinosaur Party Supplies Checklist: Decorations, Balloons and Favors

A dinosaur birthday party needs five things: a backdrop or balloon arch, a banner and tableware, a cake or cake topper, one or two games such as a fossil dig, and favors sized for the youngest guest. Pick one color scheme first, such as jungle green with orange. Keep uninflated latex balloons away from children under 8, per CPSC.

Dinosaur party supplies checklist

A dinosaur party supplies list splits into what goes on the walls, what goes on the table and what goes home with guests. Many party kits bundle the first two, so check how many guests a kit serves before buying extras.

Count siblings and parents too. A pack that serves 16 leaves you short at a party of 20.

How to build a dinosaur balloon arch

A dinosaur balloon arch is a garland of latex balloons in jungle colors, often finished with foil dinosaur balloons or paper palm leaves. Garland kits often include a plastic strip that holds the balloons in a curve and glue dots to fix it to a wall.

1. Measure the space first. Match the strip length on the box to the doorway or wall you want to frame.
2. Mix balloon sizes. Small, medium and large balloons together give a full, bunched look. A thick garland takes more balloons than a simple arch.
3. Inflate close to the party, the evening before or the morning of, so the garland looks full when guests arrive.
4. Add the dinosaurs last. Foil T. rex balloons, palm leaves and a few figures along the base finish the look.

St. Louis Children’s Hospital goes further and says latex balloons are not recommended for children younger than 8. Federal rules (16 CFR 1500.19) also require a cautionary statement on latex balloons. At a toddler party, foil balloons tied high are the simpler choice.

How to use foil dinosaur balloons safely outdoors

Foil dinosaur balloons are metallic, and Atlantic City Electric warns that one touching a power line can cause a surge that short-circuits equipment, with a spark that could lead to an outage or fire. The utility advises keeping foil balloons tethered to a weight at all times.

After the party, Atlantic City Electric recommends puncturing each foil balloon so the helium escapes and it cannot float away. If a balloon catches on an overhead line, never try to get it back: assume the line is live, stay at least 10 feet away and call your utility.

Dinosaur party games with few supplies

Dinosaur party games work best when they are short and simple, since young guests rarely sit still for long.

• Fossil dig: bury figures or plastic bones in a sandbox or a tray of play sand and hand out paintbrushes. Our dinosaur dig kits guide covers excavation bricks for older kids.
• Dinosaur egg hunt: hide plastic eggs with a sticker or small figure inside, or give older guests grow-in-water dinosaur eggs to hatch at home.
• Dress-up stomp: a tail, a hood or a full suit turns the party into a parade. See dinosaur costumes for sizing and safety tips.

A T. rex piñata suits kids old enough to swing a stick safely. Fill it with wrapped candy and favors that suit every guest’s age.

Dinosaur party favors by age

Dinosaur party favors should suit the youngest child at the party, because a favor bag rarely stays with the guest it was meant for. CPSC bans small parts in toys intended for children under 3. Federal labeling rules require a choking hazard warning on toys with small parts meant for ages 3 to under 6.

For toddlers, choose stickers, a board book or a small plush labeled for their age. Mini figures, dig eggs and capsule toys usually carry an age label of 3 and up or older, so check each one. Leave anything with loose magnets or button batteries out of every bag.

Two more party jobs have their own guides: a chocolate dirt cake with toy figures in dinosaur cake decorations, and ordering a top with the age number in dinosaur birthday shirts. If the birthday child is under 5, our dinosaur gifts for toddlers list covers the main present, and older kids are on the dinosaur gift ideas hub.