Have a child with a Summer birthday? Do YOU have an upcoming birthday, and are young at heart? 🙂

Look no further for some great EASY ideas to increase the FUN at your next swim shindig!

Not everything about a kids party has to be about the candy and sugar. Having a little creativity with decor or themes can make things just as fun!

To get you started, here are a few of the things I did for my daughter’s 3rd birthday. We didn’t have a party, just had her best friend over to swim. But that doesn’t mean we didn’t celebrate! I had a blast being creative with these simple, easy and healthy ideas.

Do you have any favorite creative party ideas that you’ve made, or seen?

I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below! 🙂

Appetizers:

Cucumber Whales

This one took a little patience, but looks super cute! You can find video tutorials on YouTube if you get stuck! This makes a great starter served next to cucumber slices and hummus for dipping!

Bucket of Chips (with sand shovels!) 

This is self explanatory. In one bucket I had tortilla chips and in the other bucket (pictured here) I had veggie puffs. Either way, it’s a fun way to snack with the serving utensil being a shovel! Serves double duty – after the party, wash out and use for fun at the beach!

Shark Teeth  – (Vegan) Cheese Wedges!

I cut up some vegan cheese in triangle shapes to make them look like shark teeth! No one got hurt in the eating of it! 🙂 In keeping with the theme, I served it up in a small pail.

Food:

Almond Butter & JellyFish Sandwiches (VEGAN & GLUTEN FREE)

These are fun for kids of all ages, and really easy! Take some gluten free bread, a little almond butter and some no-sugar-added jam and make sandwiches like normal. Then use a fish-shaped cookie cutter to cut off the crust!

Starfish Sand-witches (VEGAN & GLUTEN FREE)

Just like with the Almond Butter & JellyFish above, make a sandwich and cut it with a starfish cookie cutter.
Pictured here: hummus/cucumber and avocado toast!

Dessert:

Watermelon 3’s (or other numbers)

Cut a good sized watermelon into 1/2″ – 3/4″ disks, and cut out the number with a cookie cutter! This is becoming a tradition in our house. I did this for her 2nd (watermelon themed!) birthday too! This can also be a great activity to get your kids involved with!

Beach Bunny Cupcakes (VEGAN & GLUTEN FREE)

They have bunnies on blankets under umbrellas! They have bunnies swimming! AND they are made using only natural dyes and NO gluten, dairy or eggs!

Want to learn how to make these fun, festive cuties yourself? The recipe is on the blog!

Drinks:

Pool Water 

Hydrating, refreshing, no sugar and FUN! Take a pitcher of filtered water, and add a few drops of a natural dye. (This is made with India Tree plant-based food coloring! Many common food dyes are petroleum-based, and have been linked to a wide range of issues like hyperactivity and cancer. Children are more at risk for side effects than adults, as well. I always recommend using natural foods, like red beets or blue blueberries or yellow turmeric for coloring, or using a plant-based dye like this one!)

Watermelon Slushie

This is a super refreshing drink on a hot Summer day! Just blend frozen watermelon chunks and add a little lime seltzer. I also have a watermelon mint spritzer recipe on MindBodyGreen that would work well too!

Decor:

Sunscreen Station

Sun protection is super important, so make sure your guests are taken care of!

Beach Balls

Cheap and easy, instant decor and fun in the pool!

Monogrammed Sand Pails

Cute touch for a kids’ party, they can be filled with small beach balls, sunglasses, bubble wands or other related goodies! Goody (non candy) buckets could become the new loot bag, right? 🙂