Your child’s birthday is right around the corner, and you’re at a loss for ideas. You want something fun and memorable, but you don’t know where to start. The key is to choose a theme and work everything for the party around that theme. It makes it easier to coordinate, and you’re assured of throwing a birthday bash that your child will enjoy. Here are five themes worth considering for your next birthday celebration.

Pirates are Always Fun

Have a pirate party. You can easily find pirate-themed decorations and invitations. Complete the theme by greeting each guest at the door with their very own balloon sword. Most balloon animal kits come with the pump, the balloons and instructions for making fun items like swords and hats. Have the kids make their own spyglasses using empty paper towel tubes, a little saran wrap, some tape and markers. The cake can feature an island complete with treasure chest, and you can keep the kids busy with their own treasure hunt.

Embrace the Latest Craze

The top craze with kids right now is rubber band bracelets. Before the party, pick up a few looms and watch videos to learn how to make different bracelets. When sending out the invitations, mark on them that it’s a rubber band bracelet party. Most of your guests will bring packs of extra bands which the kids can use during the party. Let the kids take turns making their bracelets, necklaces, key chains and other goodies. When ordering the cake, ask them to put an icing chain around the border to tie it into the general theme.

Pick a Favorite Television Show

If your little one has a favorite show, then use that for inspiration. A Dirty Jobs party could involve digging in the sand box for worms and eating cake that’s covered with gummy worms. Make invitations at home on brown paper bags, so parents will know that it’s going to be a delightfully dirty time and dress their kids accordingly. An American Idol party could feature a karaoke machine and talent show. For party favors, you can buy those toy microphones with candy in the bottom.

Help the Needy

A growing trend is to have guests bring gifts for the animals at the local shelter instead of the birthday child. The invitations can include pictures of puppies or kittens, and you should include information on the featured charity and what is needed. One of the activities can be taking the collected donations to the organization as a group. When decorating the cake, stick with the animal theme by asking for a cake with happy animals featured on it.

It’s a Tea Party

Have a tea party fit for any girlie girl by serving up her favorite tea. Rather than party favors, go to the local thrift store ahead of time and pick up fancy dresses that the girls can keep. Serve little petite sandwiches, dainty cookies and tea in delicate china cups. You can add an element of fun by buying edible utensils, or edible bowls for them to eat out of—that is sure to make mealtime a little more interesting. When it’s time for cake, choose an elegant pattern that matches the elegant theme of the party. Little girls love dressing up and pretending they are fancy princesses every day anyways, so facilitate the fun by making their dreams come to life.

There are countless ideas for birthday parties, and choosing a theme makes it easier to settle on decorations, crafts and food. With a little planning, your themed party can become a hit that your friends will enjoy and copy later. Give your child a few ideas, but ultimately, it’s their choice. Once they land on a theme they like, you can go crazy and make it a birthday party to remember.