If you're looking for a fun theme for your child's next birthday celebration, you can't go wrong with a pizza party. Not only do most kids of all ages love the cheesy pie, they can have fun participating in related activities as well.

When planning the pizza party, you first need to decide if you'll be making the food yourself. Depending on the size of the party, you can either choose to have the meal catered, or stock up on dough, cheese, and all other traditional toppings and make it yourself. If you opt to hire your favorite pizzeria, place any especially large orders a few days in advance, especially if the celebration is on a weekend. 

Pizza is a convenient party food choice, as the young guests can mix and mingle as they enjoy their handheld meal, or even help customize their own as an activity. Also, pizza works as lunch or dinner, or even a late-night snack for sleepover parties. 

Take any of the party-goers food allergies or intolerances into consideration when planning the menu. For instance, you may need to provide gluten-free dough, or dairy-free cheese for vegans and vegetarians. 

Here are some additional kids' pizza party ideas to get you started:

1. Make-Your-Own Pizza 

Let children get creative in the kitchen by allowing them to make their own pizzas. Provide either mini fresh dough crusts, or halved English muffins as a base. On a long table, set up bowls of tomato sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, mini pepperoni, mushrooms, sliced black olives, chopped tomatoes, and green peppers, and instruct kids to make their own pies. 

Have the adults bake the pizzas for the kids, and serve them alongside breadsticks, salads, or garlic knots. As a fun touch, kids can take home any leftovers in a cardboard box they decorated as a party activity. 

2. Pizza Buffet 

An easy way of serving the pizza to youngsters is by setting it up on a buffet-style table. Whether you make the pies yourself or have them catered, cut them into small pieces and place them on festive paper plates. Include small bowls of salads, breadsticks, or any other sides you'd like.

Kids can move down the table, picking and choosing what they want. Set up cups of soda, juice, and water at the end of the table as well. 

3. Pizzeria-Inspired Decorations 

To give the party space a festive look, place red-and-white checked cloths on tables, serve drinks in paper to-go cups, and use paper plates and napkins featuring pizza-inspired patterns. 

You can even place a chef's hat next to each guest's place setting if they'll be making their own pizzas.