There is nothing like a summer party for kids! They love them! But, maybe you’re sick of the usual hired clown or rented inflatable. If you want to try something different, a summer costume party might be just the trick. Here are a few ideas to get your brainstorming session started.

Hats: You could throw a hat party, for which you could purchase a variety of inexpensive but fun hats from pirate to firefighter to football helmet! You could make it a game to pick which child gets to wear which hat for the party.

Masquerade: Instead of the hats, you could collect a variety of masks. Look at themes like animal masks or TV character masks, if your child likes a particular theme. You could even do a fun activity starting with basic masks and objects like feathers, buttons, and sequins, allowing the children to make their own masks at the beginning of the party.

Princess theme costume party: If your daughter loves princesses, have all of her friends come dressed as their favorite Disney princess, or make up their own princess from a foreign land or historic past.

Hero costume party: If your son enjoys superheroes, you could specify a different hero for each of the guests to come as, so each child can represent a unique superhero. That way, the party pictures will be truly memorable and your son can be the hero of his choice.

Tea party or monster bash: Another gender-specific option. Again, for the invitations, just be sure that it is clear that each child invited needs to come dressed for the tea party in her “tea-party best” or dressed for the monster bash in his “monster attire.”