What could be more special than a fantastic birthday party for your child to keep in his memory forever? We've got theme, decoration, and gift ideas to grant the birthday wishes of every child.

Choose a theme and plenty of activities, that's what the experts say about planning a child's birthday party. Here's some great ideas and inspirations appropriate for toddlers to teenagers.

Character Party.
Barney, Pokemon, Brittney Spears, Superman. Celebrate your child's interests when you throw a character-themed party. Many kids have particular storybook characters or celebrities they adore. Devise a party that's head-to-toe Spiderman, or if you don't want to focus on the "celebrity" character themselves, celebrate the things the character does. Does your 11-year-old daughter worship Brittney? Rent a karaoke machine and let the partygoers sing along with songs you and your daughter choose together. Is your son obsessed with baseball? Why not take a few of his friends to a game? Or, if you're going to have a home party, organize a backyard game (with no windows nearby). Then serve hotdogs and pretzels for perfect ball park food, decorate in the colors of his favorite team, and send everyone home with their own pack of baseball cards.

Career Party
No, this isn't a party where you make your child decide what she wants to be when she grows up. But is there a career she admires and looks up to (ballerina, basketball player, fireman, baker)? Center a party around a carrer choice, and if they're old enough, perhaps let them participate in that activity for their party. Many professionals have children's programs geared towards this idea. Take the girls to see the Nutracker, or your boys to the firehouse on a special visit where they can get on the truck and wear a firehat. Then serve a fire truck-shaped cake, give the boys faux badges to wear, and you've had a Fireman's birthday party! (Note: for younger children, the same kind of party can be done within the convenience of your own home. Do you have a friend who's a fireman, and could wear his uniform to your house? Your child would be so excited to have a real live fireman at their birthday party!)

Craft Party
The best birthday parties, especially for young ones, are the ones where they're busy. Create and arts-and-crafts birthday party by choosing a project that can be completed in an hour or so (if it takes longer than that, kids get distracted and bored). Paint cups or plates using non-toxic glass and ceramic paint (bake in the oven to set), make necklaces or friendship pins out of beads, or make outdoor crafts like birds' nests or forts. A craft project is not as competitive as playing games, and keeps children from running around with nothing to do.