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Have him help you address the invitations for the party: he can actually address them himself if you have all the names and addresses of the children he wants to invite. Sometimes children hand them out at school if the party is during the school year instead of mailing them. He may even want to make his own invitations: if so, please encourage him to as you'll both have lots of fun with the construction paper and perhaps a set of birthday stickers when you make them.
Let your five year old help decorate. He may even be able to blow up a balloon or two. He can put napkins and party plates in their proper places. He can even help you hang balloons over the refreshment table. Tie them so they can be released after the "treats," and each child can take one home as a party souvenir.
Nothing is more fun than a "Treasure Hunt,", especially for the children who have been told read-aloud stories of pirate gold or hidden fortune at home. Prepare a long string for each child and trail it around chairs and under tables through as many rooms of the house as you want the children to enter. You can place and tie a small surprise (a lollipop or several candies wrapped in gold or silver foil) to the end of each string. You can make this a long or a short search and the kids will be thrilled when they find the prize at the end of their strings.
At five years old he will have a favorite theme and will want his napkins, table cloth, cups, and the cake decorated in that particular theme.
Let him go with you to the bakery and pick out his cake and let him decide on the flavor of ice cream. He can help choose the drinks to be served at his party: he will be so very proud of himself and enjoy his party even more if he is able to help plan.
If you want to do the Treasure Hunt I have described above you might want to also have a great pirate book and read a little to the children while they have their refreshments.
Be sure to make a pack of party favors for each child to take home from the party. You'll need to have prizes for the winners of the games.
Children love games such as "Musical Chair",
"Follow the Leader", etc. Let your five year old help pick out the games and the music to play during the party.
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