Going Away Party Ideas For Kids (Or Grown-Ups!)

Moving can be an exciting adventure…and a big adjustment, especially for children. Regardless of how far you’re moving, the transition may bring up difficult feelings for your kids, so it’s important to reframe their thinking and promote the positive aspects of relocating. There are many different strategies and tools for preparing your child, but one way you can help them get excited about the move is to throw them a going away party!

A party can be a great opportunity for your child to create fun and lasting memories with their friends, and it may help generate positive anticipation around the transition. We’ve rounded up a few going away party ideas to get you started, but feel free to follow our Moving Party board on Pinterest for even more inspiration.

Let your child help with the planning.

A dad pushing his daughter across the floor in a moving box

During a move, kids can feel like a lot of things are out of their control. By letting them make choices about their party’s guest list, invitations, food, activities, theme, favors and other details, you’ll give them a chance to feel in charge. Plus, all the party planning will only add to their anticipation! Here are a few ways you can involve them in the process:

Get creative with the invites. Use moving materials you probably already have around, like cardboard, bubble wrap, and packing tape, to help them craft fun and fitting invitations. Your child can decorate each one with drawings or stickers to add a personal touch.
Brainstorm a unique moving-related theme with your child. The right theme can tie your party together, provide inspiration for decorations and games, and help your child feel even more excited about the upcoming move. Below are a few popular and easy-to-execute going away party ideas with kid-approved themes:
- Bon Voyage: Use maps, airplanes, and suitcases as decorations. Serve snacks labeled like travel destinations (‘New York bagels,’ ‘California rolls,’ etc.).
- Packing Party: Turn a daunting task into a fun activity. Invite friends to help your kiddo pack up their room—and make sure to reward their efforts with pizza and treats!
- Destination-inspired: Moving to Texas? Host a rodeo-themed bash. Heading to Colorado? Plan a mini ‘camp-out’ in the backyard. If Florida’s the site of your new address, consider a beach or ‘fun in the sun’ theme!
- Memory Lane: Use photos of your child and their friends to decorate the party space. Include a slideshow or digital display of favorite moments over the years.

Look for ways to build memories.

With a few inexpensive supplies, party guests can help you create a beautiful memento for your child to display in their new room. Wedding planners have had years to come up with whimsical ideas that you can adapt for a going away party. Some of our favorites include:

Thumbprint art: Using washable inks or paints, your child’s friends can add thumbprint leaves to an illustrated tree, balloons in a bunch, or even puffs to a dandelion (to wish them well on the move!). Signatures and thoughtful messages by each thumbprint will further personalize this frame-worthy keepsake. Pro tip: be sure to keep cleaning wipes on hand!
Memory jar: Have older children write a favorite memory on river stones, decorative cards or other small items that can be attractively displayed in a jar or shadow box. Alternatively, you could have them use Jenga® blocks or puzzle pieces for a more hands-on gift. Have the puzzle custom made from a group photo for added nostalgia.
Video messages: While this isn’t a physical memento, it’s a thoughtful way for your children’s friends to show how much they care! Before the day of the party, contact the invitees’ parents and ask them to take a short video of their kid. The video can be of them sharing their favorite memory with the guest of honor, or perhaps explaining what they like best about your kiddo. You can compile the videos into a montage to be played during the party, and your little one can keep the video as a sweet reminder of their friends after the move.

Find opportunities for your child to keep in touch.

A group of kids swimming together in a pool

It’s easy for adults to keep in touch with friends via email, texts, or social media, but children don’t necessarily have that luxury. If your kids aren’t online (or even if they are) they can always make use of the good old postal service.

Create a birthday calendar. This idea does double duty as a souvenir and a way to keep in touch. Simply set out a calendar and ask guests (or their parents) to sign on their birth date. That way, as weeks and months go by, your child will be reminded of old friends and have a chance to send them birthday wishes or gifts.
We’ve moved! cards. Set out a stack of blank new address announcements and have your child’s friends (or their parents) each address their own. Later, you can collect all the addresses for your records, then send out the cards with your new address attached.
Pen pal kits. Put together a small “pen pal starter pack” for guests to take home with them (and for your child as well!). Include stationery, stamps, and a few fun stickers. This makes it easier—and more exciting—for them to write letters to each other after the move.

Take lots of photos!

Encourage any parents or older kids at the party to snap plenty of pictures and videos, then provide them with an easy way to share their shots. Social media sites can be great options for exchanging photos, as long as you’re mindful of the privacy settings. You can also create a shared album through a program such as Google Photos or Microsoft OneDrive, where everyone can upload their own images. The key is to pick one platform, ensure that it’s easy enough to use, and make sure everyone has access to it.

Here are some other ways to create picture-perfect memories at a going away party:

Pass around photo props, like chalkboard conversation bubbles, costumes or frames. The kiddos will enjoy an opportunity to get silly and creative, and the resulting photos will be fun for your child to look back on later. Take group shots, one-on-one pics of your kid and each of their friends, and candid photos as well!
Set up your own photo backdrops using fabric, wrapping paper, maps, empty frames, newspaper or posters. Designing these DIY photo booths could be another great way to involve your kids in the planning process.
Take pictures with an instant camera! The prints make great favors for your guests, or you can help your child use them to create a memorable photo collage for their new bedroom.

Don’t forget the grown-ups!

While the focus might be on helping children through the move, parents often need a sense of closure too. Consider making space at the party for the adults to connect—whether it’s a moment to chat with neighbors or share a toast to friendship and new beginnings. A farewell party is just as much about honoring what you’re leaving behind as it is about looking forward to what’s ahead.

Also, many of these going away party ideas can be applicable to or adjusted for a more mature audience. Swap out the thumbprint tree for a guestbook with messages, or replace the pen pal kits with goodie bags filled with items related to wherever you’re moving.

Moving is a huge milestone that’s often full of mixed emotions—for both the kids and the adults involved. However, with a little bit of creativity and planning, you can turn the experience into something that’s joyful and memorable for the whole family. A party is a wonderful way to celebrate friendships, create lasting memories, and build excitement for the future. We hope the going away party ideas above can help you host a sweet and enjoyable get-together for your little ones.