I remember cynical push pops, similar in size to a toilet paper roll, but had a little plunger that pushed the ice cream up.

I had a European childhood in several different EU countries and there was no such thing as standard birthday fare, apart from cake at the end, and singing Happy Birthday.

My kids are now grown, but what I did was themed parties. We had a knights party, with "jousting" in the garden, where the kids decorated shields, and jumped in a bouncy castle, and the cake was shaped like a castle. There was a Lord of the Rings party with elven shortbread, and Barad-Dur cake tower, complete with eye of Sauron. We had a carnival party, where I rented a cotton candy machine and lots of outdoor games like giant Jenga. Oh, and a Minecraft party, where all the food was things from the game, and the drinks were all different potions. It's more fun like that.

Anonymous wrote:pop rocks
candy dots on paper
blow pops/tootsie roll pops
ring pops (more like 2000s)
decorate your own cupcakes
good humor bars (strawberry shortcake or chocolate eclair)

but honestly the PPs are right; kids these days like different stuff! that sour candy is their favorite

Also, a real 80s birthday party would be nothing but pizza, some Doritos, several 2L things of soda, and cake/ice cream. Maybe a brown lunch bag with some dum dums....

pop rocks
candy dots on paper
blow pops/tootsie roll pops
ring pops (more like 2000s)
decorate your own cupcakes
good humor bars (strawberry shortcake or chocolate eclair)

but honestly the PPs are right; kids these days like different stuff! that sour candy is their favorite

German chocolate cake.

Full sized cans of soda and I am not talking about the fancy Italian kind.

What does your 7 year old want? Not about you lady.

A round homemade white cake with white icing with a Barbie doll on top- rest of closing used to create a dress for the doll. Or just the round white cake with whatever design she wants on it.

Ice cream cups in her choice of flavor.

Ice cream cake
Creamsicles
Minute Maid lemonade from the can
Berries and Cool Whip on those little grocery store sponge cakes

I've had the ice cream cups at several of my DCs parties. Breyer brand sells them - you can usually find them on the bottom shelf. And kids love them

Anonymous wrote:Fudgie the Whale Carvel cake with the crunches. But I had one during the pandemic and it turns out that they taste like pure chemicals.

Also I think you're making a mistake. It'd be one thing to indulge YOURSELF at your baby's second birthday when they're too young to know any better. But at 7, your kid has their own visions for what their birthday party involves and it should be about them, not you. This is something for you to do at your OWN party.

+1

What do they love? it's so easy to thrill them at that age.

A grocery store cake with vanilla ice cream from one of those big buckets

Fudgie the Whale Carvel cake with the crunches. But I had one during the pandemic and it turns out that they taste like pure chemicals.

Also I think you're making a mistake. It'd be one thing to indulge YOURSELF at your baby's second birthday when they're too young to know any better. But at 7, your kid has their own visions for what their birthday party involves and it should be about them, not you. This is something for you to do at your OWN party.

My favorite was my 10th birthday party at Pizza Hut dancing to Walk Like an Egyptian with all my friends.

My 6yo is turning 7 in July and this is our first inside of home/backyard birthday party. We had an apartment rec center previously.

I want to indulge my childhood memories for this. So far I remember:

Homemade Rice Krispy Treats
Ice cream cups with the wooden sticks and I think a time or two the neopolitan square ice cream bars
Juice jugs - the mini ones Huggies
Pizza or Hot Dogs were the main course choices nearly always

What else did people often have at parties back in the 80s/90s?