• A cowboy party can be a great idea for a child's birthday.cowboy hat image by Mat Hayward from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>
  
  Cowboy parties have been a standby for the past few decades in the repertoire of children's parties. Not only do they work well for a variety of age groups, but they also work well for both boys and girls, who can also enjoy dressing up as cowboys. While certain aspects of the Wild West (guns, notably) aren't suitable for children, you can still throw an excellent cowboy party using a little imagination.
  
  

Decoration

• Decorating your cowboy party is of the utmost importance -- how else can you create the real feeling of the Wild West? Instead of regular crepe paper banners, try hanging rope around for that old-time lasso feeling. Bales of hay--preferably outside, for easy clean-up--can also contribute to this atmosphere. If you're feeling particularly ambitious, cacti and saddles can also add to that great Wild West atmosphere.
  
  

Costumes

• Have children come in costume. Cowboy costumes are pretty easy to put together; with a hat and some boots, you're ready to party! However, not all children may be able to put together a costume for the party; make sure that you have extra hats and plastic spurs for them.
  
  

Games

• Wild West games can be a lot of fun, if kept under control. One game that works well is horseshoes. Because actual horseshoes can be heavy and hurt children, it's better to find plastic horseshoes, or even make your own out of cardboard. Set up a ring or, for younger children, a box, and give each child three horseshoes. Have prizes for children who get one, two, or three of their horseshoes into or around the target. Lassos can also be a great party game, within reason. Set up a target -- a fake horse, even a lamppost -- and give a prize for the children who can lasso it. Squirt gun tag is also a lot of fun, but watch out; children can get rambunctious, and some parents may take issue with their children playing even with fake guns -- make sure to clear this game with them before undertaking it.