Face Painting
Quick cheek art — a butterfly, a rainbow, a tiny tiger — takes a minute per child, which is exactly one toddler attention span. And they get to watch themselves transform in the mirror.
Toddler party entertainment
Ages two to four are their own universe: huge feelings, tiny attention spans. The right entertainer knows exactly how to work that room — short, gentle, familiar, and never louder than the birthday kid.
Face painting from $125/hrStarting rates vary by entertainer.
- 100+ five-star Google reviews
- Vetted & insured
- Money held until after the party
- Free cancellation to 7 days
The entertainment that makes it
What actually works at toddler parties — and why parents book it.
Balloon Art
Simple shapes are the toddler sweet spot: flowers, swords and the classic balloon dog appear in under a minute, so the line keeps moving and nobody melts down waiting.
Party Characters
At this age, keep character visits gentle and story-led — a soft entrance, a familiar face, songs they already know. Little ones can be overwhelmed by a big in-character arrival.
Yombu-wide starting rates — each service page shows live local prices city by city.
Face painters parents book for toddler parties
Plan it like you’ve done this before
Field-tested advice for planning the party.
Shorter is genuinely better
A 90-minute party with 45 minutes of entertainment in the middle beats a three-hour marathon every time. Toddlers peak early — put the entertainer before the food, and the cake before the tears.
Familiar beats fancy
Two-year-olds don't want novelty, they want recognition. Songs they know, animals they can name, colors they can shout. Tell your entertainer the birthday kid's current obsessions — good ones will weave them in.
Build in a parallel-play escape route
Some toddlers will watch the show from a parent's lap, and that's fine. A few floor toys or a coloring corner off to the side gives overwhelmed guests somewhere to regroup without anyone making it a thing.
Time the sugar
Cake at the two-thirds mark, not the start. A room of toddlers on a frosting rush is a beautiful, brief window — spend it on the freeze dance, not the goodbye song.
How to book kids’ party entertainment
Tell us about your party
Share your city, date and the entertainment you have in mind, from face painting and balloon art to magic shows and party characters.
Choose your entertainer
We’ll check availability with local entertainers. Compare their profiles and prices, choose your favorite, and book securely online.
Enjoy the celebration
Your entertainer brings the fun. You enjoy the birthday moments, with your payment held until after the party.
Tell us about the party — we’ll check who’s free
One 60-second request and we’ll line up vetted face painters with real availability for your date — usually in about 2 hours.
Free to ask · no commitment · vetted & insured pros
Toddler parties — FAQs
What entertainment actually works for 2-year-olds?
Watching beats participating at two: a balloon artist making shapes appear, a gentle character singing familiar songs, quick cheek painting for the willing. By three and four they'll join simple games. Whatever you book, short and gentle wins.
Will face painting work on a toddler?
Usually, if it's quick — pros doing toddler parties switch to small cheek and hand designs that take under a minute, using child-safe, easy-wash paints. Some kids will refuse, and a good painter never pushes; a matching design on a parent's hand often changes minds.
How many kids can one entertainer handle?
For toddlers, one entertainer comfortably holds a group of about 10 to 15 — beyond that, consider two (a face painter plus a balloon artist is the classic pair, and guests flow between them naturally).
What if my toddler is scared of the entertainer?
It happens, and pros expect it. Character performers can tone down to a no-costume-reveal, story-first approach, and painters and twisters simply start with the braver guests until curiosity wins. Mention any worries when you book.
What parents say
Oli the magician was amazing! So great with the kids, so funny, and he had all the adults scratching their heads in confusion trying to figure it out.
We had Maggie for face painting she was fantastic—the kids adored her, she worked beautifully and quickly, and was such a cheerful presence at the party.
We had Natalie join our party to make balloon animals for the kids and she was AMAZING. All the kids were mesmerised.
Book face painting in your city
Ready to plan the party?
Tell us the date and the entertainment you have in mind — we’ll check real availability with vetted local entertainers and come back with confirmed options, usually within about 2 hours.
- Vetted & insured
- Money held until after the party
- Free to ask