Age group(s) for this birthday party activity:
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School

Birthday party planning information:
As the TV show and movies remind us, "rugrats" can be quite content with the Simple things in Life. They'll adore anything Rugrats-related (paper goods, banners, etc.), but some very basic items can also make the party fun.

Let's talk food! Cake can be just gloriously Messy chocolate cupcakes, or frosted cookies. If the kids are old enough, perhaps frosting these and adding Sprinkles can be an activity. Another option would be to let kids and parents make their own Dirt Cups, using chocolate pudding (lots of it, served from a clean, new sand pail w/shovel...), which can be made into parfaits in clear plastic cups. Add-Ons include Oreo crumbs, Cool Whip, Teddy Grahams, Gummy Bears, Gummy Worms...Phil and Lil might not think that last item is as pleasing as the Real thing, but Oh Well ;-) Spoons are optional, I suppose...straws would be fun!

Obviously, no fancy party dresses need be worn here! ;-)

Kid-Friendly main dishes can be added, if the party requires more than cake n' ice cream/dessert, try Mini Pizzas (made on English muffins), or mini hamburgers on split rolls, or hot dogs. (May need cutting into bits; provide plastic knives and/or keep track of more serious cutlery. Never leave BBQ grill unattended for a second!) Serve Pickles, too, of course...

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches rate with most kids; pickles optional. In fact, there are so many peanut butter sandwich ideas, those, too, can be a Building activity, provided kids understand the goal is to eventually Eat the sandwich and not just Build it. Set up a Peanut Butter and ____ Sandwich-Building Bar; check What Works Lunch Box page ideas for that, and more.

Fruit Trays are fine for kids with a full set o' teeth, and single-serving fruit cocktail cups are handy for tiny tots. Or set out a Beautiful fruit bowl, and let parents choose something age-appropriate. Bananas are pretty kid-friendly for all ages.

Jello-O Jigglers are always colorful and fun finger food. If you make and serve them, make Many colors and flavors.

If you want to try your hand at making "Chuckiecakes" cupcakes, frost them, then use purple decorating gel to form Glasses. Red licorice hair should fly here n' there on his crown, and he'll have 2 teeth fashioned from mini-marshmallows. Mini M&M's may work for the eyes; I'd suggest a prototype cupcake. If it doesn't work out, basic Frosting and Colorful Sprinkles 2 the Rescue, and Party On! ;-)

Check a toystore for small Rugrats "play sets" (figures) that could be cake toppers, or go with the most Reptar-looking thing you can find. Wash, rinse, and dry these before placing on the cake. Chances are these will be Played With after the party, so keep the age of the child in mind in selection.

www.dominosugar.com has a TRex cake that's pretty cool, too.

Other suggestions or comments:
Watch some Rugrats episodes with your kids, and take notes, to get activity ideas. Of course, you can pin the tail of Reptar, and you can put a new spin on Musical Chairs by substituting colorful carpet squares on the rug for chairs. The carpet squares could also be used to create Circle Time for reading stories aloud; kid classics and Rugrats Paperback books (which also make good party favors for going home).

Relay for big kids (even parents): make a "diaper" from a piece of old sheeting or a towel for each team member. It should fit loosely. Each team member has to dash across the room or yard, pick up X number of cardboard "cookies" (about 3 inches across), and race back to the starting point with the cookies carried in the front of the "diaper" (Rugrats style). First team to get all their cookies to home base wins.
Quick--where's the video cam?...

Utilize their imaginations. If they want to fly to Paris, set up some chairs to resemble airline seating, and have a "flight attendant" serve Pretzels and give the pre-flight safety lecture, and a "thank you for flying with Rugrats Airlines today!" Build Eiffel Towers out of pretzel stix and dabs of frosting. "Rides" at EuroReptarLand can range from a Sit n' Spin toy to backyard swingset. Laundry baskets and apple boxes inspire kids. And the small ones can have Real rides in a sturdy wheelbarrow; adults take turns on that; it's a Workout! ;-)

Soap bubbles are always fun outdoors, and can be semi-manageable indoors if you invest in the Non-Spill Bubble Tumblers. These, too, make a great item to give guests to take home. (Just One cool souvenir or picture, and they will remember you and your party 4-ever; you probably don't need to take out a loan to support this.)