Kids love to celebrate birthdays.
A birthday is their special day of the year.
I remember some of my favorite birthday celebrations like my 16th birthday when we had a big water balloon fight at the party and everyone “fell” into the pool. I did most of the decorating for that party myself (it was silly), but fun.
Memorable birthday celebrations really aren’t about how big the party is or how much money is spent, it’s about making memories. Here are 10 unforgettable ways to celebrate your child’s birthday.
I have never been a parent that had big & fancy birthday parties.
Once and a while we had a party at Chuck E. Cheese or the local bowling alley, but I always found these parties to be so expensive and usually too crowded. And because I was so busy “hosting” a party, I wasn’t able to enjoy the party or time with my “birthday” kid.
At our house, we prefer smaller family parties with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents and one or two close friends. The small gathering allows a more relaxed party and less stress.
In addition to a birthday party itself, you can also make the “birthday” a celebration. Here are 10 tips to make any birthday unforgettable.
Best Birthday Celebration Ideas
The 24 Days for Birthday
“The 24 Days of birthday” was an idea my husband came up with right after we got married. We both have a birthday on the “24th”.
Each year we would get one small gift every day from the first to the twenty-fourth of our birthday month celebrating our birthday.
If your child’s birthday was on the 13th, you would have the 13 days of birthday.
Each gift was small and inexpensive. With kids, it could be a $5 gift card to McDonald’s, a hot wheels car, a favorite treat, something that costs between $2-$5. The idea is to celebrate the birthday kid in a small way every day in the month leading up to the day of their birthday.
The 24 days of birthday has always been one of my favorite ways to celebrate a birthday.
Birthday Surprise Messages
Surprise your child with happy birthday messages all through your home.
Hide messages in their lunchbox for school, in the refrigerator when they open it, in the cabinets, in their clothes drawers, in their backpack.
You can put messages anywhere your child will see it on their birthday.
Start the Day with a Special Breakfast
My son turned 14 this week, he asked if we could have a special breakfast. Of course, we agreed and had breakfast at his favorite restaurant.
Kids love to have a special meal on their birthday and choose their favorite place to eat. Most of the time my husband and I choose were we eat, but on your birthday, you get to choose (within reason, of course).
Have a Mom & Son or Mom & Daughter Lunch
We are all so busy, sometimes it’s nice to have a special mom & son or mom & daughter lunch.
Take a time out and just sit down for lunch with your son or daughter and have lunch on their birthday.
Be sure to make it a no device lunch – so you actually talk to each not just surf the internet on your devices.
It doesn’t have to be a fancy or expensive lunch, just a simple lunch. It’s about the time you spend together.
Go to a Birthday Movie
It’s always fun to go to a movie. Make it a tradition every year to go to a new movie.
Then over the years, you can save the movie stubs and remember all the movies you have seen on your child’s birthday. Some years might be big blockbuster movies, and some years will probably be forgettable, but it’s always fun to remember your movie dates.
Take an Annual Birthday Selfie
Every year before your child blows out their candles, take a birthday selfie.
It’s a fun tradition and a great way to remember how your child is growing year by year.
You can take 2 selfies (or more). Take one selfie with smiling faces and one selfie with silly faces.
Save all your annual birthday selfies in a special file to share with each other over the years.
Let Your Child Plan the Day
On their birthday, let your child pick all the activities.
If possible, take a day off from work (or celebrate on the weekend), but let your child plan a whole day of fun things they would like to do (it’s okay to give them a budget).
They will love a special day of all their favorite things.
Birthday Coupon Book
Give your child a birthday coupon book.
You can include coupons for anything they like and enjoy.
You can make it a way to celebrate their birthday all year by giving them 12 coupons. They can use one coupon each month.
Birthday Memory Book
On the day they are born, start a memory book (or start it now and write down your memories).
Tell the story of the day your child was born.
Then each year on your child’s birthday update the story.
Write about adventures you and your child had this year, new things they learned this year, new experiences you had, places you visited, anything you want to remember from this year.
Hopefully, they will continue to update the story even after the a grown.
Give Your Child Your Time
All of these gifts point to one thing, giving your child your time.
In a busy world, filled with electronics that separate us from real people, what your child really wants and needs from you on their birthday and every day is your time.
Make it a point to spend a little time with each child every day and create some extra special time on their birthday.
Time costs us nothing but means so much to the person who receives our time and attention.
Take these ideas for an unforgettable birthday and make them your own. Try them all or try a few. Start making birthday memories that will last a lifetime.
Your turn…
What’s your favorite way to celebrate your kid’s birthdays? What is your favorite birthday memory?
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You made a great point when you explained that it is a good idea to let your child pick the activities that they are going to do on their birthday. My son will be turning ten soon, and he has been really interested in video games a lot lately. I think he would really enjoy doing a party at a virtual reality business or something similar to that.
I love your list of birthday ideas! I am always looking for new ones! With 4 kiddos and twins right in the middle, it can be difficult to really make sure they get one-on-one time…especially on their birthdays! Lol! Our favorite birthday tradition so far is sprinkle pancakes…they all LOVE them! =)
Hi Brandi, Love the idea of sprinkle pancakes. Sprinkles make everything seem like a party!
Thanks for the fun post! We always have the birthday child (or adult!) choose the dinner and cake (flavor/icing) for the bday dinner. The cake decor is a surprise, though. We’ve had some interesting dinners!