Birthday Traditions
Spring is our family’s birthday season. For the months of March, April, May, and June, I plan birthday celebrations for each of our four kids. While themes and interests evolve over time, some things remain the same.
Some traditions that we do as a family are because they make birthdays meaningful, others are simple practices I’ve adopted to make the celebrations special, but less stressful.
The Night Before
For any birthday in our house, the celebration actually begins the night before. As I tuck that child into bed, we talk about what they loved about being the age they have been. Then I take a picture of them on their last night of being that age. It’s amazing to me how much each child grows in the course of a year and I want to document it. Start the night before and help usher them into the excitement of the next day.
A Celebration of Life Slideshow
I am willing to wager that on every computer there are loads of pictures with ranging dates from decades ago to just yesterday. If you are anything like me, you have the best of intentions to “one day” get those sorted and printed into lovely books to be admired for generations to come.
However, “one day” hasn’t arrived yet for me. There are many ways to showcase pictures from the birth of your child or a loved one with creative fonts, special music, and polished transitions. However, if you don’t have time to put that together leading up to a special day, you can simply go to your computer and create a slideshow.
Technology has made it where faces can be identified and labeled. The computer will pull together all of the pictures for that person, and will play a slideshow automatically for you. Warning: have Kleenex nearby.
Instructions:
Go to your ‘Picture’ app. Search for it if you don’t know how to locate it.
Go to ‘People’.
Select a person to highlight, and add a name if you would like for future reference.
Select -> Play Slideshow (will vary locations)
3. Birthday Journal
One of my favorite traditions that I started back with my first child 14 years ago is the birthday journal. I had started a baby book, but realized there were so many other details I wanted to record, and I didn’t have the space to include it all. I also wanted something that I could easily access (not shoved away in the back of a storage closet) for the immediate memories, funny sayings, or special moments.
So, I began birthday journals for my kids. Birthday journals are no more than a journal that I use to only write what milestones or special memories happened that year for that child. I write their favorite meals, their favorite movies and songs, their sport of choice, etc., as a time capsule for them. Then I write a character trait that was developed, a verse prayed over them that year, and a celebration at how God has grown them.
My prayer is that these journals are a gift to them in their adult years and help them see purpose and grace in each stage. It blesses me as well to look back and see how God carried us through another year.
4. Pictures with One
I mentioned this HERE on Instagram not too long ago, but a tradition we do every year is take a picture with just one child. With four children, it is a constant focal point for me to assess how each child receives love and to do what I can to speak that language. In a large family like ours it can be easy for a child to feel grouped in with others, not able to enjoy as much one-on-one time with mom and dad. So, I make it a point to capture a moment with just one. In the past, I have used that picture to frame and give at Valentine’s Day or to do something special with during their birthday. If you don’t do anything else on a birthday, do this and remind them that they are special to you.
5. Home Parties
I haven’t added up how many birthday parties I’ve planned over my journey of parenting, but let’s just say with four children ranging from 13 to 6, it’s been a lot, and it’s not over yet. Birthdays seems to stress me out and I’ve tried everything from grand, expensive birthdays with popular attractions to simple (or not-so-simple) parties at a park. Each one have been fun in their own way, but lately my kids have asked for parties at home. Something low key, game centered, no frills is their preferred choice, and that’s fine by me.
While every child is different, and there are many benefits to doing a party elsewhere, the backyard is a simple and cost-effective way to host a party. It doesn’t have to be Pinterest-worthy to be a special time for your child. I think many times we put pressure on ourselves to impress the parents, that the child and their desires get lost. So, consider this my encouragement for you to save some money, invite special friends and family over, and keep it low key. Typically more joy is found in simplicity and smaller numbers.
Some backyard ideas include:
Dude Perfect Party - set up obstacles and trick shots for some winning prizes.
Painting Party - buy simple canvases and paint and show a tutorial on YouTube or find a teacher or art student to come lead.
Garden party - let the kids plant flowers to take home, help them make their own fairy garden with trinkets from the dollar store, and give them a packet of seeds as a favor.
Star Wars party - turn pool noodles into light sabers and watch the imaginations take over.
Glow in the Dark party - have it in the evening and use led balloons and all things that light up to create a unique experience.
Murder mystery party - best for older ages, but super fun and you can download and print everything off right from your computer.
Hula hoop party - all games and contests with a hula hoop.
Of course this could go on and on, but you see how much fun you can have without spending hundreds of dollars on going somewhere. Do what brings your child joy and it will always be a win!
6. Cake Alternatives
Believe it or not, only one of my children likes cake. I mean they will eat it if it’s at your birthday party, but given the choice nine times out of ten we do something different. Since their birthdays are in months when the weather is heating up, we have opted for popscicles (great for gluten-free guests), ice cream sandwiches, drumsticks, lemon bars, cookie cakes, ice cream sundaes, and even sno cones. It’s fun to vary it up and keep it fun throughout the years to think of by offering different treats. One year, we even did a baking party where each child made and decorated their own mini-cake. The dessert was the theme of the party and became the favor if there was any left over! Bonus.
7. Festive Decorations
Ahhh, yes. The decorations are the fun and somewhat tedious part of any gathering. I’m no stranger to the dollar store, $1 target aisle, and party store, but I never stray from my essential list. If I have nothing else I will always have these ready to go and in my opinion there’s not much else you need.
A birthday banner - hung over my island or on a nearby wall. I reuse the same ones each year and it never gets old. It can also travel with you easily!
A roll of wrapping paper - to be used as a runner over my island. You can use any theme or color - throw it away when finished, but it adds the perfect celebratory touch to any surface.
Festive napkins - I don’t even care about plates if I have some fun birthday napkins. I take them to restaurants or anywhere we are celebrating to turn it into a party.
A balloon - it may be just one large number balloon, multiple balloons from the dollar store, punch balloons to play with, or a few to blow up and throw around the ground. But let it be known balloons add just the right amount of fun.
8. Gift Alternatives
In the early years of my children’s lives we were living in an apartment in Manhattan and space was extremely limited. We would use birthday parties as a way to raise money or accumulate toys to be given away for special causes. We knew our little ones wouldn’t know the difference, and toys can honestly become overwhelming at a young age. Plus, we loved encouraging a philanthropic mindset in our kids.
However, over time it’s become more challenging in the middle years to do away with toys altogether. I’ve heard many creative ways over the years and to be honest, we play around with different ideas as well. Lately, though, as my children get older, they seem to have more expensive items on the list or just ask for money.
So now, as family gives money each year, we use it as a wonderful way to talk through how to manage money. Sometimes they get one item and save the remainder, but it’s been a fabulous and educational opportunity for investing. Think about various ways you can view presents and include your child in the discussion.
9. Celebrating Responsibility
Something I believe wholeheartedly in is that with each age, comes new responsibility. It’s a gift in and of itself and should be celebrated. Each year we have discussions with that child on what they are looking forward to the most in turning another year older. What has come from those discussions are conversations I cherish. It’s also a great time for parents to be intentional about having that child take on more responsibilities at home. To help you think through life skills, I’ve created THIS Life Skills Bundle as a tool to get you started. I think you will love it.
10. Have fun
Don’t forget the goal of any birthday is a celebration of life. Travel one year, keep it with just the family, go for a unique experience, or throw a big bash. Either way - use it as a time to remember God’s faithfulness to you as a parent and the gifts that He has given you in your children.
