Simple ways to make your child’s birthday extra special

Having a child’s birthday is such a bittersweet moment for parents.

We reminisce about all the memories we’ve made together and think about how quickly our little ones are growing.

The years are fleeting. So how can we harness these special occasions and really make the big days feel extra special? 

There are a plethora of traditions we can employ to really memorialize the big day.

However, before we begin, we need to talk about the rest of the family. 

You’re here because you want to bless your birthday boy or birthday girl with a wonderful day just for them.

Before we do ANYTHING, we need to get the rest of the team on the same page. (Yes, a family is a team.)

If there are siblings, sit them down and prep them on the day.

This day is for their sibling, and they must learn how to be happy for them. Everyone gets their own day once a year!

This alone is an awesome preparation for life.

No one is always the center of attention.

Learning to be gracious when it isn’t your moment is so important to learn. 

Don’t forget to loop in the other parent, at least so they know what’s going on! 

Unique Birthday Celebrations!

When we think about our little honorary birthday child, we know that all people are different.

For instance, my toddler is terrified of balloons. Most kids would LOVE balloons on their birthday, but for him it would be terrible.

So take notice of the things your specific child loves and go big on those things.

Art? Reading? Tractors? Decide what things you are going to harness in meaningful ways to make their day special.

Let’s get into specifics.

Most kids really love balloons, so blowing up a pile of balloons in the living room the night before their birthday is a fun way to really surprise them first thing in the morning.

Putting up some simple birthday banners is another way to really mark the day as “special”.

On the morning of your child’s birthday, make sure to give them some wonderful morning attention. Sit with them, look into their eyes and remind them how important they are to you.

These simple things can make the biggest impact. 

This would be a wonderful time to bring out the baby book and tell them stories of when they were young (er).

Sharing their birth story with them might be something they relish or something they find repulsive, so use your parental discretion there! (Little girls usually love hearing their birth stories.)

A slide show with photos of the birthday child is also a wonderful way to start off the day. 

Try to take a slow moment before the birthday celebrations really start going. It can be so easy to get caught up trying to make everything perfect that we forget to take it slow enough to enjoy it together.

“Don’t be so focused on giving them a good life that you forget to give them a good day.”

The little things are actually the big things.

A special breakfast is always a great idea.

A dear friend recently told me how they do a special birthday breakfast in bed for each of their children on their birthday. She said the kids all pile into the birthday child’s bed and they snap a picture.

What a precious idea! 

One of our family’s special traditions is a birthday brunch.

This is easier for me to manage, because some of my kids are really early risers and some like to sleep in later.

Getting everyone together in the morning can be tricky, so brunch is an easy way to get the entire family together.

The birthday kid gets to sit in the place of honor at our table and the rest of the family sits around our adorned table complete with serving dishes, tablecloths, small gifts, candles, etc. 

We make a nice brunch; whether it’s french toast, breakfast sandwiches, or simply yogurt. We give the birthday presents at brunch so it’s more intimate than at a big party.

We encourage each family member to pray for the birthday person and ask God to bless their next year, and praise them for their growth the past year.

This is actually a great way to help the children embrace being on the “giving” side rather than always receiving.

Afternoon Fun!

The bulk of the afternoon can be spent doing anything the special child loves to do.

I would encourage you to let them have no chores on their birthday. The family members can serve the birthday child by doing their chores for them! 

Maybe a special coffee date with mom or dad would be a perfect afternoon activity for older kids.  

Weather permitting, they could go to a park for a little while with Dad to give Mom some needed focus time to finish up the birthday cake or snacks for the party.

The siblings could set up a scavenger hunt in the yard to get everyone some fresh air! 

Birthday parties during the day

Throwing an afternoon birthday party is a wonderful way to stay on budget without having to make a whole meal for everyone. 

PLUS if you have younger children they will be in a much better mood in the afternoon VS the evening. Especially after a fun-filled day of stimulation!

Having some snacks and a birthday cake with ice cream is going to make your child feel very special.

Inviting people who adore your child is another way to really help them feel loved. Let the grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins come shower them with birthday gifts and affection.

We don’t have to over-complicate this. Just love your people!

“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.”

Mother Teresa

Now, this is all an ideal birthday for a child’s special day.

I am not saying you need to accomplish ALL of these things.

That would be nearly impossible, and you would probably not be very pleasant after running around all day.

Simply choose the things that will bless YOUR child the most on their big day. 

Making happy memories for your children can feel like a daunting task, but don’t lose heart.

The good news is the best gifts are usually the lasting memories that they can cherish forever.