Since COVID-19 and the subsequent shutdowns threw us all for a loop, most parents have been just doing their best to hold everything together. Each day has become an experiment as we navigate our new routines. And for many of us, that includes attempting to maintain some sense of normalcy for our kids.
If your child is unlucky enough to have a birthday in the next few weeks, they are likely feeling a bit worried. After all, how does your family typically celebrate birthdays? Do you go out to dinner together, throw a party, send cupcakes to school? With the go-to options currently off the table, some parents are getting creative and finding out-of-the-box ways to celebrate their child’s special day.
If your child has a birthday coming up, here are a few ideas we’ve come across to make their day memorable while complying with social distancing recommendations:
Car Parade
Invite friends and family to make signs or decorate their cars, then ride by your home at a designated time to wish your child a happy birthday. What’s better to a Louisiana kid than a parade just for them?
Living Room Theater
Cut the lights, cover the windows, pop some popcorn, and turn the volume up: with major players like Disney and Universal making their latest movies available to steam from home, you don’t have to go out to get the full theater experience.
Porch Serenade
So you can’t invite all your closest friends and family to sing happy birthday around the kitchen table? That’s alright! They can still sing, but from a responsible distance. Have your child stand on the porch so friends and neighbors can sing to them from the sidewalk.
Video Messages
Grandparents, friends, random internet strangers: get everyone you know to record a special message to remind your child they are loved!
Kiddie Night Club
Have an epic dance party in the comfort of your own home! Dig out unused glow sticks from your Mardi Gras bags, dress up in ALL the sequins, put on your child’s favorite tunes, and dance the night away.
Neighborhood Chalk Cards
If you have a close-knit neighborhood, get some of the families close to your house to draw larger-than-life “happy birthday” messages and pictures in their driveways, then take a family walk to check them all out.
Call in the Big Guns
People are feeling especially generous right now, and it’s not so far out of the realm of reason to think you might have a chance to recruit your child’s favorite YouTuber or character to record a special message for them. Don’t forget cosplayers!
Make Your Own Traditions
My family always has funfetti pancakes for breakfast on the morning of our birthdays, complete with sprinkles and candles and a happy birthday song. What can your family do from home to make birthdays special?
Does anyone in your family have a birthday coming up soon? Let us know what your plans are to celebrate it!
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