You’ve got the cake, the balloons, the loot bags…but what about the little things you can do to delight your child all day long on his or her birthday?
Kids simply can’t wait for their special day. And there’s nothing better than seeing the joy on your child’s face when you’ve made their special day that much more special.
Here are 13 fun kids’ birthday traditions that will make your child’s birthday one to remember.
1. Balloon Birthday Surprise
image: The Cottage Toys Blog
Get the party started first thing in the morning by filling your child’s bedroom with balloons after they go to sleep. Waking up to this room would put a smile on any kid’s face!
2. Birthday Breakfast
image: Pokadot Prints
A birthday breakfast can consist of whatever your child loves most, but what makes it a birthday breakfast is undoubtedly…sprinkles!
You could go all out with confetti pancakes (go, you!), but for the rest of us, Nutella “fairy bread” with sprinkles and/or birthday chocolate milk with sprinkle rim with a striped straw and maybe a dollop of whipped cream is an easier option.
3. Birthday Countdown Calendar
image: Pizzazzerie
If you’ve done an advent calendar at your house, you know how much kids love the anticipation of counting down to a special day.
There are tons of ways you could approach the countdown: a chalkboard or felt board, a matchbox coundown calendar, countdown blocks…but we love this simple DIY envelope birthday calendar idea from Courtney at Pizzazzerie, which allows your child to open an envelope containing a tiny surprise in the days or weeks leading up to their birthday.
4. Happy Birthday Honk
image: The House of Hendrix
This idea from House of Hendrix is a kid-size take on a wedding-day tradition. Kids are bound to get a kick out of strangers honking for them all day long. An especially good idea if your child’s birthday falls on an otherwise routine day like a school day or camp day.
5. Reusable Birthday Crown
image: Shannon Kelly
A reusable crown that’s dusted off only on your child’s birthday is a fun “king or queen for a day” prop. Be sure to put the photo of them in their crown in a birthday scrapbook so they can look back to see how they’ve grown each year.
Plenty of tutorials online give instructions on how to make your own, but you can order custom-made crowns on sites like Etsy, too.
6. Birthday Book
image: Twin Cities Moms Blog
Create a birthday book with memories and interview questions for kids each year, with questions like, What is your favourite book? and What do you want to be when you grown up?
Make your own if you’re crafty, or dowbload this lovely printable version from Nealy at Twin Cities Moms Blog.
7. Birthday Bash in the Bath
image: Growing a Jeweled Rose
End the day with as much celebration as it began with by planning a festive birthday bash in the bath! Take some tips from Crystal at Growing a Jeweled Rose and use food colouring and vanilla bath oil to make coloured and cake-scented bath water, hang some streamers, and play with water balloons. You could even fill some of them will small toys.
More Fun Birthday Traditions for Kids
8. Make (or go out for) a special birthday dinner.
This is the classic, and kids love it. Take their request at least a few days in advance and their favourite meal is your command—within reason, of course!
9. Write a letter to your child.
Share how much they’ve grown over the past year and what new milestones they’ve achieved. File it away in their birthday book.
10. Create a scavenger hunt for birthday gift.
Or hide several small gifts, leading up to the big one.
11. Share their birth story,
first words, and look through their baby book together. This is fun to do on “birthday eve” just before bedtime.
12. Perform acts of kindness.
Sure, your child’s birthday is all about their special day, but they may not realize how special they feel after doing something for someone else.
We were inspired by the 42 acts of service Erik of Pennies of Time completed for his 42nd birthday. Basing it on your child’s age is a great way to ease them into it—three acts for a 3-year-old, etc. The “acts” can be small ones, like the toy dinosaurs Erik and his kids left to invade the playground. Here are more small acts of kindness kids can perform.
13. Serve leftover cake for breakfast.
Feed the post-birthday blues with a special treat the next day: cake for breakfast!
What are your family’s traditions? Share with us on Twitter!
IMAGE: ADAPTED FROM J. B./FLICKR CC
READ MORE LIKE THIS:
Honour your little princess on her birthday with our A to Z guide on how to throw the perfect princess-themed party.
Planning a birthday party can be overwhelming. Download our printable ultimate birthday party checklist so you don’t forget anything!
Get inspired with easy recipes for 7 festive party drinks for kids.
Live in or near Toronto? Check out Toronto and GTA birthday parties directory with everything from loot bags and invitations to entertainers, party rentals, and venues.
Sign up for our newsletters to get parenting and family fun articles delivered to you!
