If your child has a birthday coming up soon, you’ve probably had to cancel any party or gathering you were planning. And for them, it probably feels like the end of the world. But just because we are practicing social distancing, doesn’t mean birthdays are cancelled.
There are lots of ways to make birthdays at home—with just your immediate family—special. All you need is a little creativity and maybe a good internet connection!
Party with a princess
If your child is a fan of princesses, then Party Princesses #SpreadCheerNotFear package is the perfect birthday treat. Book a 20-minute FaceTime call with your child’s favourite Princess for a moment of magic and joy. Currently, Party Princesses is offering 50% off this package, so you can bring a touch of magic to your little one’s birthday for only $24.
Host a birthday parade
Put in a few phone calls to some friends, family, and neighbours and arrange a time for them to all drive past your home in your very own parade. Get some balloons out front and a party hat for your birthday boy or girl and let the honking begin!
Make a virtual birthday wish
In an effort to help everyone who has a birthday during social distancing, My Studio Party has created a Facebook group where anyone can post a wish for their own birthday or for their child’s birthday. Birthday wishes must be virtual in nature, so you can ask for a magic show for your kid, a song performance by a musician, a Happy Birthday message from princess Elsa for your niece, etc.
Order a special cake or make one together at home
If you have a baker on your hands, why not try to tackle a really intricate cake design together for their birthday? Or you can turn to one of the Toronto bakers/bakeries that are still doing zero contact cake deliveries. We love Sammy Cakes and their awesome birthday cakes, with no-contact pickup in Toronto.
Give them free rein
So this might sound a bit terrifying, but as much as you can while still adhering to social distancing, let your birthday kid choose what the day will hold. From meals to movies to activities, give them control over the day’s events—ice cream for breakfast, why not? A Disney movie marathon sounds great! Messy science experiments and crafts, let’s do it!
Get crafty
If your kid is a DIY superstar and loves to get crafty, Peach Berserk’s at-home silk screening sessions are a great way to celebrate their special day. You simply send in your images via email (photographs, drawings, anything!) and the Peach Berserk team will put them on to silkscreens and send them back to you with 3 printing ink colours of your choice. You follow along with the easy “how to screenprint” video, and call with any questions.
Make a neighbourhood balloon display
While having balloons in your own home for your child to wake up to is a great start, why not speak to your neighbours and see if they can tie balloons to their front porch or door. Take a birthday walk through your neighbourhood and your little one will see just how many people are thinking of them on their special day.
Create a birthday blanket fort
Get out the Christmas lights, pillows, and blankets and come together to make the most amazing blanket fort you can imagine. Spend the entire day lounging in the fort—serve meals in the fort, bring a laptop in for movies, even open presents in the fort.
Host a Netflix party
Send out invites, pop some popcorn, and pick out your kid’s favourite movie. With Netflix Party, you can watch Netflix shows and movies with your friends. It synchronizes video playback and adds group chat so you can have a social distancing movie party.
Or have a virtual jewelry making birthday party!