Every kid looks forward to celebrating their birthday. It’s that once-a-year special occasion that includes throwing a fun-filled party for friends, blowing candles out on a cake and receiving a pile of presents. Naturally, kids look forward to this day that is all about him or her. However, amidst the global Covid-19 pandemic which requires social distancing, a traditional birthday party is no longer viable.
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Undoubtedly, it may be tricky to explain to your child why they might not be able to have a birthday party this year (or maybe even the next year!), as friends and family are not able to come over as freely as before.
However, you can assure your kids it is not the end of the world. While they may not be able to have a traditional birthday party, it does not mean you can’t still make it a fun and memorable celebration for them. Just think out of the box and get a little creative! Read on for some brilliant ideas.
Even though you might not be having guests at your home, you can still shower it in decorations!
Order things like balloons, streamers, fun hats or even costumes online and get the whole family involved with putting them up. If you are feeling extra crafty, you could even make your own decorations – think bunting with some cardboard and string, or even a balloon garland.
Typical forms of bunting include strings of triangular flags, for example, and can be made of fabric, plastic, paper or cardboard. You can also drape the material or pleat your decorations into fan shapes. Simply search for any step-by-step projects online or scour Pinterest for ideas.
Whether you end up using pre-bought or handmade decorations, both options will bring everyone together and brighten up the mood for the birthday boy or girl.
What is your little one’s favourite kind of cake or dessert? Be it cookies, cupcakes or muffins, try making it a home and get your kids involved – if they are old enough to help, of course.
Whether it is a tray of brownies or a red velvet cake, make it more fun by letting them decorate the baked goods using fun icing and toppings such as M&Ms, sprinkles or berries, and then top it off with candles or sparklers. You can also make other sweet or savoury party snacks – whatever inspires the creative baker in you!
When it comes to an at-home birthday celebration where you are not able to have any of your child’s friends and family over to your home, there is thankfully a solution: have everyone call in via Zoom, Houseparty or Skype – so they can be at the party, virtually. Zoom can host up to a whopping 100 people at a time, so no one misses out!
You can have everyone join in singing Happy Birthday as your child cuts the cake and also get them involved in playing any virtual games – think trivia, charades and so on.
Would your child love to have their favourite actor, musician, comedian or sports star join them for their festivities? We know it sounds kind of unrealistic, but it is actually possible!
Cameo allows celebrities to share personalised video messages with their fans. The more famous the star, the more they will cost, but prices can be as low as $50 per video.
If you need some more engaging activities for the big day, there is plenty you can do that doesn’t take a lot of effort but will have a huge impact.
Gather the family in the living room for a fun game of charades, Taboo or Cranium. Or, if you have a backyard, you can also invent games like the no-hands apple-eating challenge, or have a race to get across the line carrying an egg on a spoon held between your teeth.
Otherwise, why not build a pillow and blanket fort in the living room or even put on a classic movie night?
Even if you can’t have a typical birthday party this year, there are still plenty of activities and fun to be had if you just get a little creative!
Text: Gabriella Del Grande/bauersyndication.com.au