Celebrating Social Distance Birthdays

CELEBRATING

Social Distance Birthdays

BY LAUREN SEPHTON

You may be asking yourself, should I throw my family member a birthday party this year? And if so, then how? Well, we are here to help you set aside those questions of hesitancy during this strange time of socially distant gatherings, because every person deserves to be celebrated!

Backyard Winter Wonderland

While the winter breeze may bring chillier evenings, there’s nothing a small heater and warm coat can’t fix! For kids birthday parties, try making the backyard a” “themed celebration.” One idea would be a “Winter Wonderland” theme, featuring mugs of hot cocoa, roasting marshmallows by a bonfire to make peppermint s’mores, and making handmade paper snowflakes. Other kid-friendly activities include scavenger hunts, booking local food trucks, hula-hoop contests, or stories by the bonfire. For older kids and adults, try setting up a drive-in movie if you have a small projector and a white sheet. Whether in the back of your car or on the lawn, stay warm with fuzzy blankets, warm drinks, and caramel popcorn for a memorable night. While the possibilities for outdoor-themed parties can be endless, sometimes even the simple measures like sharing birthday cake around an outdoor heater as you chat can bring the brightest smiles.

Drive-By Parades

You may be familiar with a festive “drive by” concept in brightening up someone’s birthday.

Whether it’s surprising the special birthday person or planning it for yourself, ask guests to bring along some balloons, or craft handmade posterboard signs. If you are the party planner who is surprising the birthday person, ask the guests to arrive at a designated location in a specific time frame in which the parade will be held. Consider providing little goodie bags that your guests can pick up on a portable table as they drive by the “celebration station.”

While the concept is basic in itself, have fun in getting creative with the details! For example, if you are thinking about a “Little Princess” party, consider a decorated chair as a throne with a birthday tiara to help your beautiful princess feel special. Or think about asking each guest to bring a small bouquet of flowers to blossom in the most amazing, colorful surprise. For adults, you could plan to create your birthday person’s dream menu, then make a sign-up sheet so that guests can assign themselves different elements of a “potluck birthday” meal drop-off. Lastly, let’s make some noise for the birthday celebration by requesting guests to honk, wave, and sing, or play a happy birthday song as they drive by! Moreover, you can consider bringing the party to your guests with a “reverse drive-by.” Simply pack up the car with favorite birthday celebration snacks, tack on a few celebration signs, and make your way around town visiting family and friends to hear their best wishes, and maybe even exchange gifts.

Starting New Traditions

Now is the perfect time for a trial run of innovative fun twists to your typical birthday celebrations. The newfound ideas may be a debut for new birthday traditions. Remember, it can be the simplest of ideas that create memories to cherish for a lifetime! A few examples to make the day extra special are letting the birthday person plan the schedule for the day, eating birthday cake or cupcakes for breakfast, or calling the family together for a laughable time in the kitchen, as each tries pancake art. Other ideas include a family game night, virtual dance party, karaoke, takeout from their favorite restaurant, or tying balloons and posting temporary signs on the birthday person’s bedroom door for a morning surprise. A festive birthday hot chocolate before a treasure hunt for any gifts outside could also be fun.

Outdoor Adventures

If the weather permits, take the crew for a weekend getaway in the mountains camping or glamping (glamorous camping). For the outdoorsy, pack food in foil pouches to cook over a fire, pack a picnic to enjoy on a hike, complement fun stories with s’mores dipped in white chocolate and topped with sprinkles, and wrap up in the warmest blankets you can find.

Celebrating birthdays during this season of social distance practices doesn’t mean we have to throw in the towel; instead, it gives us the opportunity to be more creative in finding ways to make the birthday person feel extra loved on their special day.

Pondering a Child’s Birthday Gift?

BY LISA S.T. DOSS

Achild’s birthday party is not always such a simple affair as an afternoon of celebration and cake! Thus parents often wonder how to please a child on this meaningful day. Never fear! There are numerous unique and creative ways parents can resolve the question that pops up throughout the year.

The Card

Not all gifts require a purchase; instead, parents can encourage a present from the heart, a colorful illustration, handwritten letter, or a combination of the two. As children become familiar with the art of expressing friendship through reflection, they learn handmade gifts have a beneficial value!

TIP: Consider folding the card in a creative way, such as into a scroll, star, or airplane to ensure it’s treated with care, as well as noticed.

Likes and Dislikes

Choosing a gift is no longer the responsibility of mom! Kids should participate in the discussion and assist in the selection process. Begin by asking, “What does he or she like?” Perhaps the classmate enjoys talking about science or books, which influences the decision. Even if your child doesn’t know the classmate well, birthdays can introduce a new passion, perhaps a hands-on activity, skill, or craft.

Kudos to parents who add to the invitation preferences such as “hair accessories, dolls, and puzzles” or “costumes and science.” It’s a big help to parents who need guidance!

How much do you spend?

Leah Ingram, gifts and etiquette author, writes, “Don’t feel like you have to spend a set amount, just because that’s how much others spend (or others have spent on you in the past). A good rule of thumb is, the younger the child, the less you need to spend. A three-year-old will be just as happy with a squeaking duck as a princess costume.” Close associations matter. Most parents will spend more for a child’s closest friend, $20 to $25, than a classmate, $10 to $20. Creating a budget forces a child to make smart choices!

Pass a Book Title Forward

Parents cannot go wrong by promoting books. Consider high-interest, popular titles that your child loved or you know well. • Stink or Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald (five to eight.) • The Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osbourne (six to nine.) • Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage (nine and older.) • Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan (nine and older.) It’s okay to purchase a “like new” book or give a good friend or cousin your child’s copy. Most books are read one time. Passing along a beloved book extends the experience from one hand to another.

The Hands-on Experience

Tissue paper flying in the air leads to a chef’s hat and apron set! Donning these clothes might encourage time in the kitchen and learning about healthy foods. How about the card games “Go Fish,” “Crazy Eights” and “Uno?” The outcome is time for the family to think strategy while strengthening ties. Gifts can offer a one-time experience and promote individual or group happiness!

Other ideas:

• Foster artistic skills by giving Crayola markers or crayons, orboth, and a sketch pad! • Without buying a kit, create a sewing kit comprising a semi-thick board with shoe strings to create pictures, or an embroidery hoop, floss, and needle for the beginner. • Offer string, beads, and sequins to create the ultimate craft. • For the future cook, provide two easy recipes and a bowl, spatula, and whisk.

To Open or Not?

Towards the end of a party, the time arrives to open gifts. Young children gather tightly around, offering verbal commentary, while older children meander away from the crowd, seemingly bored. Modern birthday parties have altered the moment by focusing on a wide array of games, bonding kids together and concluding with consuming a scrumptiously moist cake! After following etiquette’s standards for decades, parents question the request of “No gifts, please!” Most children have enough and do not need more; therefore, is it acceptable to show up emptyhanded? Diane Gottsman, an etiquette expert, states, “If the host says, “No gifts, please” on an invitation, it’s good manners to comply.”