Celebrating Birthdays During Social Distancing: 5 Tips for Making it Special

Parties may be canceled, but celebrations are not! That’s my mantra right now. With social distancing and shelter-in-place orders, it may feel impossible to enjoy the festivities. But now more than ever, it’s important to remember that there is still so much to celebrate — particularly our children’s birthdays! Here are 5 tips for making it extra special.

Explain what’s happening.

My heart broke when my daughter said, “Mommy, why don’t any of my friends want to come for my birthday?” Once we explained to her what was going on (in an age-appropriate manner) and that they wanted to come, they just couldn’t for now… she seemed totally okay about it all. Kids are way more resilient than we often give them credit for.

Decorate and dress for the occasion.

We ordered decorations from Target and stayed up the night before her birthday putting them all up. It was so fun to see the look on her face the next morning when she woke up! And you don’t have to break the bank. You can do quite a bit with just $10-20!

Though staying in your PJs can seem like the easiest thing to do, dressing up makes it feel like more of a celebratory occasion (and if you follow me on Instagram, you know I’m all about #cuteforquarantine). 

Make it their day.

Surprise them with their favorite meal, either making it at home or having it delivered from their favorite spot. Order them a cake or bake one at home.

Throughout the day, we enjoyed some of my daughter’s favorite foods and activities. We ended the day by building her a fort in our living room (complete with a mattress where she could sleep) and letting her pick the film for a family movie night. Though to us as her parents it seemed like no big deal, it was such a treat for her, and she was so excited!

Involve friends and family.

Despite social distancing, we had friends and family present to sing her happy birthday using Zoom! It’s a free virtual conferencing site, and it allowed over a dozen friends and family to all be there (via computer) as we sang and she blew out the candles. We even made an invitation (for free) and texted it to everyone the day before using Canva! (If you’ve got extra time, you can even mail their friends a balloon and some confetti to use during the call.)

You can do a birthday tour and drive-by family and friends’ homes and have them stand outside to wave and hold up birthday signs. You can also have a birthday parade, and have your loved ones drive by your home with signs while your little one watches from the front door. Two of our contributors have done this. You can check out Stacey’s son’s birthday for inspo (I dare you not to cry)!

Document it all.

Though we sometimes want to forget trying times, it’s important to document all your memories. Take plenty of pictures. They’ll enjoy looking back at how their parents made the most of a difficult situation, and still made them feel special and loved in the middle of it all! Be sure to get in the pictures too. Most phones and cameras have self-timers!

Do you have fun ideas for celebrating birthdays? Share them in the comments! For some fun activities to enjoy with your kids during their special day, click here.

Check out our Social Distancing Birthday Party Guide for creative ways to celebrate during this time.