With Christmas such a busy time of year it can be easy to tone down a December birthday. But that’s not fair on the birthday kid, and anyway, there’s still lots of things you can do that doesn’t involve a party (cos everyone’s usually partied out or busy).
Decorate the tree with birthday balloons
You can even employ the Christmas tree to help with the birthday décor. Just take down the baubles for a day and replace them with colourful balloons instead. And, instead of giving a present (because, let’s face it, if the birthday is after Christmas they’ll have lots anyway), give a birthday experience instead. That could involve going to a theme park for a day or staying overnight at a wilderness lodge etc. Here are some other ideas for making a Christmas time birthday special:
Give a gift card and have ‘special date’ night
Yes, there will be an abundance of toys around Christmas time, but kids love being in control of their own cash so why not give him or her a gift card for their favourite toy shop and then go out for an exclusive pizza date afterwards (just the birthday kid with mum and dad)?
Have a summer-style party
It may be freezing and even snowing outside but concentrate on having that Hawaii-themed party indoors. Making fruit mocktails, snacking on pineapple and strawberry kebabs dipped in chocolate and trying a bit of limbo dancing – all with Caribbean music in the background. That’s one way to make a birthday in December one to remember.
Change the date – of the party, that is…
Sometimes it’s better having an early birthday party a couple of weeks before the big day if it means friends will be able to attend. Making it in January means there’s still something bright and fun to look forward to post-Christmas while the nights are cold and long.
Just remember…
Before you go ahead and arrange anything, do ask the birthday kid first if they like your ideas. It could be that they love a Christmas time birthday, dipping marshmallows in hot chocolate and snuggling up in front of the fire playing board games.
And on that note, there’s a lot more going on over Christmas time for you to take advantage of. You could go ice skating at a temporary outdoors venue, catch a pantomime or attend a drive-in Christmas movie event.
@officialmoms: “Birthday cakes are often lost amongst the variety of cakes that are on offer over Christmas and can really ruin a kid’s birthday without one. So, make sure you have birthday cake raring to go and also avoid Christmas themes at all cost. That’s right, no kid wants a snowman, a reindeer or a Christmas tree on their birthday cake.”
The main thing is that you and the family are making a special effort and are not too busy on all the Christmas presents to decorate and make a special effort for your child’s birthday. Even if that’s just hanging up a special banner on the window or above the fireplace – it’s the ‘thinking about” her or him that’s important.
