Easy Ways to Make Your Child’s Birthday Amazing
Birthdays are momentous occasions. For a child, the anticipation of gifts, parties, and cake causes tremendous excitement. As adults, you may need to give some consideration to what would truly make your birthday noteworthy. I’ve offered ten suggestions to have an amazing birthday, whatever your age. Plus, I have a free birthday planning page checklist for you!
Whether you’re choosing how to spend your own special day or planning a celebration for your child, you’ll find ideas to help make the day extraordinary.
Also, because I know from personal experience how helpful it is to receive input from the birthday boy or girl, I’m giving you a free birthday planning wish list. Your child can let you know exactly what would make their birthday super special, from favorite traditions and gift ideas to meal requests and what their ideal day would look like.
Let’s take a look at what I think are ten ways to celebrate a birthday well.
1. Start a Tradition
One thing that makes most people look forward to the Christmas season is the anticipation of repeating long-held family traditions. Why not create birthday traditions to revisit year after year as a way of creating nostalgic memories you’ll look back on fondly many decades from now.
The key is to make it something you don’t ordinarily do or have. By indulging in something special or taking part in an activity outside of your usual routine, you’ll set your birthday, or your child’s birthday, apart as a day of special importance.
Here are a few examples of possible birthday traditions to spark your imagination.
- specific food or drink item
- create a time capsule
- breakfast in bed
- visit a specific place every year
- start the day with an indulgent treat (exclusively on your birthday!)
- watch a slideshow of previous birthday pictures and video
- record, list, or share favorite memories from the past year
- ask family and friends to write a message of encouragement to your child to be read on the big day
- plant a flower
- celebrate in some way at the exact time of birth
- take a picture every year in the same color shirt
2. Try Something New
At the opposite end of the spectrum, maybe you’d prefer less tradition and more spontaneity! Make it a point to do something you’ve never done before on your birthday. Or try something you’ve never tried before.
If you have an adventurous nature, this might make your birthday more exciting, and you can enjoy the anticipation of counting down to the day you get to do something different from your usual activities.
Make sure to photograph or otherwise document your birthday fun so you can look back at what you did in previous years.
- go to a new restaurant
- try a new ice cream flavor
- listen to a music artist you’ve never heard
- visit a store you’ve never been to before
- drive a new route
- hike a new trail
- try a craft you’ve never done before
- learn a new word
- introduce yourself to someone new
- try a new type of cuisine
- learn how to say hello in a new language
3. Surprise!
You probably know whether or not being surprised would make your birthday amazing or not. You either love surprises or hate them—especially big ones such as a birthday party or event.
If you love being surprised, let your friends and family know. Maybe some years you’ll come home to a surprise party, some years you’ll whisk away to a weekend getaway, and some years you’ll have a surprise gift. If this would make your birthday amazing, make sure you communicate that to the people closest to you.
When it comes to planning a birthday celebration for your child, consider whether they enjoy being surprised in small ways. Most kids love a surprise gift or small activity, but some may be unsettled by a huge surprise party or surprise trip somewhere.
If you do have a child who loves surprises, this is a fun way to give them a special birthday memory.
Put surprise happy birthday notes everywhere they’ll look today—in their closet, drawer, shoe cubby, in the fridge, on the mirror.
Take them out to breakfast, lunch, or dessert as a surprise. Give them surprise tickets to a concert, sporting event, or trampoline park. Coordinate with friend’s and family to station themselves outside their homes with happy birthday signs and drive by at a specified time. Or throw a good old-fashioned surprise party!
4. Ask for What You Want
You may have very specific wishes for your birthday. Unless you tell your spouse, kids, or friends what you want to do, where you want to eat, or how you want to spend your day, they won’t know.
When planning a special birthday experience for your child, unless you’re planning on a surprise, ask them what they want.
Go beyond asking for gift ideas and what theme they want for their cake. Ask for their menu wish list, what kind of activities they would choose, or what would make an ideal day.
Grab my free download to plan an amazing birthday celebration for your kids, a friend, or even yourself!
5. Play Tourist
Use your birthday as an opportunity to play tourist in your area. Search for one-day itineraries, best places to see, or can’t miss attractions in your city.
Visit parks, museums, viewpoints, or landmarks. Walk and shop a neighborhood you’ve never been to before.
Check out onlyinyourstate.com for unique and interesting suggestions to explore your own backyard!
6. Check Off a Bucket List Item
Another way to make a birthday memorable is to check off a bucket list item each year the big day rolls around. That may mean travel to specific destinations, setting a birthday deadline for accomplishing a goal, or scheduling an adventure such as skydiving, riding a unicycle, or petting a shark.
If you want some inspiration for your own bucket list, this list of 1000 bucket list ideas from Bucket List Journey should get you started.
7. Treat Yourself
Give yourself permission to enjoy a favorite treat or activity on your birthday. Plan to indulge with a meal at a fancier restaurant than you normally frequent or purchase an item you’ve been wanting for a long time.
If you plan ahead and save for the occasion, it doesn’t have to blow the budget. Maybe a spa day is out of reach, but you can relax with a luxurious bubble bath. Think about what would make your birthday feel like a treat and enjoy the pleasure of something extra special.
8. Give Back
Make your birthday an occasion to brighten someone else’s day. Tip your server generously, give a gift card to a delivery driver, bring treats for co-workers, or make a donation to an organization making a difference on an issue you care deeply about.
This could also become a birthday tradition! Save $5-$10 per month specifically to give away on your birthday. Use it to pay for someone else’s coffee, lunch, or random grocery bill.
To go above and beyond, you could plan to serve in some volunteer capacity on your birthday.
9. Plan Your Next Year
Your birthday can be the perfect day to set goals for your next year. No need to wait for New Year’s!
Here are a few suggestions for planning if you like the idea of using your birthday to consider the year ahead.
- vacation/travel planning
- books you want to read
- home improvement projects
- personal goals: learning, hobbies
- healthy habit improvements
- monthly benchmarks toward a big goal (financial, health, personal development)
- things to try: restaurants, recipes, activities
10. Slow Down and Reflect
Finally, your birthday can be a time of introspection and reflection. Maybe instead of a productivity planning session, you’re drawn to the idea of thinking back on the past year and journaling about your favorite memories. If that’s you, grab a notebook and make a habit of making a gratitude list each year on your birthday.
Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- How did my life impact someone else’s for the better in the past year?
- Who had a big impact on you?
- What did I learn last year?
- List favorite family memories.
- How did you learn from failure or overcome adversity in the past year?
- What area of your life isn’t in alignment with who you want to be and how can you adjust?
- List out specific ways you were praised, complimented, or encouraged for your character or contributions.
- When did you feel most energized and excited in the past year?
- When did you feel most drained or unenthusiastic?
- What habits, routines, or activities do you want to continue to do?
- What habits, routines, or activities do you want to change?
Best Birthday Ever Planning List
Whether you want to plan your own perfect day, or get the inside scoop on what would make an amazing birthday for your child, grab my free birthday planning wish list download. If you prefer a colorful version, you’ll find four additional color schemes in my Etsy shop. Buy the file and get all four versions, plus the black and white option to use as many times as you wish!
Visit my homeschool resources page for monthly unit study ideas, projects, and homeschool planning help!
Join my mailing list to receive updates when new printable resources are added to the library, plus tips and encouragement for your organized homeschool journey.
You May Also Like…
Birthday Planning Page Checklist
