Inside: 12 memorable birthday traditions for kids that will make them feel absolutely loved!
When it’s your kids birthday, you want to do everything you can to make it memorable and special!
I remember on my birthdays as a kid, I always got German pancakes in the morning, (which was my favorite breakfast!) and I got birthday presents first thing in the morning.
I loved it because I went to bed anticipating the gifts I hoped I’d get, (which for the most part were pretty awesome…except that one time I got a backpack for my birthday…not so awesome) and the special ways we would get to celebrate.
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Of course gifts don’t need to be a central part of your kid’s birthday celebration if you don’t want it to be.
There are plenty of other birthday traditions that will make your kid feel absolutely loved and special!
Related: 10 Easy Ways To Show Your Toddler You Love Them Everyday
If you’re looking for ideas to make your kid’s birthday exciting and a day they’ll love, check out these ideas (most of which I also use with my own kids!).
12 Birthday Traditions For Kids
1. Write them letters every year
I love doing this. Each year I write a letter to my kids on their birthday and when they’re old enough, I’ll read them to my kids.
You can write what you love about them, what their personalities are like, some of your favorite memories of them over the year, anything really!
Your kids will love hearing the fun things you remembered about them in these sweet letters.
It’s also a nice way for you to remember specific things because as your kids get older, it’s harder to remember little details. (My oldest is only 5 and I have a hard time remembering things from when she was younger!)
2. Wake them up singing happy birthday
Depending on your kid’s temperament in the morning, you can jump on them and sing happy birthday really loud or you can cuddle with them and sing happy birthday softly to them.
Bonus points if you sing them happy birthday when they’re going to sleep 🙂
3. Make them their favorite meals
Let your kid choose the meals they have for the day! They’re guaranteed to feel treasured when they get their favorite meals!
You’ll probably have to ask your kid ahead of time so you have everything you need for their birthday meals.
4. Have birthday cake before one of your meals
My kids love this! We never have dessert before dinner but on their birthday, I’ll usually make an exception and let them have cake before lunch or cake before dinner.
Again, because it’s out of the ordinary it’s a privilege that’ll excite your birthday child and all your other cake lovin’ kids too, (since they’ll get to partake also!).
5. Have a ‘yes’ day
Whenever your kid asks you to do something, say yes as often as you can.
Obviously if they want to eat cake all day long or for you to take them to 7 different parks, that’s not gonna happen!
But the point is that you say yes to everything that’s feasible.
You’ll be amazed at what it does for everyone’s mood and guarantees your child will feel cherished!
6. Let them stay up late
It doesn’t have to be late like midnight late, (unless your kids are older or your family rolls like that) but even just an extra 15-30 minutes will make your kid feel like they’re getting to do something they normally can’t.
7. Let them pick an activity and do it with them
You can let your birthday babe pick an activity outside the house to do.
If you can swing it, let it be an activity that just you and your birthday child do together. You can do things like go to the park, get a mani and pedi, go out to lunch, grab ice-cream, go to your kids favorite kid place, or whatever else your kid wants to do.
8. Let them pick a movie and watch it with them
Lots of times we put on t.v. shows or movies to keep our kids occupied while we get chores or work done uninterrupted.
But, for their birthday, let your kid pick a movie on Netflix and sit down and watch it with them.
It’ll make them feel warm and fuzzy and it’s an awesome way to spend bonding time with your child.
9. Have a birthday questionnaire and ask them the same questions every year
You can reflect on previous answers they’ve given when they’re old enough.
10. Decorate their bedroom door
You can hang up signs that you made, hang crepe paper in vertical lines from the top of the doorway to the bottom, (so it’ll look similar to the beaded doorways people had back in college), cover their door in balloons, etc.
11. Play hooky from school
If your down to let your kid skip school for the day, let them stay home on their birthday!
This is a great opportunity for one-on-one time with them if you have other kids. You can fill the day with special activities for just you two.
12. Send them an awesome birthday note in their lunch box with a yummy treat
If your kid skipping school is not up your alley, you can always send them to school with a cute birthday note in their lunch and supply a delicious treat.
Final Thoughts
Life can be really mundane a lot of the time! Your family has the same routines and same schedules that you follow.
I’m a firm believer in making birthdays special because it’s something your kids can look back on and have really positive memories of.
So break up the everyday monotony with these birthday traditions for kids that’ll make them feel absolutely adored!
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I love these traditions! I’m all about traditions and have been looking for special things to do with my kids. This is perfect!