10 Inexpensive ways to make your child’s birthday special
Your child’s birthday doesn’t have to be an elaborate event. Sometimes the smallest gestures become the best memories. I am going to share with you 10 things i do for my children that make their birthday’s unforgettable that don’t cost the earth! 💜
These days we open up any social media app and we see parents throwing lavish birthday parties and buying gifts that cost more than your weekly grocery budget. Don’t get me wrong, i love a luxury experience here and there but i also love simplicity and joy in the little moments.
When i think back at my own childhood birthday’s, i remember the little things like the cake my mum baked, or late night trip to McDonald’s for ice cream. It is the little moments that create those happy, core memories.
Whether you are trying to stick to a budget or simply want to focus on meaningful celebrations instead of expensive gifts, these inexpensive birthday ideas will help your child’s day feel more magical.
One: Decorate their bedroom
I love the idea of children waking up in a decorated bedroom. Something about that is magical.
You may need to take a trip to your local dollar store but all you need is a few balloons and maybe some string lights to create something special.
If your child is a heavy sleeper, you may be able to sneak in and put the balloons in, but doing it the night before is also great.
Last week my daughter turned 12. I decorated her bedroom the night before her birthday and also bought some new pajama’s for her to sleep and wake up in. I think this is going to be a new traditional for all of my children!
Two: Birthday breakfast
My children love being the one to choose what is for breakfast, so on their birthday, they take this job very seriously. Sometimes we grab cupcakes from their favorite place the day before, and sometimes it’s homemade waffles with chocolate milk.
To take this even further, you could even let your child decide what you eat for every meal that day.
I even love to put candles in every meal they eat so that they can make a multiple birthday wishes that day!
Three: Create a birthday treasure hunt
Hide clues around your home leading to a small gift or birthday surprise. This is such a hit with younger children but my 10 year old also loves a good scavenger hunt!
This also helps the gift opening part of the day last a bit longer.
Four: Bake a cake together
I always bake birthday cakes the day before the actual day and my children like to help. We also like to plan out flavors and decorations a few days before and shop for those things together.
This year my daughter chose a chocolate cake with floral decor. We had so much fun picking out some blooms at the grocery store and she helped me mix the batter and put the flowers on.
The dahlia and cosmos on the cake we grew ourselves and it felt so good to know that!
Five: Make a birthday interview
This idea is so cute and something that you can do every year. Sometimes we write these in a notebook and then some years we record these on my phone.
Some questions to ask:
What is your favorite color?
Who is your best friend?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What is your favorite book?
What is your favorite food?
How old are you today?
This can be really fun especially with younger children. When we look back and watch old birthday interviews, we laugh for hours!
Six: Write them a birthday letter
As a mum, the years fly by and writing a birthday letter helps you to relive all the little moments through the last year of your child’s life.
You can write a letter with a pen and paper or, you could also create an email address for your child and send an email each year.
I have an email address for my children and when there is a moment i want to remember, i will write an email to that address and send pictures. I have the password and will give it to them when they are old enough.
Seven: Have a “yes hour”
My children will try and have an entire “yes day” but i think an hour is more exciting.
For one hour say “yes’ to the little things they ask for (within reason)
Give them your full attention in this hour.
Eight: Scrapbook the day
In my house we have a memory box, where we put everything from receipts for places we have gone, to little trinkets. This year my daughter collected receipts, food wrappers, and flyers from all of the places we went on her birthday and cut and glued them into a scrapbook. We spent the last few hours of her birthday doing this together and she said it was the best part of her day.
Nine: Start a new tradition
Over the years, we have created little traditions that are different for all of my children.
Some of these are:
A birthday bubble bath
Breakfast in bed
A family sleepover
Sparklers when the sun goes down
Cake for breakfast
Ten: Decorated home for one week
The week of any of my children’s birthday, i like to decorate the house in their theme of choice. This just helps them feel extra special for a little bit longer. I don’t know about your children, but mine are always so excited and then in flash the day comes and goes. Having a banner up, balloons around the home, and other decoration for an entire week makes the celebrations last a bit longer.
