Holiday Birthdays: How to Make Your Child feel special
Published on Sep 19, 2024
Holiday Birthdays: How to Make Your Child feel special
Having a birthday that falls near or on a holiday can be tricky. It’s easy for the day to get swallowed up by the larger festivities, leaving your child’s celebration feeling less special. But with some creative thinking, you can make sure the birthday stands out, creating an event that’s memorable and unique for your child—without falling into holiday clichés.
Here’s how to avoid the typical holiday traps and craft a birthday party that’s all about your child, even when it happens during the festive season.
1. Focus on Personalising the Birthday
The best way to ensure your child’s birthday shines is to make it all about them and their unique interests. Instead of allowing the holiday to dictate the party theme, think about what your child loves most—whether it’s dinosaurs, outer space, princesses, or superheroes—and design the party around that.
Ideas:
- Choose a theme that reflects your child’s passions, completely unrelated to the holiday. For example, a space-themed birthday with rocket decorations and a DIY astronaut training course is a fun, exciting way to let the birthday star shine.
- Customise decorations to fit the chosen theme—banners with your child’s name, favourite colours, and personal touches that highlight their interests, not the season.
2. Steer Clear of Holiday Colours and Decorations
Avoiding typical holiday colours and themes is a simple but effective way to make the party stand out. If your child’s birthday falls around Christmas, for example, skip the reds, greens, and snowflakes. For Halloween, avoid the oranges and blacks that might blend the celebration with seasonal decorations.
Ideas:
- Pick a bright, vibrant colour scheme that reflects your child’s favourite shades. If your child loves blue and pink, decorate the venue with balloons, streamers, and tablecloths in those colours, ignoring the holiday palette altogether.
- Personalised banners, themed table settings, and unique party favours can shift the focus entirely to the birthday rather than the time of year.
3. Plan Unique and Non-Holiday Activities
It can be tempting to lean on holiday-related activities, especially if they’re convenient. But to make your child’s birthday feel distinct, steer away from festive games and crafts and opt for activities that reflect the birthday theme.
Ideas:
- Set up craft stations where kids can create something related to the theme. For example, at a pirate-themed party, kids can decorate treasure chests or make pirate hats instead of holiday crafts.
4. Choose a Birthday Menu That’s All About the Party
Holiday birthdays often overlap with seasonal foods—Christmas cookies, Halloween sweets, or Easter eggs. Instead, create a party menu that’s fresh, fun, and focused on the birthday celebration itself.
Ideas:
- Opt for a birthday cake that matches your child’s chosen theme. A mermaid cake or superhero cupcakes will feel more personal than a seasonal treat.
- Create a menu that avoids holiday dishes, offering kid-friendly favourites like mini pizzas, sliders, or a DIY sundae station. These options keep the focus on the birthday, not the holiday season.
5. Avoid Overlapping with Holiday Traditions
It’s important to make sure the birthday doesn’t get overshadowed by major holiday events. Try to schedule the party at a time that avoids clashing with festive traditions, so the birthday doesn’t feel like just another part of the holiday celebrations.
Ideas:
- Host the birthday party on a day that doesn’t directly coincide with the holiday, such as the weekend before or after, to ensure the focus remains on the birthday.
- Ensure that gifts are given separately to the holiday so that kids don't feel like they're getting a raw deal
Crafting a Birthday That Stands Out
While holiday birthdays can feel like they’re competing with larger celebrations, it’s entirely possible to make your child’s special day shine. By focusing on personalisation, avoiding holiday clichés, and crafting a party that’s truly about your child, you can create a celebration that’s memorable, unique, and all their own.
With a little creativity and thoughtful planning, you’ll ensure that your child’s birthday doesn’t get lost in the holiday shuffle. Instead, it will stand out as a magical day dedicated to them—and one they’ll cherish for years to come.
