Are you looking for fun and affordable birthday ideas for kids other than throwing a party? In the era of social distancing and small gatherings, finding special ways to celebrate your child’s birthday without a big party is becoming the way to go for many families.
As a parent, you know kids birthday parties have gotten completely out of control. A poll by U.K. firm Vouchercloud found the average kid’s party runs about $400 – and that’s before gifts.
I’ve been guilty myself of spending way too much money on my kids’ birthdays. I have 4 daughters, ages 1 to 10. I understand the pressure to throw a blow-out party, to invite all the kids in their class, and to spend large amounts of cash on entertainment and food.
However, throwing a birthday party shouldn’t be a major source of stress and a major drain on your bank account. You can scale back and still make your child’s birthday memorable without throwing a party.
Here is my list of free birthday ideas for kids, as well as ways to celebrate your child’s birthday on a tight budget. (We just did #14 for my daughter’s 10th birthday and she loved it)!
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Non-Party Birthday Celebration Ideas For Kids
The good news is that you don’t have to throw an elaborate birthday party for your kids to have a great day.
You can pick and choose from these non-party ideas to create a unique and wonderful birthday for your child – and create less stress for yourself.
Special Birthday Ideas For Kids Without Spending Money
Birthdays can be tough on the budget, especially if you have multiple children. You may feel pressure not to skimp-out on one child’s party if another one had a huge bash. Three of our four girls were born leading up to Christmas holidays, so it can really be difficult on the finances.
All the more reason to adapt some new and inexpensive birthday traditions that will still make your kids feel cherished and loved.
1. Birthday Countdown
If your kids are like mine, they start counting down the days until their big day weeks in advance. Why not make the countdown official by posting a calendar on the fridge? When they rise each morning, they can happily mark off a day, then count how many days are left until their birthday.
A chalkboard is another fun way to do a birthday countdown! You’ve probably seen your friends post updates on Facebook with their child proudly holding a chalkboard like this one.
Related Article: 10 Fun & Affordable Gifts For Girls (6 – 8 Years Old)
2. Baby Book & Birth Story Memory Review
Kids LOVE to hear the wonderful, and funny, stories about when they were born. My girls never tire of hearing about what time they came into the world and what their newborn-selves first did after delivery (Quinn peed on me immediately)!
I bring out their baby books and memory boxes and they look at pictures of themselves as babies. They marvel at how tiny their feet used to be and how soft their first locks of hair were.
It is a beautiful trip down memory lane that we all enjoy as a birthday tradition.
3. Make Birthday Crowns
Use what craft supplies you have around the house to make a crown or birthday hat for your child. Some coloured construction paper and tape will do the job. Then your child can spice-it-up with stickers, glitter, pompoms, ribbons, etc.
You can also find cute crowns like this one on Amazon to help make your child feel like royalty for the day. Then use it for dress-up games later.
4. Decorate The House The Night Before
Add to the birthday festivities by decorating your house. You can make it a surprise by putting up birthday decorations after your child goes to bed the night before -giving them a fun surprise to wake-up to.
Or, enlist the help of your other children to decorate for the birthday sibling. My girls will spend a good hour or two hanging streamers and balloons around the house for each sister’s birthday.
You can also make a Happy Birthday sign with the birthday girl or boy’s name and new age on it.
If you are short on time, you can get decorations and a birthday banner like this one on Amazon to hang over the fireplace or across a doorway.
5. Special Lunch Box Treat & Note
If your child’s birthday falls on a school day, light-up her face by putting a special treat and note in the lunch box. She will feel extra special knowing you took the time to add a birthday cupcake and write a warm message for her.
6. Take Treats To The Class
Your child will love celebrating his or her birthday with the entire class. You can take mini-cupcakes for all of the kids to enjoy. Just make sure to check with the classroom teacher first about any rules regarding allergies or bringing-in outside food.
Instead of food, you could put together goodie bags for the class with play-doh, mini slinkies, bubbles, stickers, and other surprises.
Related Article: 10 Cool & Inexpensive Gift Ideas For Girls (9 – 12 Years Old)
Budget-Friendly Ways To Celebrate A Child’s Birthday At Home
How To Make Birthdays Special At Home
Save money by choosing one of these special birthday ideas for kids that you can do without even leaving your home.
7. Special Breakfast
Let your birthday kid choose an extra special birthday breakfast that you can make together. Does he or she like waffles or french toast? Maybe throw-out the traditional breakfast rules and serve up cupcakes first thing in the morning!
You can make the meal extra special by serving it on a birthday plate with festive table decorations . Don’t forget to blow out the birthday candles!
8. Helium Balloons
Kids love balloons -especially the helium ones that they can run around the house with and watch float up in the air. Sometimes, for my girls, the balloons are more beloved than the gifts!
Buy a bunch of balloons at the dollar store and decorate your house to add some fun and colour on the special day!
9. Present Scavenger Hunt
Wrap several small gifts and hide them around the house and yard. Write out clues to each gifts location and then send your birthday girl or boy on a scavenger hunt!
If your kids are young, you can either read the clues to them and let them go find the gift or draw picture clues so they can pinpoint the location of their next surprise.
Scavenger hunts are an extra-fun way for your kids to open their gifts because they make the process an adventure.
10. Host a Family Dinner
Host a birthday lunch or dinner and invite your extended family to be an important part of your child’s birthday. This is a great way to make memories with family and a lovely tradition for your child.
Plan to make a favourite meal together if your child enjoys cooking. He or she will beam having the whole gang sing “Happy Birthday”.
Read: How To Save Money On A Low Income
11. Birthday Sleepover
Let your child invite a select few friends over for a birthday sleepover. Pop popcorn for the kids and allow them to stay up late to watch a movie or play board games. If the weather is nice, set-up a tent in the backyard for the gang.
Fun Places To Celebrate Your Child’s Birthday
Rather than blow your budget throwing a big birthday party at home, spend a smaller portion of your funds on an experience they will remember. Here are some great ideas on where to take kids for their birthday
12. Take a Day Trip
Hop in the car, or take the train, and head to a nearby city for the day. Let your child pick the destination – be it a trip to the big-city or to a county town.
Explore the unique sites and activities your destination has to offer – go to a children’s museum or visit a farm.
Just changing up the scenery will make your child feel special because the day is all about them.
13. Go Camping
Get the whole family out of the house and enjoying the great outdoors for a birthday camping weekend. You can rent a camping site at a provincial park or just pitch a tent in your own backyard.
You can spend your child’s birthday roasting marshmallows, telling ghost stories, and counting stars.
14. Dinner and a Movie
Treat your birthday girl or boy to a night on the town by going out to dinner at their favourite restaurant, followed by a kid-friendly movie at the theater.
For my daughter’s 10th birthday we invited a few of her BFF’s along with us. We reserved two tables at the restaurant so the girls could feel extra special sitting together, without us grown-ups, during dinner.
Read: How To Make A Family Budget – Free Budget Planning Printables
15. Spa Day
If you have a daughter having a birthday, make her feel like a little lady by bringing her along on a spa day. Book a mother-daughter pedicure or facial and sip smoothies together as your nails dry.
Just make certain to check with the spa first to see if they provide services for children under a certain age.
16. Have a Bowling Birthday
Going to the bowling alley has been a classic birthday activity since I was a kid. There is a reason for this – kids love to bowl. Make the day special for the whole family with some friendly competition followed by pizza and cake.
17. Visit an Amusement Park
With a little planning, you can save money on amusement park trips by looking online for ticket packages in advance. If your child has a birthday in the warmer months, they may love the idea of spending their special day at a zoo, an outdoor water park, or a summer festival.
If your child has a birthday in the fall or winter, you can look into visiting a fall fair or try an indoor water park or trampoline park.
Take a look at the park’s calendar online and you’ll often find dates around the holidays or school closures designated for kids to visit.
18. Take High Tea Like A Princess (or Prince)
One of the special activities my girls like to do with their Dad is to drink fruity tea and eat fancy finger sandwiches like the Queen.
Many restaurants or hotels will serve a high tea on Sundays where you can make a reservation for your child’s birthday. Even if you aren’t into drinking tea, there is something extra special about getting dressed up and sipping from china cups like royalty.
18 Ways To Celebrate Your Child’s Birthday Without A Party: Conclusion
I hope you found 18 Ways to Celebrate your Child’s Birthday Without a Party helpful when planning a special, and inexpensive, birthday celebration for your child. Please share.
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love these ideas!!! Just discovered your website and am devouring everything on it 😉
Thank you.
You’re welcome! Thank you for your comment.