How parents are celebrating their kids’ birthdays in isolation
Kidspot’s parenting producer Jenna Martin reveals the creative ways that Aussie parents are making the most of their child’s special day during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Kids are having to deal with so much right now — they can’t go to the park, they can’t see their friends and their parents are likely stressed to the max.
If it’s bad enough for a regular kid, imagine if you happen to be celebrating a birthday right now.
But just because it can’t be a normal day, doesn’t mean it can’t be one to remember.
We asked Aussie parents what they did — or what they plan to do — to make their kid’s birthday magical.
STREET PARTIES AND DRIVE-BY SURPRISES
Sam, mum of Tyler, arranged a “drive-by surprise” for her son’s 9th birthday party.
“I arranged about 15 of his friends to drive up our cul-de-sac with balloons and banners and music playing and they threw presents and streamers out at him … he was extremely surprised and happy he got to see his mates. It even brought a few tears to his eyes.”
David, dad of two, said his street organised a “street party from a distance.”
“We have a WhatsApp group for our street,” he said. “One of our neighbours, Teddy, had his 7th birthday last week so the entire street corralled to put out painted birthday signs, balloons, small gifts, etc. and at midday, Teddy walked the street with his parents with everyone wishing him Happy Birthday from their front yards. It was great!”
MAKING THE MOST OF TECHNOLOGY
Plenty agree they’re relying heavily on technology this year, like Hayley, whose daughter Natalie recently celebrated her 5th birthday.
“We organised all her cousins to get on House Party and watch her blow out her candles,” she said, adding they’d have a proper celebration when this was all over.
Another Mum organised a zoom party and dropped off a party bag with a mask, nail polish and cupcakes to all the attendees. “My daughter loved it,” she said.
GOING OLD-SCHOOL
Some mums were going completely old-school with their kids in terms of games and parties.
Bek, mum of Frankie, said: “We did all the same things we would have done if he’d had a party. We had a piñata, egg and spoon races, decorations, and his bestie dropped over a ‘party in a box’ care package complete with a USB of her and her brother dancing.”
CELEBRATING ALL THEIR FAVOURITE THINGS
Unable to spoil their kids with adventures and outings, parents were going all out with their favourite treats.
“We had his favourite meal of prawns and chips for lunch,” Bek said, while mum Lisa said for her daughter Bea’s 6th birthday it would be “all about the food, including pancakes for breakfast, hamburgers for dinner and popcorn while we watch a movie.”
DIY ZOO PARTY
My own little boy turns three in a month. He was desperate for a “zoo” party because he’s obsessed with animals right now.
I’m going to try and get a whole bunch of animals printed on cardboard and hide them around the bush reserve across the street. Then he’s going to get a set of kiddie binoculars and we’ll go and visit all the animals.
Whatever you’re doing and however you’re planning to celebrate, it’s important to remember this is just one birthday in their big, long life.
It doesn’t have to be perfect — there is always next year — but that doesn’t mean this iso-birthday can’t be one they never forget, in the best possible way.
For more parenting content head to kidspot.com.au