Does your child's birthday fall during the school year? If so, birthday party planning may be a bit more tricky. Do you invite the whole class? Just their besties? If you're wondering how to handle birthdays when school is in session, here are 10 birthday party rules to follow when your child's special day falls within the school year.
Kids' birthday party: Invitation etiquette you need to know
Choose kids' birthday party places that accommodate the entire class
If you’re like me, you may remember birthday parties at friends’ houses, crowded around the kitchen table or spread out in the backyard. If you were really lucky, your parents let you have a party at McDonald’s complete with the classic Ronald McDonald cake. While McDonald’s doesn’t quite hit the same way it did in the eighties and nineties, there are some venues that will accommodate your child’s entire classroom.
8. Sit back and relax with a kids’ birthday bowling party
One caveat to having a birthday party for the whole class is trying to keep everyone occupied and entertained. Take the pressure off by hosting a birthday party at your local bowling alley, an easy and efficient way to host the entire class.
Parties are typically 2-hours long and sometimes include pizza and cake — though you may have to bring your own. Find a kid-friendly bowling alley near you through the Kids Bowl Free Summer Program database. (The birthday party bowling, of course, won’t be free, but this database is a good place to start because these bowling alleys cater to kids).
9. Send kids home calm, cool, and collected with a yoga-themed birthday party
Some yoga studios offer birthday party packages for children with yoga or movement activities, crafts, games, food, and cake. This is a great alternative to the bright, noisy environment of most kid-friendly venues.
10. Let your child celebrate with friends at school with low-key birthday treats for everyone
If you’d rather not put together a big celebration but still want your child to share their birthday with friends at school, talk to their teacher about what is acceptable to bring to the classroom. Create goodie bags filled with stickers, pencils, and erasers instead of snacks and candy. Easy activities are a good idea for younger grades.
“Bring in a favorite book for the teacher to read to the class,” blogger and mom of four Katie Kimball suggested. “For younger grades with picture books; be sure to get permission from the teacher first, although most teachers would probably rather spend 10 minutes reading than 15 minutes passing out napkins and cleaning up crumbs!”
