10 Fun Ways To Celebrate Kids Birthdays At Home

Even though plans may have to change – there are so many fun ways to celebrate a birthday at home. And for many of us parents with young children, it might be the most stress-free birthday party yet!

1. Connect with Family & Friends Virtually

Host a virtual party with your friends and family using tools such as Zoom or Google Hangouts. Or better yet, set up a Netflix Party viewing session or offer your child extra online gaming time.

2. Order Take-Out

Support a local business! Have your child pick their favorite foods and order delivery or curb-side. Consider having a backyard picnic (if weather permits).

No dishes. No mess (fingers crossed). What could be better?

3. Encourage Birthday Drive-bys

Put up a sign in your yard encouraging neighbors to honk as they go past or sing outside from afar. Our neighbors put out a special birthday banner anytime anyone in the house has a birthday. Seeing it always brings a smile to my face!

Organizing a birthday drive-by for someone else? Consider jazzing up your vehicle with these festive, oversized birthday magnets.

4. Try a New Recipe

I love spending quality time with my family in the kitchen! Choose a recipe to try together so everyone is on board. At our house, we have a recipe box where we handwrite and save our favorites.

Peruse our Pinterest Birthday Board for cakes, snacks and main course recipes.

5. Decorate

My two-year-old loves tossing balloons around (and they are very inexpensive!). Make your child feel special on their big day with some streamers, balloons and a birthday banner.

6. Backyard Games & Activities

Remember tag? Or green light red light? There are a handful of games that can be played with just a few people or as little as two.

Here are some of my favorites:

Horse – If you have a basketball hoop, this game is super simple! Each player takes turns shooting baskets. When someone makes a basket, every other player must make the same shot or they earn a letter in the word “Horse”. Whoever spells out Horse is out.
Red Light / Green Light – Players stand in a row. The caller stands across from them and announces green light (for go) or red light (for stop). Anyone caught moving after the caller says redlight must return to the starting line. The first player to reach the caller is the winner!
Monkey in the Middle – This classic outdoor game takes three people or more. See the rules.
Cornhole – Take the classic game of bean bag toss to another level! See the rules. Buy a cornhole set.
Kubb – This game is one of my family’s personal favorites. Take turns attempting to knock over each other’s wooden blocks using batons (underhand only!). The first team to knock over all of the blocks and the king in the center wins. Note: Requires a set of Kubb blocks and batons to play.
Jump Rope – See who can jump rope the longest or give double dutch a shot!
Water Balloon Toss – Beat the heat and play catch with water balloons. No winners or losers (unless you don’t enjoy getting wet!).
Scavenger Hunt – Consider using items or small gifts that play off your birthday party’s theme for even more fun!

7. Bonfire

Roast some s’mores and share stories as you cozy up around the fire with your family. Peanuts make a great campfire snack too!

Ever try a pudgy pie? They are FABULOUS.

8. Get Crafty

Encourage your child to exercise their imagination. As an adult, I find it quite relaxing too! Print out the free birthday coloring page below and help Gertie celebrate her birthday in style!

9. Dress Up

I don’t know about your kids, but my daughter loves to play dress up. Right now she’s really into superheros. Dig out some old Halloween costumes or do some online thrifting to find pieces that’ll bring your child’s imagination to life. When I was growing up we had a blast going through our grandparents’ classics like hats, scarfs and old pairs of glasses.

10. Board Games

Stuck indoors? Haul out the board games or invent a new game. Some of my favorites include Jenga, Sorry, The Game of Life, Twister, Phase10, and Uno.