5 ideas for creating birthday traditions

Birthday grab bag and snacks

 

Do you know a child you doesn’t love to celebrate his birthday? From toddlers to teens, my boys have always loved birthday celebrations. One tradition at our house is that the birthday person always wakes up to something special.

This year, I awoke early to begin my son’s birthday surprise. Sneaking into the kitchen, I blew up fourteen balloons, one for each year of his age. I signed the birthday card and included fourteen coins (another tradition). Off to my son’s bedroom I went to scatter balloons and strategically place his card.

When my older son awoke, I waited for him to tell his brother happy birthday. It didn’t happen. When he noticed the balloons on the floor he said, “Ma, why are there balloons on the floor?”

“…to surprise your brother,” I replied.

“You know his birthday is not until tomorrow, right?”

“Oh, today is not the 18th?”

I decided to leave things the way they were, especially since my lips were dry from blowing up balloons. It wasn’t a total foul up since balloons were only part of our traditional birthday celebration. As my boy have gotten older, our traditions have changed. We’ve moved from having birthday parties to letting each boy choose a place to eat for dinner.

If you are looking to change or add to your family birthday celebrations, below are five ideas.

1.      Birthday in a bag – make a grab bag full of your child’s favorite items. This year my son’s

2.      Birthday count down – do something special each day for a week leading up to your child’s birthday. Maybe your child likes music, sports or has a hobby. You could leave an item related to these things in your child’s room (a new CD, tickets to a sporting event or a toy related to her hobby).

3.      Have a special dinner – let your child choose what’s for dinner on his birthday, or better yet, let him choose dinner out at his favorite location. I have one son who loves breakfast, so it’s always IHop for him. My other son has a favorite Coney Island burger, so it’s either that or Red Robin. This year it was Red Robin. Yum!

4.      Balloons with a message – blow up a bunch (however you want to define “bunch”) of balloons and write a special message on each one. It can be as simple as “you’re terrific” or “I love you.”

5.      Have a Treasure Hunt – hide the birthday present, then write step by step clues that lead to the hidden gift.

A happy birthday ending

Do you have a birthday tradition that your child looks forward to? What would you add to the list of traditions?

 

 

Wordless Wednesday - Words of inspiration by Albert Einstein

"...Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which will grow-perhaps it all will." 

Video courtesy of YouTube - onlinemotivator

 

 

Enjoy your day.

Love in a lunch box – 7 ways to add excitement to your child’s lunch



Photo credit: www.sockitmama.com

Has our child ever complained about his lunch being boring? Jazz up his lunch by slipping in a love note. Not just a hand written note that says, “I love you” but something more fun.

Show your love in a lunch box by adding a different note to your child’s lunch box each day. I didn’t come up with this idea on my own, I had a little help from an article in Reader’s Digest. Below are 7 suggested notes to get you started:

1.      Pack a joke – it doesn’t have to be funny. In fact, make it corny and it may make your child smile even more. An example – why did the chicken cross the playground? Answer: to get to the other side.

2.      Pack a clue – if you’re planning a special outing, leave clues each day to your mystery location. If it’s a trip to the zoo, pack a few pictures of zoo animals. If you’re going to a movie, slip in a package of microwave popcorn as a clue. For my boys, a trip to the sporting goods store would make their day.

3.      Pack a creative love note – I <3 u (the middle symbol is a heart).

4.      Create a coupon for a special treat – make the coupon for something you know your child will love. For my kids, it would be a day without chores.

5.      Pack a compliment – “I’m proud of you” or “you’re the best.”

6.      Pack trivia question – older kids may enjoy being challenged with a trivia question. Make the question related to his favorite book series, video game or music.

7.      Send a lunch time text – make it short and sweet then you’re talking her language; this is sure to surprise your child. NOTE: be sure NOT to text your child while he/she is in class.

For more ideas view the Reader’s Digest site by clicking here.

Even if you happen to not pack your child’s favorite lunch, he can experience a moment of excitement with your lunch box notes. However, you don’t have to stop with notes in lunches. Here are two ideas to make your child’s lunch LOOK more exciting.

1.      Cut sandwiches into shapes – using a cookie cutter, cut shapes of a star, heart or oval. Each day a different shape could be used.

2.      Turkey Wrap – use a soft tortilla shell and roll in meat of your choice (turkey, ham). You could even make it a veggie wrap, toss in green peppers, tomatoes, lettuce. Taylor it to your child’s tastes.

3.      Pita Pocket – use a pita pocket and fill it with diced chicken and your favorite toppings.

There you have, love in a lunch box. Make a meal and sprinkle it with your style of love.

What would you add to your child’s lunch to make it special?