6th birthday abroad - ideas

[TheBoyMayorOfPartridge]

Wasn't sure where best to post this! DD turns 6 this summer, and we've booked to be on holiday for the week over her birthday.

She is excited about the idea, but I still want to make the day special and continue some birthday type traditions whilst we're there. Just ridiculous mum guilt creeping in, which is daft because she's very lucky to be having a lovely holiday! I make a big thing of birthdays at home - pancakes for breakfast, make her cake myself, we've had a party on or close to the actual day for every birthday so far, she comes down to balloons and banners and her presents all wrapped etc. Also having a bit of a wobble as she's the most social kid ever, and at home we'd have cousins, family, friends etc around whereas it'll just be the three of us on holiday. Likely she might make a friend or two there round the pool though.

Would like to hear from anyone else that has been away for their children's birthdays and whether the DC enjoyed it? Or if you went away for yours as a child? Any ideas to make it feel a bit extra - even though I know being away is special in itself!

We'll do presents from other people either before or after - do a little tea party with grandparents maybe when we get back. But I'm trying to think of some small, easily packable gifts to take with us - just a couple of things if anyone has any ideas?

Take her birthday cards (get family to send them early) maybe a few banners and ask the hotel if there is anything special they can do.. we went away for my birthday a few years ago (not a big one) and the hotel organised a lovely cake.. I shared it around the pool there was so much 😀

Where are you going to? A lot of European towns have amazing bakeries so take her in and say she can pick any cake! If you're in a hotel, they'll probably put candles in her breakfast pancakes or her dessert at dinner time if you tell them. The first time we took DS on holiday as a baby the hotel gave him balloons to celebrate his first holiday

Is she going to have a birthday party with all her school friends before you go? If so then she’s probably old enough to understand that she’ll be celebrating her birthday before at her party then her actual birthday day will be quieter on holiday. You could ask the hotel to make a special breakfast for her, open some presents and then have a day out where she chooses.

You could do a birthday cake and get grandparents to join in a zoom meeting

I’m trying to keep it low key this year, we did whole class parties (plus family ones!) the last 2 years. We’re away the first week of the school hols which is when her birthday falls, flying out on a Sunday - I’m thinking perhaps we’ll do a little something for her close friends on the Saturday.

You’re right I think she’s definitely old enough to understand. She basically talks about her birthday and what theme her party is going to be year round, but she’s now more excited about being on holiday for her birthday and seems to have accepted it means there won’t be a big party this year.

Thank you for the ideas - I’m definitely going to take a few balloons and a banner for the hotel room and I’ll mention it to the hotel. I was going to let her pick the agenda for the day basically like a ‘yes day’ but within reason. We’re going to Spain, a really quiet resort but there’s a beach, boat trips, a few ice cream places, a mini golf, and obviously the pool and activities at the hotel so she can choose what she wants to do from that lot.

Im sure it will be lovely, it’s ridiculous the things we find to feel guilty about. I think as someone who had something of a chaotic childhood I’m overly invested in the idea of creating traditions for her, so an overthinking it!