Help... lockdown birthday panic

[StormCattitude]

Posting here for traffic. Time is getting critical!

Not had to do a lockdown birthday in our household yet. Got both my DD birthdays in the next 2 weeks. I have no ideas, it's like writers block. Online browsing is getting me no where, and I'm mindful I'm running out of time with delivery etc to factor. Neither has given me any items on a list, which is not unusual so close after Christmas, but they usually have at least a couple of items even if small. This year, nothing.

For info, last year they asked for no main gift, I got the elder a Google assistant with alarm clock, which she's loved, and the younger a fitness tracker watch which she initially loved but found charging a hassle so it's not been worn as much as time's gone on.

Help! They will be 10 & 12. Food for thought on gifts would be great but also ideas on marking their big days. It's always a challenge so close to Christmas, and with both my DD birthdays so close to each other (literally days between) but this year seems impossible. Thanks!

When I say last year they asked for no main gift, I mean they didn't specify one. Not that they asked not to have one! Badly worded.

Do you have a garden? My brother and his family recently hired an inflatable nerf gun maze for a lockdown birthday which went down brilliantly, I believe. You do need quite a lot of space for that, but there are other inflatables which would fit in smaller gardens - inflatable sumo wrestling is one I remember.

My daughter loves toiletries. Bath bombs, creams, shower gels etc she would love her own hair dryer, hair stuff, clothes. She is very girly though. Also local to me there is a company that do sleepover sets, like little teepees and treats. I would maybe book something like that. Or maybe a voucher for a big Day out when things open. Theme park or something else they are into

Salt lamps and oil diffusers are all the rage with my dd and her friends.

All 5 of us had lockdown birthdays last year and it looks like we’ll be having them this year too!

Obviously it depends on what the restrictions are in your area, but things that worked for us were:

• go big on decorations (we don’t usually, but it was lovely for the kids to wake up to. They needn’t be single use plastic tat. You could make your own or save them for other birthdays).
• get friends and family to send video messages (you can edit them easily enough on an app. Even a technophobe like me managed!).
• a special delivery on the day presented in a gift box (sweets, ice-cream, afternoon tea etc. Lots of places doing these, or make your own).
• I made up a hamper with a ‘bake your own’ theme with personalised labels and gift bags from eBay, a printed recipe and all of the ingredients for lotus biscoff fudge. They then delivered bags of fudge to their friends.
• if you are able to, drop off party bags to their friends and arrange a zoom call.
• make up indoor s’more kits. You can buy the wee cans for toasting over a flame from eBay and add skewers, marshmallows, biscuits etc
• a movie night with fairy lights, beanbags etc
• a photo booth kit (we got a cheap cardboard one with a Instagram frame and props. The girls had fun taking photos.
• went for a walk and took a flask of hot chocolate, squirty cream, marshmallows, sprinkles, chocolate buttons etc.

I'll sit down with a notepad after their bedtime & make notes! Some great ideas. I can't get out shopping at all without them as I'm a lone parent, so need to organise things behind the scenes after bedtime etc, no family help. Another difficulty in an already difficult situation! But some great pointers already.

Wow you're very lucky your birthdays have been unscathed so far! We had all 4 of ours in lockdowns last year (May and November).
Balloon deliveries,
amazing cake,
a theme - you can get most things delivered since covid, around here for example you can get paint your own pottery, cookie decorating, art packs from art teachers etc
Doorstep drop of cake, party bags etc and maybe forewarn so the friends can leave presents for the bday girls
Family dance party - disco lights from amazon
Pizza and movie night

I mean the fact of the matter is, it's not going to be as good as a regular bday. But you can still make it memorable and better than a regular lockdown day! Enjoy!

polarn I know! Our entire household has our birthdays within a 2 week spread! Then nothing for 11 months 😭

Haha oh no!! Sounds like a fun fortnight though! If only it was 6 months after xmas that might be better.

Books, something nice for their rooms, really fancy journals with lovely pens, something they can do as a hobby (depends if they're crafty I suppose, but things like nice art sets, crochet kits, etc. could be good?), snuggly blankets, bath sets, if they're into any fandoms then something for that?

It's quite tricky at that age because they're on a cusp!

My friend had a hot tub hired for a week for hers... could you do that?! Especially if they're days apart could work quite well?

DH's birthday is this Friday and have planned a scavenger hunt for his gifts, lots of balloons, helium, sofa fort and dominos. Which afaik would also work for children

Gotta work with what you've got

I haven't done one, but I have seen that you can do Escape Room type parties on Zoom.
An at home pamper session with things like nail painting, foot spa, face masks, makeover etc, followed by make your own pizza and an at home ice cream parlour.

It’s my ds’s birthday soon and I’m struggling for gifts as well. He says he doesn’t want anything 😳.
But in terms of his actual birthday-

• ordered some balloons to be delivered

-bought big banners and decorations (off Etsy for a tenner) -I’ve borrowed a projector and I’m going to order a screen and do a movie night in his bedroom. I’ve got a massive box of popcorn and I’m going make a little pick and mix stand as well -I’ve booked a teepee company to come and set up a sleep over (well, they give me the stuff and instructions). There’s loads of these companies on Facebook/the internet and would be perfect for your girls I think.

• having a nice cake made

This is more than I’d usually do but normally we’d have a whole class party/big day out etc and My DS LOVES birthdays so want it to be special.
Just need to think of presents now 🙈

My eldest is 12 and for her Christmas she got LED lights to go round the edge of her room. They have a remote and you can link them to an app to change colour in time to music. Might be an idea for someone.

There’s a company local to me that does these brilliant teepee sleepover setups! She provides teepees, snacks, balloons, lights.. all sorts! She does themes too (like rainbows, dinos, princess, pamper night etc) and honestly they look fab!
Maybe set up something similar for their birthdays as an activity for overnight and the evening?

Hair curlers, Led lights, and a mini fridge for bedrooms seem to be the gifts of choice for 12-13 year olds. Or among us merch. I bought dd (10) a Harry Potter coding wand for Christmas, wasn't remotely related to anything on her list, but she loved it

Hot tub hire to make it really special?