Lockdown birthdays

[Xansaf]

Hi all

Sorry if I’m asking something that’s been done to death, I’ve not been on for a while.

My daughter turns 4 in March and she keeps saying she’s excited about her birthday. All she wants is an old fashioned party with the games like pass the parcel and we know that isn’t going to happen.

Does anyone have any ideas how I can make her birthday even a little bit pleasant? I’m honestly dreading it and how disappointed she’s going to be with it all.

I know everyone is in the same boat, I’m not saying they aren’t - maybe any ideas will help others too.

We've decided against a zoom party for ours after how awful last years was. I'm hoping for picnic weather as I can't think what else to do these days.

Afternoon tea, party games for your household, sleepover with tent in the living room. Totally crap but got to try and make the most of it.

My daughter went to a zoom 5th birthday party but it was organised by a children’s entertainer and it was really good.

For my daughter’s 4th birthday we did a disco, lights, balloons, music, pin the tail on the donkey, party tea. She loved it all.

Hi my little boy just turned 4, it was a preschool day, I took birthday cake in & everyone sang to him & shared cake (no candles). As a surprise when he came home I had decorated through the house with loads of bunting & birthday banners. Set up the table with a party table cover, favourite toys had party hats on & so i the dog & I! I hide his presents around the house. We had a party tea, it was really lovely, he had the biggest smile. I was worried too but I think it was the best birthday hes had! Don't over think it I'm sure she will have a great day

Fill the living room with as many balloons as you possibly can and go mental! Our kids loved that. Loud party music and dancing around. Fun with even just two of you.

You could do things like pass the parcel if there's at least 3 of you but it would be pretty rubbish.

Party food lunch too, like sausage rolls, jelly, cupcakes etc and serve from a buffet sort of table (coffee table with a coloured tablecloth is our go to)

You could all wear your best clothes or your most ridiculous clothes.
Play games like pin the tail on the donkey, best dance moves, make a treasure hunt round the house and have a special party tea and watch a film.

Perhaps let her discover a gift every hour throughout the day.
Camping in the lounge together.
Get matching onesies.
A sweet shop near us is doing deliveries.
Any parks nearby with a cafe doing takeaway chips?

Thanks for the suggestions.

It is a pre-prep day so I’ll see if I can take something in but I know a kid who had his birthday in January got told that the sweets he took in had to quarantine for two weeks. Not even kidding.

I’ll try some of the other suggestions in the evening (it’s a Friday so a bit of a late night is ok) I don’t think she’d respond to a zoom Party, she doesn’t seem to like things like that and she won’t sit through a film but the other ideas are fantastic.

We were thinking about the sleepover and getting a company that does brilliant little setups with teepees to bring some stuff but I was worried it would be rubbish if it was just me and her. It’s ok if they have siblings I guess but that wasn’t an option for us unfortunately.

Hi op, it was just me & ds for his birthday too, it won't be rubbish, you can still do your own sleep over/indoor tent etc if you want to. Honestly i wish all his future birthdays are as lovely as that one.

DD has just turned 6 and really wanted a party this year, we did smaller family things on the day (helped that it snowed so she got to build a snowman) but I am quietly planning for a party later in the year as and when lockdown eases and we are allowed again.

@AbsolCatly I want to do that too but I hope people won’t think I’m being cheeky.

Will be putting 'no gifts' on the invite, did that for a Halloween party when my older 2 were small and we had a blast!