Birthdays are always a special occasion, but especially for kids! In our house, we want to honor each child’s birthday in exciting ways. We want traditions that will make the birthday person feel cared for and loved, but we also want to point them towards Christ.
Over the years, our traditions have evolved and grown. I can’t wait to share more about our birthday celebrations, and maybe you can pick up a new tradition or two for your own family!
1. The Birthday Countdown
Let’s build up the anticipation for the big day! A simple flip chart countdown is a great way to get the whole family excited about an upcoming birthday. It simply counts down from 10 days remaining to 1 day remaining. The little girl or boy waiting on his/her birthday will excitedly flip the chart each morning while waiting for the big day to arrive.
2. Birthday Door Banner
When the big day finally arrives, hang the birthday door banner on the front door before the kids wake up! Kids love announcing their special day to the world!
Bonus: It’s great for birthday parties because it helps guests know where to find the party! Our banner was gifted to us, but be sure to check Etsy for similar options.
3. Birthday Wake Up Song
One of our silliest family traditions is to sling open your bedroom door and bust in your room to wake you up with the traditional “Happy Birthday” song! It takes absolutely zero prep for this tradition, but it’s one of the best ways to start the big day! Everybody always gets a big laugh out of the startling entry, and I think it will always be one of their favorite birthday memories.
4. Birthday Interview
During breakfast, I try to always conduct a birthday interview with the special kiddo and record their answers. It’s like a little time capsule highlighting who they are at this age. I ask about their friends, their favorite things, and their birthday plans. I even record their height, weight, and signature. Sometimes I’ll event trace their hands on the page. I know we will all treasure these Birthday Interviews in the years to come!
5. Bible Verse of the Year
One of our most meaningful birthday traditions is giving each child a Bible Verse of the Year to work on memorizing over the coming year. My husband and I try to brainstorm something meaningful for that child at that stage of development. In the early years, it’s usually Psalm 23 and Psalm 100 for everybody, but later it becomes more personalized to that child. Because they have a whole year to work on it, sometimes we choose lengthier passages for them to work on.
Wouldn’t it be cool if, in adulthood, they encounter a passage of scripture and think, “My Daddy gave me this passage to memorize when I was 12!” Eternal gifts are the best kind, and we know the word of the Lord will stand forever!
6. Mirror Messages & Signs
I wonder how many birthdays I have let pass my kids by without ever pointing out and celebrating the Creator? As we celebrate another year of their life, I want to be sure to point them to the one who made them and takes care of them each and every day. Simply printing out a few birthday signs and taping them up around the house helps me do just that. I may put one on the bathroom mirror, another on the door to the fridge, etc.
These signs contain the words to Psalm 139. I try to give the birthday child a giant hug on their birthday and recite the words of this Psalm to them while we hug. I hope they’ll always associate this verse with their birthdays and smile when they read it.
7. Birthday Notes
Prior to the big day, I print out blank note pages for all of our family members. We each take the time to write a special note to the birthday boy or birthday girl. This is one of our most special traditions because we may not always think to say important things to our siblings. It’s a beautiful way to make sure we honor the special person, and it’s a keepsake that will be even more meaningful in the years to come.
8. You Choose Dinner
Some years we may have a huge party, some years we don’t. But one thing the birthday person can count on is getting to choose our dinner for the night! My oldest son literally starts trying to decide 3 months in advance! Mama will cook whatever you want, you just have to ask! It’s a labor of love, and that’s what makes it so special.
9. No Chores for the Day
Each of my kids have daily chores. (You can read more about our chore system here.) But on your birthday, the rest of the family will pitch in to cover your chores so you can have the day off. It’s another one of our simple birthday traditions that requires zero prep, but boy, do the kids love it! It’s a creative way to serve them and show our love all while giving a fun birthday blessing. And children of all ages (even teens) like taking the day off of chores!
10. Gifts to Honor Your Day
This one may seem obvious, but let me explain. In our house, we don’t do many gifts for Christmas. We choose to have traditions that point us towards Jesus Christ at Christmas (You can read more about our Christmas Traditions here).
However, your birthday is ALL ABOUT YOU! You are a big deal to our family, so after dinner you can expect birthday cake (you choose flavors!), birthday candles, and birthday gifts! Of course the gifts vary depending on the child’s age, but they can count on special surprises to honor the big day.
Final Thoughts on Birthday Traditions
So, there you have it. Ten birthday traditions that make children’s birthdays special. And for Christian families, I hope you saw an idea or two that can point your kids towards Christ while having a great time celebrating.
If you are interested in my Birthday Bundle, you can grab it from the Done with Diligence Printables Store in the link here.
It contains the following:
- Birthday Countdown signs
- Birthday Interview form
- Blank Birthday Notes (print one for each member of the family)
- Happy Birthday signs
- Verse of the Year sign
The great thing about this bundle is that you can print it over and over again each year!
For more ideas on Christian parenting and Christ-honoring family traditions, visit my Raise Them with Diligence Page!
