Covid 19 has cancelled the parties

We are in the crazy unprecedented time in which we have to cancel just about everything for the safety of the community due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Though it is safer for everyone, it does not eliminate the heartbreak that goes with it. Children across the country have had parties cancelled and as hard as it is on the child, parents are having a hard time not providing that and giving the children some happiness during this dark and scary time, at least I know I am.

Empowerment

One of the best feelings for a person in empowerment. I want to EMPOWER the parents during this hard time to still give their child a great party with fun memories they can share and have in their memory books. The feeling of control and ability to provide for the child can go a long way in parent and child emotions during this hard time.

I encourage you to still take photos of the new plan. This is a historical time and it will be asked what they did during this time. Give them happy memories to share!

Online/Video Chat parties

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This one is our own. We took his birthday invite and modified it to be an online party. With the new invite, we sent the following messages:

The safer at home order is for a month so Bryce’s birthday party is officially cancelled. We will be doing a digital party for his cake smash, if you would like to participate:

• Download the zoom app
• On party day, at party time, click on the party link sent to your text (we get a limited amount of sign ons, so please one device her house)
• When you get on, make sure to click the camera so we can see you. On phones, swipe right to see the grid of party guests.
• There will be a group photo/screen shot!

We will still decorate the house, we will still order a cake, and we will celebrate as a family with everyone joining in singing happy birthday and the cake.

Cake delivery/Window Waves/Video Chat

We had a friend who had a party planned already when the safer at home orders were placed. She has 3 children all born int he same month, so they were having a triple party-all cancelled. Since the stuff was already purchased, they set out on party day to deliver all the cupcakes door to door, wave in the windows, and pick up birthday presents.

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Their kids got to wear their cute outfits still, wave and smile, and still see everyone. They then went home and opened presents and ate our cupcakes with happy birthday on video chat.

Parade

Another local friend had to cancel her son’s 6th birthday. They arranged it (with out his knowledge) to have family and friends to coordinate at the local city hall and drive past his house with windows down, balloons, posters, and signing. He had his own private birthday party parade!

Posters and Singing

Another idea is to have people come to you (with their immediate family only, one family at a time) and have posters and singing outside the windows!

Zumbini Party

Make the most of your child’s spring birthday by hosting a Zumbini Virtual Party! Your party will be held on the Zoom app and allow friends and family to celebrate all while your child is able to do what’s most important on a birthday, HAVE FUN! The party will be 15 minutes of singing and dancing led by a certified Zumbini instructor and then can continue with the family all virtually singing Happy Birthday and watching the birthday boy or girl enjoy a special birthday treat and open gifts (optional)! Email Rachel.Youngell@gmail.com for more information (certified Zumbini instructor).

Keep it intimate at home

Tessa Karls, Wisconsin mom and author of the blog Snuggles and Snacks, writes how she made her 4 year old daughter’s birthday special regardless of the cold Wisconsin weather and the stay at home orders:

Birthday parties are my thing! I love planning, decorating, cooking and baking. Let’s just say, birthdays tend to be quite the bash around here. We’ve had everything from tea parties to pool parties and a princess party complete with a homemade box castle to play in. 

Recently we celebrated a 4th birthday in our house. She wanted a Frozen party, of course! Luckily, I shopped early and picked up a few decorations and a gift.

When the big day came, it was like no birthday party we ever had. There was no hoopla, no cooking (although it did bake a fabulous cake) and no guests. What is was though, was the best birthday celebration we’ve ever had. We celebrated our little lady. The day was all about her. What she wanted to do. What she wanted to eat. What she wanted to play. There were no tears, only smiles. It really made me stop and reflect. Maybe, just maybe this stay at home birthday has taught me a very important lesson. 

Life isn’t about all of the hoopla and big shows. It’s about the magic and love a family can create right within their own home!

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Make the best of it and take photos

No matter what you can do to celebrate the birthdays during this unprecedented times, I encourage you to take photos. No matter how different this looks than you anticipated, it is a memory you will have forever. This is historic and will go into history books. Give the birthday boy or girl a fun story to tell and evidence to show how we made the best of it during the crazy time.