So, here are some of the ways we found helpful when planning a kid’s birthday party while traveling, or being far from home, or, in other words:

✨ How to make your child’s birthday away from home a day they’ll treasure for a lifetime ✨

1. 🎂People are awesome!🎂

Let people you meet know about your kid’s birthday. It can be anyone that you gives you good vibes: Fellow travelers, random friends, friendly staff at restaurants, etc. Just slip it naturally into the conversation that your kid is celebrating a birthday soon. It will show your child that you’re thinking about them, and it may land some valuable information if you follow it up with “do you know of any good places, or activities around here for celebrating a birthday?” (They may even get a small gift – we’ve gotten desserts, small trinkets, and even a swiss army knife 😳🤣).

2. 🎂Local traditions🎂

The next logical step is asking about local traditions to celebrate birthdays where you’re at (Mexico’s Pinata has become a sensation, maybe you’ll discover the next big bang 🪅). In Israel, for example, you seat the birthday child on a chair and everybody lifts the chair up and down in the air counting the years and adding another one for the next year (you can check out more on wikipedia “Punches, bumps, spankings, and other birthday torments”).

3. 🎂Set the scene🎂

Find an arts and crafts store and accessorize! Balloons and decorations (especially home made ones) are a must! Let the kids plan the decorations and prepare them as well. You can invite friends to help out and make it a magical play time 🫶

4. 🎂Local attractions 🎂

Search for fun activities nearby, an amusement park or a playground, animal shelters are great, circus shows, cooking class, climbing, sailing, rafting, whatever is available and suited for your family. Make it a fun day for everyone, and let the birthday child choose it from a number of options you suggest.

5. 🎂Let there be cake 🎂

There must be 🍰🎂!  If possible, it’s great fun (and mess 😁) to make the cake together, especially if they’re into cooking. But if there’s no kitchen, oven or equipment for that, try a few cakes while you eat at a place you like, and if your kid likes them, order in advance a birthday cake, usually 1-2 days notice is enough. If there’s no time for that, just ask for recommendations on relevant local social pages or WhatsApp groups for families in the area and go buy one (Vegan cakes are the best 🐮🐔).

6. 🎂Thank god for technology🎂

Technology can be a friend, we all carry with us an amazing device that can make video calls. Let your loved ones know you’re celebrating and surprise your kid with a zoom call, or individual video calls, from the absent loved ones. Make it a Virtual Party 🥳💃🎈🎉!

7. 🎂Gifts🎂

Your kid is expecting one, of course (if not dozens 😆) and it seems too obvious to mention, but, when you travel, you can’t really afford to carry much weight, or something too big. You don’t want to them to get too attached to it and then realize that you can’t take it with you (You can also send it home, if you got one 😂, or just pass it forward to someone in need). So manage the expectations, talk to them and see if your kid has any requests you can accommodate within those size and weight limits. Let them know that memories last a lifetime, material things come and go and offer those cool experiences we mentioned as the gift. 

That being said, find something to buy them 🤣 too, because tearing off that wrapping paper is also a great experience 🎁

8. 🎂The small things make all the difference🎂

Look that kid in the eye, tell them you love them, mention the progress they made this year and how proud of them you are. Make them feel special, write them a birthday card, draw something, make a list of the accomplishments they’ve made throughout the year (teeth that fell out, height they’ve grown to, skills they learned, scars, anything that let’s them know they’re special to you, you notice them, care and you’re on their side. And if they still let you, hug and kiss them until they cry out “enough” 🥰 

9. 🎂Enjoy!🎂

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in planning and timing, that we miss out on all the fun. That’s always true but even more when traveling or staying at a new environment. Make sure that whatever happens, you all remember to have fun, get someone to take family pictures or use a tripod, make it a tradition. Plans change and you can’t control all the circumstances but you can decide to make the most of whatever comes your way. 

🎂🎉🥳💃🎈✨

How do you celebrate your kid’s (or your own) birthdays?

We’d love to hear from you, and if you think anyone you know can benefit from this, please pass it forward 🙏 it will help us a lot.