As a parent, celebrating your first birthday is a big deal not only for you, but for you as well. Other times, the party needs to be changed from in-person to virtual.
I am one of those parents. Youngest child Avery turned 2 in the spring of 2020, shortly after the pandemic began. I wasn’t planning on having a big celebration, it would have been just a few members of my family, but they were all excited to sing ‘Happy Birthday’, open presents, and eat cupcakes from their favorite bakery. You know, all the standard imperatives. Disappointed, I let out a short cry.
But then my husband had the idea to gather the whole family together and host a virtual birthday party. And guess what — I was thrilled with it.
In the past, parties were only for local loved ones. By making it virtual, I invited not only my husband’s family in Arizona, but also my family in the Chicago area to celebrate with us. Here’s how to make your own Zoom birthday bash a breeze.
How to throw a virtual child’s birthday party
Take the role of master of the (birthday) ceremony by following these steps:
send invitation
The host (you!) sets up an online meeting with a start and end time and invites attendees using a link. This can be done using services such as Zoom or Google Hangouts.
Once everyone logs on at the appointed time — BOOM! — you are all in one “room.” You may have to explain the concept to your elderly relatives, but many are old pros now.
Select a theme (if desired)
If you’re hosting a kid’s birthday party, it might be fun to set a theme, like having them dress up as princesses or dress up in Halloween costumes. Or skip the theme entirely. It’s completely up to you.
decorate
Even if it’s just you and your family at home, don’t hesitate to hang banners, streamers, balloons, and other party decorations in the background of your video.
Even better, you don’t have to clean the house like you do with face-to-face guests. No one gets smarter just by tidying up a little nook.
Set a (loose) schedule
As a host, you need to get into this with a little planning of how you want your party to run.
When people enter the virtual room, give everyone time to chat and catch up a bit. It can feel a little awkward at first — there’s no “side” dialogue, so everyone basically has to take turns speaking — but soon everyone will feel more comfortable speaking.
Since it’s a birthday party, friends and family can take turns sharing their birthday wishes.
play a game
In-person parties often revolve around food, but virtual parties can’t revolve around pizza. Therefore, entertainment should be provided. This is arguably the biggest task. Of course, there are also piñatas and chairs.
The appropriate size depends on your child’s age, but some games require no setup or props. For example, you can organize a timed scavenger hunt for kids to look for things in their home (red crayons, paper clips, stuffed animals).
You can choose the classic “Simon Says” or choose “Opposites” where everyone has to do the opposite of what you say (like “Look left!”). Balls and candies — another option that works well for Zoom.
Consider out-of-the-box activities
“Yoga is a great virtual party idea,” says Sarah Rosenberg, who hosts virtual yoga birthday parties at Child’s Pose Studios in Vermont. “Children can connect with friends and this provides a healthy place to channel their energy and calm their minds.”
If you go in this direction, lean into the fun. You can make him an instructor by leading partygoers or teaching your child some poses. Or play games like “Freeze Dance” or “Yogi Says” to get more interactive, Rothenberg suggests.
Sing “Happy Birthday”
Go outside with a tray of candle-lit cakes, cupcakes, or brownies, sing a birthday song, and have your child blow it up just like at a traditional party.
If you have a small party, everyone can prepare cupcakes and enjoy dessert together.
decide on a present
Parents and family members may wish to send gifts to your home. How you treat your presents is up to you.
If you’re a “don’t gift” household, people are likely to comply with your request.
Also, consider your child’s comfort level. He may be shy about opening presents in front of everyone and prefers to put it off until later. No matter what you choose, celebrating with friends and family no matter how far apart is the best gift.
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