Best Birthday Traditions For Kids
Are you searching for the best birthday traditions for kids? We take pride in helping others find the coolest birthday traditions that are right for their families.
Here you will find a selection of birthday traditions that will put the “happy” in “happy birthday!” 🙂
Think back to when you were a kid. Waking up in the morning and being so excited it’s finally YOUR birthday.
In fact, you’ve waited patiently all year for this day to come and it’s finally here! (Yay!)
Decorating Ideas for a Birthday
Decorating is so important for a birthday tradition for kids!
Imagine the surprise on your child’s face when their room is decorated with love or the living room has a Happy Birthday banner, birthday balloons, streamers, and a really cool wrapped gift waiting for him or her.
Each one of my children’s birthdays I make a point to decorate in a unique and fun way. I buy new birthday banners and sometimes create my own. This doesn’t have to be expensive either.
If you’re on a short budget… the Dollar Tree is a great place to find birthday banners. If you need a couple of places to buy them online you can find birthday banners below.
Tips & Tricks from other moms 🙂
A fun idea is to cover their bedroom door with crepe paper and balloons.” -April
“I like to create a special chair for the birthday kid and make them a birthday crown. They love it!” – Sandy
“I fill my son’s room up with balloons so when he wakes up… it’s the best birthday surprise.” – Bobby
Special Birthday Wake Up Surprise
A really cool birthday tradition is to wake them up with a cupcake or a donut that has a birthday candle in it and sing the “Happy birthday” song!
After the candle is blown out be sure to take a picture of them and their crazy morning hair. This will be a fun one to stick on Facebook! 😛
Snuggle in bed!
For example, grab their favorite book, a fun photo album, or their baby book. Talk about their life, you can tell them stories of their birth, or bring up a funny life moment of how they fell asleep while eating at Pizza Planet at Hollywood Studios on your Disney trip.
Moments like this mean a million dollars to them and it’s free. It’s just a special time set aside for them.♥
A fun birthday book to get is My Very Happy Personalized Birthday Book for Girls: I See Me! Book or My Very Happy Birthday Personalized Board Book for Boys: I See Me! Book.
Each book can be personalized with their birthday, first and last name, and more. Really cute books! It would be great for snuggle time. 🙂
Birthday Cake Traditions
A great way to make a birthday extra fun is to bake a cake together for their birthday. Let them add the icing, the sprinkles, and of course have the first bite. 🙂
My kids love to bake, each birthday it’s a tradition for us to bake their cake together.” – April
Another fun idea→Have you ever heard of My Favorite Birthday Cake Pancake & Waffle Mix?
This is made with pancake mix and confetti sprinkles.
It works really well for waffle makers too.
People rave about it and it’s perfect for that morning breakfast or a replacement if they’re not a huge fan of cake. 😉
Birthday Piñata Time
Create the Coolest Piñata with the kids (be sure to get it ready a couple of days prior so it has time to dry) but how fun would this birthday tradition be?!
What child doesn’t love smacking on a cool DIY designed Piñata that is filled with candy or other little fun toys inside? If you’re looking for ideas to put inside a piñata check out 158 Piñata fillers.
Piñatas are always fun! They’re also very easy to make. The kids could have a lot of fun making them. All you need is newspaper, glue, tissue paper in all kinds of colors (that you’d like to use), scissors and a balloon.” – Jossie
If you’re searching for a Birthday Cake Piñata tutorial check out Studio DIY!
Let your Child Pick Dinner
Another great tradition for the birthday boy or girl would be to let them pick dinner.
It gives them an opportunity to look forward to pretty much eating whatever they want for their birthday dinner and of course, it gets interesting… What about ice-cream, peaches, and French fries for size?
If that isn’t up your alley you could have them pick the place they would like to eat for dinner.
My kids usually end up choosing McDonald’s or Chuck E Cheese.
Charm Bracelet
What a sweet gift to get for your birthday. A Happy Birthday Charm bracelet. This is perfect for any girl who loves to wear jewelry and great for those school days for the girls that want to give off that extra pizzaz. 
A charm bracelet is a great birthday gift idea, with a new charm every year!” -Shanon
If you’re looking for other birthday charms or bracelet ideas go here or personalized or picture charm bracelets you will find here.
If they don’t like Cake!
Okay, so most of us love birthday cake but my son isn’t always a fan. Alternatives to birthday cake are just as good. Great ideas include…
Brownies
Caramel Apples (you can find them here)
Donuts
Ice-cream Cake 😉
Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Fruit Spread
Cookies
Banana Split
Watermelon
Strawberry Shortcake
Hide-A-Present
Having fun with the Best Birthday Traditions For Kids yet?
Another fun discovery for kids is when they get a clue or have to find their gift.
A fun birthday tradition could start off with a treasure hunt and the first clue they find underneath their pillow.
If it’s the first year or you want to add a twist to your treasure hunt…
Leave a note on the ceiling above their bed, that reads, “Happy Birthday (Name!) Let’s start the day with an adventure and look under your pillow for the first clue.”
If they’re unable to read yet maybe print a picture of a child looking underneath their pillow.
Another idea for a tween or teen would be to put money underneath their pillow. It doesn’t have to be $100 bills, this is just an example. 😉
Favorite Traditions for Kid Birthdays
Here are some more best birthday traditions for kids from other parents that love to celebrate their child’s birthday in a fun and creative way!
We are buying a growth chart and going to mark her first measurement on her first birthday and then again on her birthday every year after.” – Ella
“I’ve bought a wooden box and putting keepsakes from over the years and going to give it to him on this 18th birthday.” – Marsha
“I record my husband and I going into my child’s room to sing happy birthday. I collect the videos over the years and will give him a DVD when he’s grown.” -Tonya
“We go bowling and after we take the birthday kid for ice-cream.” – Sasha
“We love to go to Build-a-bear and do that every year on Timmy’s birthday!” – Maggie
These are such great ideas! I love the special wake up! My daughter is turning 3 this weekend and I’d love to do this for her!
Belle | One Awesome Momma
Awe. Thanks, Belle 🙂 Happy Birthday to your daughter!
We love birthdays at our house too! You’re right….the Dollar Tree has lots of great decorations. I always go there for my banners and themed party supplies. My son feels really special when we get Krispy Kreme donuts on his birthday morning.
Yes, the Dollar Tree is great for decorations! That is very sweet you get your son donuts for his birthday morning. I’m sure he loves that!!! 🙂
I like the hide a present idea! We do most of the others, but that would be a fun one to add to the list!