Make your child’s birthday unforgettable with some of these birthday traditions! Whether it’s your child’s first birthday or fifth, these activities are simple and easy to work into your celebrations every year. By starting a new family tradition, like creating a birthday time capsule or planning a scavenger hunt, you’ll make precious memories that will last forever. Kids love routine and look forward to exciting events! Birthday traditions not only make the birthday party planning easy, but they also get your child excited for their big day. Try one or more of these activities for your child’s next birthday and make their celebration spectacular!  

9 Birthday Traditions and Activities for Your Child  

Surprise them with a birthday balloon wake-up!

Start your child’s day with a big birthday surprise! Tape balloons across your child’s bedroom doorframe. When they wake up, they’ll open their door and see a wall of balloons to run through! You can also scatter balloons down the hallway, like a colorful runway for the birthday boy or girl.  

Create a birthday time capsule.

Remember their birthday forever by putting together a time capsule on their special day. Collect little pieces and put them in a box. You can add a photo of your child, their birthday party invitation, one of your child’s drawings, a letter written to them (to open when they turn 18), and any other sentimental pieces. A personalized book like All About Me is both a time capsule and a sweet storybook that captures your child’s favorite things and drawings! Perfect for kids ages 2-8 this unique birthday gift can be enjoyed now and when they are older.  

Measure their growth.

Mark your child’s height every year on their birthday! This is a fun activity to celebrate how much they’ve grown over one year and to make them feel special. A personalized growth chart can help you chart your child’s growth and is a sweet keepsake to roll up and save once they’ve grown older. Years from now, you can pull out the growth chart and remember every precious year!  

Give them a special gift on their birthday.

Surprise your child with a unique and personalized birthday gift! A personalized birthday book like My Superfantastic Birthday Adventure puts your child in the story to journey around the world and spread word about their birthday! This special storybook is a keepsake to cherish forever. If you are celebrating a baby’s first birthday, a book like Baby’s First Birthday in pink or blue will mark this milestone and help you remember it forever.  

Create a photo collage backdrop.

Select photos of your child to create a banner or decorative backdrop. You can craft this photo collage as a decoration for their actual birthday or use it as a backdrop for the child’s birthday party. When their birthday is over, save the collage as a memory.  

Write a birthday letter or take a birthday video each year.

Send a special message to your child! If they love receiving mail, mail them a note or leave it under their pillow on their birthday morning. You can also create a sweet message and play it for them on your phone. A fun way to get the whole family involved is to ask grandparents, aunts and uncles to record a video and send it for your child to watch!  

Give a gift, donate a gift.

Every year, ask guests to bring a birthday present for your child and one to donate. By donating, you are helping your child to build compassion and learn about the importance of giving to others.  

Plan a birthday scavenger hunt.

Hide their present as part of a birthday scavenger hunt! Leave clues and challenges around the house to complete, in order to find their gift. This an exciting tradition that you can add to every year!  

Start a family activity tradition.

Pick an activity that you enjoy every year like bowling, going to the movies, reading a storybook together, or taking a family trip. Your child will love spending time together doing some of their favorite activities!