As Prince Louis turns two, some top tips for celebrating a birthday in lockdown
Telling a child they won’t be able to see their friends and family on their birthday can feel like one of the more devastating parts of being a parent in lockdown.
Despite knowing you’re doing the right thing by staying home, it’s hard not to feel like you’ve let them down, especially if you’ve had to cancel elaborate birthday plans that have been months in the making.
It’s a conundrum even for royals, as Prince Louis marks his second birthday at home today. Kensington Palace shared some sweet snaps of the royal tot enjoying some rainbow painting, taken by the Duchess of Cambridge.
The good news is, there are plenty of ways to make a child’s birthday extra special, even if you’re confined at home. Here are just a few ideas…
Throw a virtual house party
Video applications like Zoom make it easy to throw a virtual party. Arrange a birthday quiz, host a big dance party, or plan for your child and a few friends to do some crafting together online. Send out your invites out well ahead of time, and make sure to set a dress-up theme.
Order or make a special cake
If you’re worried about your child missing blowing out their candles on their special day, there are lots of follow-along birthday cake tutorials on YouTube you could try if you’re not already stuck into lockdown baking.
Struggling to get hold of all the ingredients? Chances are, a local bakery can organise a socially distanced delivery for you.
Collect and print photos of friends and family
As well as birthday banners and balloons, you can add a personal touch to decorations by filling the walls with pictures of your child’s favourite people. Ask friends and family members to send in photos of themselves ahead of the big day, so you have time to print them off and string them around the living room. That way, they’ll feel like everyone is there with them in spirit.
Ask people to post birthday letters
Children love receiving post, and seeing a stack of handwritten letters ready to rip open on their birthday morning is sure to put a big smile on their face.
Friends and family could share their favourite memories with the birthday boy or girl, or perhaps even write a list of all the fun things they’ll do together when lockdown is finally over. Either way, they can be lovely keepsakes for children to revisit when they’re feeling down and missing their pals.
Take them to the zoo or a museum (virtually)
Lots of different attractions are offering online tours, so you can feel like you’ve had a day out, without leaving your living room.
You could walk the Great Wall of China, visit the baboons at San Diego Zoo or take a tour of the British Museum. Most of these virtual tours are free, or ask for a small suggested donation, so you won’t have to spend lots of money in the process.
Hire a virtual party entertainer
Plenty of entertainment companies have adapted to the lockdown rules, and depending on where you live, it may still be possible to hire a magician, clown or princess to lead the festivities in your virtual house party.
Don’t forget to order presents ahead of time
It’s important to make this birthday feel just as special as all of the others, so keep to any traditions you have as a family, like opening presents in the morning or eating their favourite kind of breakfast. Bear in mind that kids may also have a clear idea of how they want to spend their birthday indoors, so make sure to ask for their input.
Above all, parents want their children to look back on their birthdays fondly, and with a bit of planning and preparation, there’s no reason why lockdown should stop you from having a fun-packed day.
Image: PA
