Apr. 18, 2009 - Inexpensive Birthday Ideas
I have three children born on the same week in April. In order to make things fun but low cost, I created a scavenger hunt. It has been such a hit with the children that it is their number one request every year. I thought I might share it in case someone else might enjoy doing it with their children.
Scavenger Hunt for Young Children
1.Grab some pictures from a magazines, website like http://classroomclipart.com/, hand drawings, photos. Collect about a dozen pictures.
2. Print them out on card stock or cut them out and glue them to index cards.
3. Hide them. The first one goes on top of a present, cake or something as it is given to the birthday child to start the hunt. The first one might take them to the sandbox (a sandbox picture), the second might take them to a bird feeder (bird feeder picture), the next one might take them to their bed in their bedroom (bed picture).
4.Put a present here or there for them to find along the way (special candy, new hair brush or new toothbrusth, bath toy, etc.) You don't have to have a picture at every stop but just a few here and there. The final one might be the biggest surprise (this could be the kitchen table in which they find a special cake).
Scavenger Hunt for Older Children
1. Write out about a dozen little rhymes in which they have to read it to find the next one.: here are some samples but I sure you all can rhyme better than me (he,he).
(place this card in a place they will see when they wake up in the morning)
Roses are Red,
Violets are Blue,
I am sending you on a scavenger hunt
because I love you.
(place a rose on the table with the next card)
Roses are Red,
Violets are Blue,
I Can't Imagine Life,
Without You.
Psalm 139:14
(place next card clue in their bible)
The birds are singing,
They feed at the ____________
(clue in the bird feeder)
I love you so much,
a bunch and a bunch,
Look inside the fridge
where I keep your lunch.
(clue in the fridge)
2. Place a present here and there for them to find. End it with them finding the table where there is a special meal, cake, etc.
Decorations: streamers can easily be reused from the previous year, balloons, and a special table cloth (make one from a roll of paper from the teacher supply store or buy one from the dollar store or Target). There are special markers you can buy and reuse at Target that let you write on the windows. However, you can also use soap or somthing to write a special note on their mirror to see in the morning.
THE CROWN-The children and I make a homemade crown out of construction paper. We found one on familyfun.com. Now we create our own version after getting some confidence and idea from the website. The crown goes on the head for the day and the child gets to be King or Queen for the day (no chores, wishes met within reason...). This is the biggest hit. They get to choose the meals for the day, activiites to do with the family or just mom and dad. They might choose to go get breakfast with dad at Denny's or Ihop place. It is their big moment. I use to have the time to sew a birthday dress for the girls to make them feel speical. Now, I will buy a special princess dress from Goodwill, yard sale, or Target. We later use this same dress for tea parties, visiting the old people, etc. The boys get a special suit. I keep my eyes out at Goodwill (I have the most beautiful suits there). However, I just spotted the most beautiful tuxedo for fifteen dollars on Ebay size 7/8. Wow, that would be fun to reuse for all the tea parties after the birthday.
Birthday Gift Ideas:
1.Coupons created: day off of chores, midnight treat with mom, stay up late with mom, reading at the park day (whatever their passion is), favorite dinner night, pajama day with mom.....so many ideas you can use...
2. Whatever their favorite toy if they don't have many pieces you can get a huge collection from ebay. I have had fun getting Lincoln Logs or Thomas the Train. My children actually ask for this for Christmas rather than the standard toys from the stores because they know that the collections can be so much larger and better.
3. Gift cards for McDonalds, Culverts or something.
4. Home made toys or special projects that you can do with them. You can collect things into a basket to make together. My oldest daughter loves puzzles so we do puzzles and frame. Her birthday focus was some new puzzles. You can get used frames from Good will, just change out the picture for a puzzle. Another birthday, we bought some wood, wood glue, paint, and such for wood projects with dad. You can also put together a cookie recipe in a jar for them to make. Some kids love cooking. Find their passion and create...
* If you can video tape the special event, it is really fun to set a particular evening, like Friday night, to watch videos of the children. They love to see themselves through the years.
Comments
Apr. 19, 2009 - Untitled Comment
Posted by ApplesofGold
These are all fantastic ideas! I've done a few of them, but got some new ideas for me to use-thanks!
One of my favorites is to hang streamers from the birthday child's door so they have to walk thru it when they wake up. LOL Holly
