Having a birthday that falls of Christmas can seem frustrating to a child. Instead of having cupcakes delivered to her classroom, all of her classmates are enjoying their own holiday on her birthday. Nobody will come to a birthday party that is held on Christmas Day. Many kids even go out of town for the holidays. On the positive side, having a Christmas birthday can mean double the presents when others get only one. It can also mean feeling special for sharing the celebrated birthday of Jesus. There is also the plus of always having family come to the party. There are many ways to celebrate a birthday on December 25. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Bring birthday cupcakes to school a couple of days before the holiday party--and before school lets out for the break. Your child should still get to celebrate her birthday in a way that others do. She'll enjoy this, and so with all the other students.
2. Have a birthday party either a few days before or after Christmas. The Christmas break is meant to be party time. Let her live it up by celebrating the holiday of her birth a few different times. Students will be more likely to come if you throw a party a few days before Christmas.
3. Make a cake that is separate from the Christmas desserts. It should always be in the favorite flavor of the birthday boy. Deck it out with icing that is his favorite color. Ignore the colors of Christmas when decorating a Christmas birthday cake. It will take a little extra effort to make the birthday celebration stand apart from the one being held for Christmas.
4. Remind relatives about your desire to make sure your child feel that her birthday is being celebrated apart from the Christmas festivities. Although reminding people to bring two presents may sound tacky, you can turn it into a joke by telling them of your child's unneeded fear of people putting both holidays into one present for her. This can bring laughs and can be a sometimes needed reminder of people to consider the child's dilemma.
5. Create a birthday tree. Use a faux Christmas tree as a birthday tree. You can find these at thrift stores or from friends and relatives who are discarding a much-loved, older tree. A white or colored tree works best for this endeavor as it sets a different mood from Christmas. Put up a birthday banner along the Christmas tree if the lights aren't going to be lit. Place special things that your child loves on the tree. This can make her feel very special for having that December 25 birthday.
6. Learn about famous people who share the birthday as well. Annie Lennox, Jimmy Buffett, Sissy Spacek, and Barbara Mandrell all share in the Christmas birthday. See the link in our Resources section for an extensive list of fellow birthday girls and boys.
7. Wake your child up by singing "Happy Birthday" on Christmas morning. If you have more than one child, it's important that they get to experience a regular Christmas and feel special apart from the birthday. However, try to get your little one to herself for "Happy Birthday" greetings and one present before she has a chance to check out Santa's bounty.
8. Tell your child the story of her birth every year. A child born on Christmas likely has a very memorable birth story to tell.
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