Classroom Birthday Ideas

We all know how important birthdays are to kids. The countdowns start early, and they are so excited to talk about their special day! My birthday is in August, and I never got to celebrate it at school, which was a bummer. I was always lumped into the SUMMER BIRTHDAYS celebration at the end of the year. It didn’t feel special, and I didn’t get my own day to be celebrated or bring in a treat for the class. Maybe that is why I do so much to make them feel special. Here are some classroom birthday ideas to use this year!

Happy Half Birthday

I do half birthdays in my class! Here is the form I use. I just find out when their half birthday is if they have their birthday in June or July it will be in December and January. During the first week of school, I send them home for parents to fill out. I have gotten so much positive feedback from parents. I keep the forms and write on my calendar when the ½ birthdays are. Then I will send reminders out to the parents a week before. When we sing we say happy ½ birthday! They love it!!

Birthday Basket Organization

One thing I do at the beginning of the year is organize my birthday basket. Then when birthday’s pop up you are ready to go without having to get it ready the day of.

What do I get my students for their birthday?

1. Bags-I bought these bags on Amazon and they come with 100 bags. This will last me at least 4 years!
2. Happy Birthday Bracelets- These are a huge hit and they students love to put it on right away. I got these off of Scholastic with my points, so they were free! I have also gotten these Pete the Cat slap bracelets from Scholastic in the past.
3. Happy Birthday Pencils- I got these from one of our school store fundraisers. Those stores are always overpriced, but I that I will get use out of these and it came with 200! I make sure I sharpen them so they can use it all day!
4. Silly Straws- I got these straws on Amazon. I buy them every year and they are not too pricy. I know Dollar Tree also has them.
5. Birthday Certificate- I got mine from Learning in Wonderland, but this one will work too, and it’s FREE! I print these out and fill out everything but the date.
6. Happy Birthday Napkin- This is a new tradition that a coworker of mine does and I absolutely LOVED it! I got my napkins at Walmart for 1$. I give this to them and they take it with them to lunch. I think it is so thoughtful and makes them feel special.

Let’s Celebrate

On the day of their birthday, I ask them do you want us to sing to you, say Happy Birthday, or watch a Koo Koo Kangaroo Birthday song? Even to this day I get embarrassed when people sing to me. I have a good amount of kids that would rather watch a video or just have us wish them Happy Birthday. It is their day so I would like them to have it their way.

After we sing or say Happy Birthday, I take them back to the Birthday basket and they get their bag and fill it up with one thing from each section. I give them their certificate and napkin to set on their desk. If they bring treats, I let them pick theirs then they get to call up groups to get a treat! They love to play teacher and call groups up.

I hope that these ideas help you set up birthday traditions in your classroom. Having this done at the beginning of the year saves me so much time during the year.  What is your favorite classroom birthday tradition??