Ready to spoil your child for his birthday? We love making our kids feel special on their big day, and our readers have helped come up with dozens of completely FREE ways to show your birthday boy how much he means to us, from a special surprise breakfast to "Yes Day."
Completely FREE birthday entertainment for a child in Moscow
1. Birthday.
Does your baby get up early? Start the day by saluting the sunrise, preferably from an unusual perch or shore. Or watch the sunset the night before the big day and wave goodbye to whoever turns 4 (or 5 or 6...). Dream out loud about the good things that can happen in the coming year and the benefits of being a year older.
Waking up to your favorite breakfast, your birthday starts right!
2. Breakfast on your birthday.
Prepare a special birthday breakfast with candles and a Happy Birthday round. Cereal ice cream? Why not? If possible, get up early and cook your child's favorite breakfast or take the time to cook it together.
3. Boss of the day
Let the birthday boy do his best. Call it a "yes" day or "boss for the day." Let them choose dinner or afternoon activities within reason and make up the rules. Maybe make them break a couple of rules too, or stay up late.
4. Celebration of the moment of birth!
Mark the exact minute of your baby's birth as if it were midnight on New Year's Eve. Blow up pots and pans, throw confetti and blow horns.
5. Wear suits... All day.
Let your child's imagination guide you and wear outfits that reflect serious holiday style. Feather boas, top hats - there is no limit.
6. Take a walk
In good weathertake a walk in your favorite park (yes, in costume!) and visit the amazing playground. Let the birthday boy choose the destination.
7. Free events
Check the calendar of events on the day your child celebrates DD, there may be some interesting event going on and you can visit it.
Put a love note in their lunch box. Photo Mommy Poppins.
8. Pass the note
Put a surprise birthday note or card in your child's lunch bag, backpack, or pocket saying how much you love them.
9. Birthday letter
Write a birthday letter to your child every year. Complete the year; Tell us how you've seen them grow and change and why they're so special. If your child is not yet old enough to appreciate the letters, save them. Read them together every year.
Put on your mask and go to the museum.
Photo by Orianna Riley
10. Free tour
Your library card can give you access to an amazing museum pass or culture pass to nearby attractions, allowing you to plan a FREE birthday trip to an art museum, zoo, children's museum, or one of the other great places in the program.
11 Scavenger Hunt
Organize a scavenger hunt at your local park. Compose age-appropriate clues (or create an audio file on your smartphone) and see how long it takes the birthday boy to find all the items.
12. Play your child's favorite games
We can take a grudge for this, but if possible, play with your child (or pick him up early) and do something fun together.
visit family to play games, sing, etc.
13. Zoom Family Party
Create a Zoom-friendly round robin quiz with friends and family. Each house is a team. Invite guests to select four to five child categories to earn points. Don't forget to create a birthday category!
14. Volunteer or donate
Dedicate an hour or so to your special day to contribute to the community. Explore local opportunities with community gardens, hospitals and nursing homes.
15. Kindness List
Make a list of "good deeds" by matching the number of things to your child's age (five good deeds for a five-year-old), and then do those good deeds together. The list might include hugging a friend, writing a note to someone you love, or reading to a younger sibling. Let your little one think of ways to share and create gratitude.
16. Retell the story of their birth.
Tell your child the story of the day they were born or joined your family. Look at your childhood photos, reread the cards you have, watch videos, and share funny memories.
17. Album for birthday
Every year on the big day, take photos of your child in an identical pose. Once you have enough images, turn them into a digital slideshow or put them in an album. View it every year on your birthday.
18. Birthday video
Take the album up a notch by collecting birthday videos from your favorite clips, past and present. If you can, include short videos of birthday wishes from family and friends.
19. Family field day
Have a family field day outdoors in backyard games. Weather permitting, end the day with an epic water balloon battle.
20. Camp in the yard
Go camping in your backyard to have a birthday party at home. Don't forget the s'mores (microwave oven or fire pit)!
21. Get in the water
Do you live on the coast? Walk along the shore, swim, build a sand castle or fly a kite. Inland residents can visit the nearest pond or lake to count the ducks, or ride a water bike.
22. Quest from home
Turn a room or basement into a mini electronic letting go of the room! Use a combination lock to "seal" a suitcase or bag with treats inside. Throw clues around the room with single digits (and positions) to the prize lock. Hide a number inside a cryptic math problem hanging on the wall, hide paper clues inside balloons to pop or a bowl of plastic eggs to open, drop clues leading to the numbers hidden in the room...there is no limit!
23. Celebrate the number
Hang paper cutouts of your child's age when they were born around the house in the most unexpected places. Place sweet notes on the back of the numbers for your child.
Find local freebies and dine on treats. Photo by Sarah Marentette
Basically FREE birthday entertainment for kids in Moscow
Some of these modest party ideas can cost a few bucks, so we've put them in their own section to make it easier for you to read.
24. Free restaurants.
Take advantage of one or more birthday gifts offered at restaurants throughout the city. You may need to buy food for yourself or your siblings!
25. Surprise balloon.
Inflate a bunch of balloons early in the morning while your child is sleeping; fill a room or hall with them as a surprise.
Try using hair chalk or hairspray to add some glamour.
Photo by Jody Mercier
26. birthday makeup
Relax with a birthday makeover at home with nail painting, hair styling/braiding, foot massage and maybe applying lip gloss.
27. Admission is free ... for the birthday boy
Ask your favorite neighborhood venue (bowling alley, ice rink, indoor playground, or carousel) if they have any special treats or discounts for birthday parties. We have found that family shops and chains are usually happy to make a child's day special. It never hurts to ask!
28. Bounty hunt
Extend your gift giving with a birthday scavenger hunt! Hide your child's gifts around the house and throw in clues that lead him from gift to gift. Some readers also set holiday tables with surprises or leave them at the door for a morning treat.
29. Mocktail toast
Serve dinner with a special drink like homemade milkshakes, carbonated lemonade (lemonade with a hint of ginger ale) or classic non-alcoholic cocktails like Shirley Temples, or drink in special cups and mugs. Use your special drinks for birthday toast!
Who can resist cupcakes?
30. Bake a birthday party.
Bake and decorate homemade cupcakes and eat them after the round of singing Happy Birthday! If the cake has already been bought, cook a meal together or another favorite treat. Check out our guide to easy recipes for kids to learn more.
