Celebrating birthdays whilst travelling
How to make birthday traditions more memorable and meaningful whilst on the road with kids
Long-term travel with your family is an incredibly enriching experience and invaluable gift for your children. However, when it comes to their birthdays, they are likely to still want to some of the more traditional birthday treats and gifts. Without the usual comforts of home, presence of friends and extended family, and pile of gifts, how can you make the day feel extra special on the road?
Here are 5 ways that you can take some of the ‘traditions’ associated with birthdays, and make them even more memorable and meaningful whilst on the road.
1. Rituals
The traditional birthday party rituals of cake, presents, and singing happy birthday feel as old as time. But when you think about it, they aren’t really very unique or personal at all. We adhere to them because it’s ‘what’s everybody else does’, but travelling provides an excellent opportunity to establish some of your own.
A ritual is simply a set of actions or words performed in a regular way - so you can create any that you like. And in fact, the more weird, wild, and specific to your own family - the better! Here are some ideas to get you thinking…
The birthday boy/girl always gets served breakfast in bed
A ‘Yes’ day where the whole family has to say YES to everything the birthday boy/girl asks (we suggest setting some very strict rules for this one!)
Introduce a special outfit, hat, or piece of clothing that the birthday boy/girl gets to wear
Let the birthday girl/boy choose an activity or experience for the family to enjoy
Have a special candle-lighting ceremony where they get to make a wish
These small rituals can make the day feel uniquely theirs, wherever you are - and can of course be an addition to the old traditions of cake and singing.
2. Connection
Birthdays offer an amazing opportunity to connect with people you love. They are often a trigger for people meeting in person and celebrating as big group. Just because you're on the road doesn't mean you can't connect with family and friends. COVID taught us all about the powe of Zoom and Skype and just how creative we can get when we are forced to!
Organising a virtual birthday party can be tricky with time-zones, but with some thoughtful planning it is possible! And for those who can’t make it, encourage them to send a video message instead. On Zoom you can play games, sing happy birthday, and even have a cake-cutting ceremony. This way, your child still feels connected to their loved ones.
Another idea is to use a platform like KudoBoard to collect birthday messages digitally in one place - which can be kept (and even printed when you get home)
3. Celebration
Whilst a traditional party with loved ones may be out of the question - there are still ways to create a party vibe whilst travelling. As mentioned above you can host a virtual party, and there are also ways to get the party started in person, wherever you are:
Create a spotify playlist especially for the birthday boy/girl and prepare for a family dance party. This works well virtually too
Put on your best clothes and decorate your hotel room/van/tent with homemade decorations or pieces of nature such as flowers or shells.
Make an effort to find some local delicacies, or seek out some treats that remind you of home.
Create a video montage or photobook celebrating all the great things you love about the birthday boy/girl
Ultimately, it is about making one person feel extra special - you don’t need lots of people to do that - you just need to know what’s most important to that one person.
4. Giving
Gifts have become synonymous with birthdays. But they can be tricky when travelling and faced with space restrictions. Of course there are lots of travel-friendly and meaningful gifts like books, travel journals, art supplies or games. As well as experiences and gift cards. However, when you are on the move it can be hard for friends and family to post the right thing, to the right place, at the right time!
But giving doesn’t have to mean gifting - it can mean giving back.
GenKind is a service which allows friends and family to contribute to planet-saving cause, that your child chooses, instead of sending a gift. It’s a beautiful way to teach kindness, reduce plastic waste, and empower children to make an impact. Plus it offers a lovely way for children to connect with loved ones about something meaningful whilst they are away.
Volunteering is also a good way for children to experience the joy of giving back. Find a beach cleanup, help at an animal shelter, or visit a local school. It's a meaningful way to spend the day and teaches valuable lessons in kindness and community spirit.
5. Memory-making
Birthdays are about making memories. You want to be able to look back and say ‘do you remember your 7th birthday when….’. As long as you are creating new memories, you are doing a great job. To make sure that’s font of mind, remember that the day itself deserves to be documented in a special way. Capture photos and video clips with the intention of creating a keepsake afterwards - whether it be a digital scrapbook, edited video, or photo album. Encourage your child to write about their birthday experience in their travel journal, capturing their own perspective of the day.
Also just spending some time sharing stories about your child's past birthdays and adventures, or tales of your own childhood is a great way to bond and make the day feel special without needing any physical items. Printing off old photos or memories from your trip and creating a photo book is also a great way to spark these conversations and rekindle old memories.
Celebrating a child's birthday on the road doesn't have to be complicated or filled with material gifts. With a bit of creativity and thoughtfulness, you can create a special, eco-friendly celebration that your child will remember for years to come. Happy travels and happy birthday to your little adventurer!
GenKind helps kids use their birthday parties to change the world. By asking guests to donate to a planet-saving cause instead of bringing a physical gift to the party, children learn to value kindness over stuff, whilst reducing plastic waste.
To learn more about GenKind and join our club for your next birthday click here
