Where's The Gift in The Birthday Party

The birthday is really and exciting and important date for children and parents.  It is a time when children gets special attention in the form of good wishes, special dinners, parties, and gifts.  Who wouldn’t like that?

It’s also a time marker for both children and parents.  Perhaps you’ve heard conversations like this:  MOM:  When you’re eight you’ll be able to use just a seat belt when you ride in the car.  CHILD:  Mom, how old do I have to be to stay up until 9 PM?   Getting older has its privileges and its responsibilities.  And birthdays make us take note of this.

When children celebrate their birthdays in school with all their friends the focus should really be on the child and not on the function.  A highly scheduled party can quickly become routine among the classmates until there is little joy left.  You know, it’s the same old thing:   go to the gym party where you play on the gym equipment, sit down and have pizza, and then the required birthday cake and ice cream.  The presents may or may not be opened.  Then it’s time to go home.  There’s no lingering and it’s almost always the same.

That’s where having a birthday celebration at school can be a real winner.  Teachers can incorporate the birthday celebration into the day’s curriculum.  The children can help plan and set up the party.  The menu can be limited as well as the store-bought decorations.   The humdrum of the cookie cutter party is tossed out the door as the children begin to personalize their celebration of their friend’s birthday.

It’s a wonderful experience for parents as well.  It isn’t necessary to fill every minute of time for each child at the party.  Every portion of the party doesn’t have to be scheduled.  By allowing children to use their own ideas of creating a fun event the children are learning how to organize, plan, and work together on a project for another human being.