Pandemic Birthday Parties for Kids
We get it. You want to celebrate your little one’s latest trip around the sun, and you’d like to do it with guests. Actual guests. Real. Live. Guests. Not virtual ones.
Fair enough.
But… being the responsible parent that you are (hey, give yourself a pat on the back – you’ve earned it!), you want to make sure that all your guests are safe. And while children as young as 5 may be able to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in the U.S., it’s still really important to take precautions.
So how do we throw a birthday shindig and make sure our guests and the little ones are safe?
Keep It Small
Less is more. As in, if you invite no ‘more’ than 10 kids, everyone is a lot safer.
Do It Outside
If you can, this is the way to go. Being outside lowers the risk of transmitting the virus.
Doing it Inside?
Keep the windows open. This will help increase air circulation. Party it up in as large a room as possible so that the kiddywinkles can keep a safe distance of three feet away from each other. You can never go wrong wearing a mask.
Play it Safe
Make sure all games and activities don’t involve close physical contact. Individual arts and crafts can be done at a safe distance. So can fun games like charades, Simon Says, and Freeze Frame. There are also all kinds of kid-friendly outdoor options like scavenger hunts and plenty of others.
Yeah, right now, that’s just not the best plan. And when you think about it, while, sure, “fun” it’s also kinda gross. You’re basically shooting germs into the air and onto the cake. Individual cupcakes will do the trick and are just as tasty. If you do go the full cake route then skip the ceremonial “blowing out of the birthday candles”.
Keep Those Hands Clean
Give all your guests little hand sanitizers and remind everyone to cover coughs and sneezes with bent elbow or tissues. Washing those mitts is a great way to stay safe. There’s a fun song your kids can sing while doing it!
Plan Everything Out
Spontaneity is fun. But during a pandemic it’s best to plan your party and, if not, eliminate, at least greatly reduce the chance of risk.
Virtual is Always an Option
Don’t forget that you can always throw a virtual birthday party. They really are a ton of fun.
We’ll have more about them soon!