We’ve never all been in quarantine before, not able to celebrate each other’s birthdays. And let’s face it, it sucks. There’s no way around it. When I realized we were going to be quarantined for a few of my friend’s birthdays, I knew I had to do something to make them each feel special and loved in this crazy weird time. After their birthdays were over, they felt so loved and appreciated and more connected to their loved ones then if we had had a party. Listen, birthdays and presents are kind of my thing. It’s the one superpower I have. So I thought I would share what I did for my friends and a few other ideas I have up my sleeve if the situation was different like if I lived with the person. Okay, let’s do it. How to celebrate birthdays in quarantine: a list.
If you don’t live with the person:
Order something for them. This is an obvious one but try to go the extra mile or be creative. Flowers are great especially when we’re all safe at home, there’s more time to enjoy them. You could also send breakfast, lunch, or dinner from their favorite restaurant. Send a cake or balloons. The possibility is really endless on sweet treats.
Send them something. A care package or a box with presents and filled with confetti
Organize with your friends and family for a conference call. My personal preference is to keep it smaller or schedule a couple “parties” with different groups of people. Otherwise, tbh – it can get a little awkward.
I organized for my friend’s family and friends to each make a sign with a different word to be a part of a bigger birthday message. Here’s an example of the one I did for my friend, Maddie!
Record a video of you telling them how much they mean to you. Organize with their other loved ones and have you all send one or just do one by yourself!
Show up to their house/apartment with a special delivery. Of course, stay a safe distance from them and sanitize it all! You can make it work with a couple of other friends of theirs for a time to show up together and have a mini quarantine birthday party on the lawn
Do a parade by their house with people they love. Honk, have signs and noisemakers
Write a birthday message on the sidewalk in front of their house or on the driveway or just make a dang sign and hold it up
Write them a good ole letter or send a card through the mail
Make a video from your iPhone with pictures of your times together and send that to them
If you do live with the person:
Set up a nerf battle – lots of documentation on this
Decorate the house with balloons and streamers
Have a virtual party with friends and family
Cook them a meal or a birthday cake
Create a scavenger hunt in the house with little presents along the way
Spend some time together outside or take a scenic drive
Build a fort and watch their favorite movie or go camping in the backyard
Two words: dance partyyyy
Order in a dinner from a nice place. A lot of places that usually have weddings are doing delivery and takeout from their restaurants
Set up a spa day for them or a relaxing day in the yard or by the pool
It’s hard to not be able to celebrate with your people. But when it comes down to it, the most important thing for any birthday is that the person feel loved and cared about. The parties are great but if we get to the root of why birthdays are so great, it’s because we get to celebrate our loved ones and the fact that they’re in our lives. Hope these ideas on how to celebrate birthdays in quarantine were helpful. If you try any of these ideas, tag me on social media so I can see!
Stay safe & happy celebrating,
