Celebrating birthdays in an elementary classroom is a wonderful opportunity to create a sense of community and make each child feel special. By incorporating fun birthday traditions such as birthday treats, special songs, and personalized birthday decorations, you can ensure that each student feels recognized and valued on their special day. I always felt that the kids in my class knew I was there to help them have a memorable birthday.
Birthdays are a significant milestone for young students, and acknowledging these special days in a thoughtful and inclusive manner can foster a positive classroom environment.
In this blog post, we’ll explore creative and easy-to-implement ideas for celebrating birthdays in your elementary classroom, ensuring each child feels recognized and cherished on their special day. Please note that this post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you purchase through these links.
Create a special birthday chair with these fun birthday chair covers! Immediately your student will know you did not forget their special day!
During the morning meeting, have a designated link for the class to sing a birthday song to the student. I love Kidz Bop Kids -It’s Your Birthday. Just the regular happy birthday song would be good too, but the Kidz Bop song gives time for a small bit of movement in the morning.
Treats: I always follow the school’s policy on birthday treats. At my current school, parents are allowed to bring store-bought (not homemade) cupcakes to share with the class. In my previous school, I would set aside 20 minutes during the day for birthday treats. However, my new school has a brilliant policy of celebrating birthday treats during lunchtime. How did I never think of that? It is the perfect time for students to enjoy their treats without disrupting the academic schedule!
Another idea to make their desk area stand out is to write “Happy Birthday!” with a paint pen on their desk. This company has low-odor, non-toxic paint pens that are great for the classroom. Using an oil-based paint pen would not come off easily. All you would need is a product with alcohol in it like hand sanitizer. Always test a small area first but it is my go-to for writing names on the desks, birthday wishes, or messages to students.
I love these Birthday Stickers. When kids wear the sticker, I hear them receiving “Happy Birthday” wishes from other adults and kids as we walk down the hall. It’s just that little extra touch that makes them smile!
Extras: It’s up to you if you want to spend additional money on goodie bags, birthday bracelets, party hats, or crowns. I try to purchase items that can either be reused, like the birthday chair sign, or that are a great deal, like birthday stickers. A fun sticker gift is these Make-your-own Animal Face Stickers. When I first started teaching, I bought birthday pencils and bracelets, and these definitely brought joy to the young children. Small touches like these can make a big difference in making each student feel special on their birthday.
The main thing is to ensure you never forget a student’s birthday. Keep track of birthdays by marking them on a monthly calendar in the classroom or by having a designated birthday calendar. This way, every child feels celebrated and valued on their special day.
Birthday Calendars like the one here, are a unique way to add color to the classroom. It is easy to add to if a new student is enrolled or take off if someone moves away. Of course, a calendar can be as simple as a posted monthly office calendar or a poster that lists all the birthdays of the year of the entire class.
Leave a comment if you have a class birthday story or an additional way you celebrate birthdays in the classroom.