Do you have a birthday celebration policy or philosophy for your classroom? Birthdays are a big deal … especially when you’ve only had 3 of them or less in your life!
If you don’t have a plan for birthdays, I recommend that you (and your team) get together to decide one. Children are creatures of habit and if something is done for a child on their birthday, but not another child, you KNOW that they will not only notice, they will call you back.
Some questions to consider when deciding how you will treat birthdays:
Is it okay for the family to provide snacks for snack time?
Is it okay to send a cake or cupcakes with your show?
What will you do about allergies or food restrictions?
Are there any concerns about excess sugar?
Will you use a real candle in the snack or treat? Who will provide this?
Will the child have a special crown or chair or a classroom job on his special day? Who will be responsible for preparing these articles?
Will you announce to families that it is someone’s birthday? (Like an out-of-classroom poster, newsletter, or calendar announcement, etc.)
Do you have a special birthday song to sing?
Will the child receive a special gift or a card from the teachers?
How are you going to celebrate birthdays that fall on a day of the week when the child is absent or not in school (such as weekend birthdays or summer birthdays for children who do not attend school in summer)? Will you celebrate birthdays on each child’s birthday, or will you have a birthday celebration once a month for everyone who has a birthday that particular month? Will you have a “no birthday” celebration for those who won’t be on your show on their birthday?
Other questions and / or ideas will occur to you as you brainstorm. Once you’ve decided how you will handle birthdays, write it down officially. Have each of the teachers review it and think of other questions / concerns and then meet again to make changes.
Once you have a final birthday policy, so to speak, start planning for the year:
1. Inform families how birthdays are handled in your classroom. Distribute the information so families are aware and can be consistent.
2. Pre-buy any items you need for the year! Birthday banner, cards, symbolic gifts given by children (book, stickers, etc.), wreaths, candles, tablecloth, etc.
3. Assign responsibility for birthdays: Who will prepare for each birthday? If it will be announced in the school or class newsletter, does that person know the children’s dates of birth?
Turning 3, 4, or 5 is a big deal! Managing it consistently for each child will make that day special for your students, they will be looking forward to their special day at school!
