Birthday Party for All Children

I always love to share good news, especially Birthday news. How about a teenager who wants all children to have a birthday like she always has. Meet Sarah Wolford, 16 years, who has a passion to help kids get the treats and excitement a birthday party can provide through Birthday in a Box. Her story is inspiring and kind, just the sort I love to share here on The Birthday Wall blog.

The Birthday Wall can also be a  similar celebration, only on the wall (or in a notebook as one friend did) which can provide a special child a gift of validation to let them know how special they are. You can keep it as simple or fancy as you want to make it.

If you do provide such a delight, please let me know; I'd love to share your story right here to inspire others!

Food and Fun!

For those who like to create and have fun right alongside your kids to celebrate their birthday, Dana Holmes has come up with a few fun ideas and easy-to-do recipes to implement theme based parties your kids will love. From the adventure of a magic forest to camping or park time or going under the sea, there's some fun, fantastic ideas to run with to make your kid's day special.

You can incorporate the same food-related fun by including your child's favorite foods on their Birthday Wall, highlighting what their palette fancies! It can be a funny approach to show our kids how well we know them, even by the food they eat.

Imagination and the palette can be just the source to get your creativity going for a birthday they'll remember.

Budget Busters for Your Child's Birthday (video)

WJBF-TV ABC 6 Augusta-Aiken News, Weather, Sports

Cate Russell-Cole, Author and Teacher, Shares Birthday Wall Treasure

My good friend, author and writing teacher, Cate Russell-Cole, has kindly shared her appreciation for The Birthday Wall and it's wonderful benefits for your child in sharing their story.

That's really what The Birthday Wall is: it's a story of your child. A Clear Visual Representation of what your child means to you and how much you appreciate who they are and what they love.

And the story is beautiful!

Create your child's story on their Special Day.

A Recipient's Point of View: Sarah Herring

About ten years ago my mother cam up with a brilliant, family-oriented, authentic idea on how to celebrate your child and make them feel as special as possible on their big day. It was named and still is named, "The Birthday Wall."

It started out with a simple birthday banner featuring our name, our new age, and pictures of things we liked at that time, nicknames we'd been given, and accomplishments we'd achieved. At first I just thought it was a cool idea that would last until my sister and I were adults. I had no idea it would leave such an impression on me and become the ONE THING I look forward to every year on my birthday.

On my most recent birthday, all I really wanted was a Birthday Wall from my mom or something--anything--like it.

I was thrilled when she presented a collage she had made for me including my most favorite song for the last eight years, my favorite foods, my senior yearbook picture, my age, a seventeen year old nickname that still makes me smile like it did the first time she used it. The collage was all shaded in and surrounded neatly and artistically with my favorite colors and quotes.

It was the PERFECT gift, something so sentimental and priceless to me that it almost instantly sent tears straight from my heart right to my eyes in a way that touched Mom's heart.

She has invented a method of making her family feel loved, cherished and important for years to come. Ten years of such has changed my heart and my life, and I know it's something I can count on to make each birthday unique and special in its own way. It's something I get excited about and look forward to as my special day approaches.

I fully intend to pass the tradition down to my son who is almost two in hopes that The Birthday Wall will last for generations to come.

It is amazing that a simple, heartfelt idea turned into a wonderful family tradition that can bring a whole new outlook to your child's birthday.

Let Your Kids Imagine!

Have you ever thought to ask your child what kind of party they want to have? Kids have a fun and colorful imagination, and with their ideas, you might just come up with something fabulous and memorable. Tori Spelling shares some tips on how she plans a birthday party with her kids, from decorations and color to theme and activities. Get creative together!

You might think that your child's birthday wall need to be a big secret, and you can, of course, keep it that way so they will be totally surprised. But sometimes it can help to get some ideas of what they would like on their wall so you don't end up doing something that simply doesn't hit the spot for them or even be embarrassing. I include a survey list of things you can ask about in The Birthday Wall e-book to get you started.

Have fun getting creative with your kids!

The Party: Keep It Simple and Stress Free

I love a relaxed approach to many things, including parties. Obviously, so does Rebekah Kuschmider, who shares in her article how she kept things simple and stress free as she prepared (minimally, mind you) for her daughter's first birthday, including invites, food, activity, and socializing. She shows that it doesn't have to be complicated to be fun and satisfying for all.

Creating a birthday wall for your child can also be fun and stress free. Just use your heart and appreciation for your child to guide the way and you'll know just what will make the visual pleasing and fun without making it complicated.

Enjoy the process and keep it simple.
It's the heart of it that matters.

Fun for Less!

Birthday parties are often a place that sucks your wallet dry--if you let it. But that's not necessary! All you need are a few volunteers and some money-saving savvy that Stephanie Frazier suggests in her article, 5 Ways to Save Money on Your Child's Birthday Party. From entertainment to cake options, fun activities to theme parks, she offers some great thrifty ideas that keep the fun without the expense.

When  it comes to making a birthday wall, you can keep it simple with just a few items and ideas that you can make yourself. I offer various theme-based and textual-based ideas for saving money in each chapter under the Heading, Birthday Budget, so you can know some of the best approaches to creating a fabulous display on budget.

Themes: Get Creative!

Sometimes it can be hard to figure a great theme for a birthday party, but your child is probably the best one to ask since they know what they love. American Profile offers some great theme-based ideas for a birthday party, from a Mad Hatter Tea Party to a Zoo theme. It's just a matter of your child's interest and a little imagination. :)

I offer several ideas in The Birthday Wall e-book for a theme-based party with a list based on party supplies as well as ideas related to possible child interests. That's what is so cool about The Birthday Wall; it's a custom creation showcasing what your child really loves, focusing on what makes them special and on their preferences and personality.

Themes can be such a FUN element to your child's birthday!

Birthday Party Money Savers

Whether it's food, entertainment, or decorations, it's easy to spend more than is necessary to plan a great birthday party for that super special child in your life. But you don't have to. Shutterfly shares some practical ways you can celebrate and keep the cost low and still have a fun and fabulous time. From details on party goods, food prep and invites, you will find some great ideas with room to splurge on what you just can't pass up. 

When it comes to creating a fantastic Birthday Wall for your child, you don't have to spend a ton of money to put up a fabulous display. Heartfelt messages to photos of friends may be all you need to enhance the visual of your child's birthday. In each chapter of my e-book, I provide a section titled Birthday Budget where I share tips on how to keep the cost of your birthday wall low while still giving enough ideas to run with to make it the very best. 

Budget Friendly Advice for a Happy Birthday

When it comes to birthday party planning, you want to have a happy child without the overt expense. There are so many variables that can affect how much you spend. Jessica Fisher of Life As A Mom has some fabulous, practical and fun ideas to keep your planning within budget, giving examples from her own birthday party planning experience. She includes all aspects of a great birthday party, including theme and birthday cake.

Sometimes it can be a challenge not to overspend when you want your child's Birthday Wall to be super fab, but you don't have to go above and beyond to make it special and meaningful. Just work with one or two ideas from your child's favorite things and you'll have plenty to work with the make the best, most fun visual representing your child's personality with sparkle.

A Little Birthday Help

It can sometimes help to get a few good ideas for a great birthday party for your child, especially if they save time and money and include creative ideas to keep the kids occupied and happy. Linda Ann Nickerson provides these tips, focusing on simplicity and keeping track of stuff you don't want to forget. She also includes a tip on choice of theme to keep things unified and fun.

I provide plentiful ideas for a terrific themed birthday wall in Chapter one of my book: The BirthdayWall: Create a Collage to Celebrate Your Child. Themes can be so much fun, especially when they reflect what your child is loving right now. Enhancing their day with their favorite things can make their time and celebration extra special.

Birthday Service Savvy

Sometimes it can help to get a little assistance with a task you find stressful. How about a Party in a Box planner? Shari Simpson of Cool Mom Picks shares her fab experience using a Party Planning duo and what contents where included for this super birthday party event. Not only did this service save her time, it also saved her money.

When you choose the contents of your child's birthday wall, sometimes it can be a great approach to simply buy the decor you want to include rather than making your own. This time-saving strategy can help make the process even more fun when you know what you're looking for. Ideas and resources from friends and family can help when you're deciding on theme or approach to your creative visual.

Just remember, your child will be completely surprised by what you do to help celebrate their special day. So, Enjoy the Process!

A Furry Friend for Fun!

How does a cuddly, furry experience sound for a great birthday party? Fun? Interesting? Vicky Welton tells about her daughter Grace's 6th birthday party with Build-A-Bear! She shares the heart-warming, furry activities, detailing the whole build-a-bear process (in case you didn't know!) and what a great time her daughter had with her friends picking out accessories and loving their animals.

A birthday wall can contain so many fun elements from your child's life, whether it's a favorite stuffed animal or learning to sew. When you share this aspect visually to celebrate your child, it will show them just how well you know what they love and will make them feel special.

A Birthday Science Synopsis!

Next time you're planning a birthday party for your child, consider the possibilities a little experimenting can do! Angie Lee at Seven Clown Circus blog shares with many color photos the fabulous science themed ideas she used recently at her 7-year-old twins' birthday party. From fun foods to food coloring, she really brought out the FUN in science. And it was a true hit in the neighborhood!

When you create a birthday wall for your child, you may find some awesome ideas percolating that have a experimental flair to them. What has your child discovered in their past year about themselves and the world around them? Feature photos, games, and friends who were alongside during these discoveries, showcasing what really matters to your child with fun and pizzazz!

It's time to experiment!