Got a birthday happening in your house? Even though we’re all at home, birthdays are still a reason to party. And thanks to online shipping and local deliveries, there are a lot of creative ways you can make the birthday kid (and adult) feel celebrated on their special day. From a box of balloons delivered to your door to devoting the entire day to a theme, we asked our #NJMOM squad how they’re doing birthdays in quarantine— and found a bunch of ways you can support small businesses too.
Psst! We love seeing your stay-at-home adventures around New Jersey. Be sure to tag your photos with #NJMOM and @njmom for a chance to be featured in our round-up next week.
featured image via @thismamalife
“We catered food from our local Italian restaurant and FaceTimed the family!!!” via Derin L. on Facebook
Deliver a Sweet Treat
Whether it’ having fresh-baked cookies from Bang Cookies or chocolate-covered strawberries from Wemrock Orchards delivered, everyone loves sweets, especially on their birthday. Local bakeries around the state, like Chic Sugars Bakery in Fort Lee or Hudson Cakery in Weehawken, are creating specialty quarantine-size cakes (perfect size for a smaller family) that are available for delivery to local areas or for curbside pickup. Want to make something but don’t have all the ingredients? Both bakeries are also offering cookie and cupcake kits with everything needed to DIY.
Opening a new book or toy on a birthday brings smiles every time.
Support a Local Toy Store
Looking for presents? Call your local toy store. Most small toy stores will “shop” in the store for you, when you give details about the birthday kid, wrap the gifts and either deliver or offer curbside pickup. Check out your local spot or try Toy Professor in Summit, Learning Express in Morristown (also has lots of great books), and Ton of Toys in Madison, which are all offering curbside pickup. Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids in Mahwah is also offering 25% off their online store when you use code NJMOM. They have an assortment of fun toys and hair accessories to choose from, or you can also gift a fun haircut for the bday boy or girl when quarantine ends.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_BlzBGnsRB/?igshid=vqk324tfzfo3
Fill the House With Balloons
Going all out with balloons will make this birthday a memorable one. You can order balloons on Amazon and set up a super fun display on your doorstep to surprise your little when they wake up on their birthday. Or open a festive box of balloons: Creative Twist Events in Metuchen is delivering Boxes of Joy, a box of balloons and confetti for a fun surprise.
A Mickey-theme and smiles all around via Patricia C. on Facebook
Make it a Theme Day
Just because you had to cancel your kid’s birthday party doesn’t mean all those decorations you spent weeks shopping for have to go to waste. The night before their birthday, decorate a room or even the whole house with their birthday party decorations and watch as their face lights up when they wake up the next day. You can also spend the day dedicated to the theme–make foods, dress up and play games all incorporating your kid’s favorite characters or hobby.
“We had to cancel our boy’s third birthday party ? He didn’t care as long as he had a Minion cake! ❤️” via Suzanne E. on Facebook
Host a Virtual Birthday Party
Worried that your kid is sad they’re missing a party? Make it virtual—Skyzone, Creative Twist Events, and My Gym are all offering virtual birthday parties where your littles can dance, play games, do fun activities, sing Happy Birthday and make memories together (yet apart) with their friends and families. Want a lively dance party? Rockness Music is hosting private concert birthday parties on ZOOM. Or have a virtual art party with ArtWorx, where you can have the supplies delivered locally to each guest and then gather around the computer screen to work on the project together.
