Birthdays in the kindergarten are a very big deal! It is those small details that make this day special. Here are some photos of what I have done and a few things from other classrooms.
Birthday Banner for birthday child. I will post later in the week on how to make this simple banner.
Detail of banner.
Birthday Calendar I saw in Switzerland. I thought this was so smart. I make a birthday calendar every year now. I hang it on the front wall and the children know whose birthday is next. The birthday child takes home their birthday poster the day we celebrate it.
My version of the Swiss birthday calendar.
The first week of school each child watercolors their birthday poster that will become a part of the calendar.
Here's this year's version.
This is my special “Birthday Chest” filled with all the fanfare for the day. I have a birthday story I read for every child's birthday, a birthday badge and a golden crown.
In this chest I have golden fabric and a birthday cape.
The birthday child sits on the golden chair during our celebration.
I saw this across the hall from me at Mrs. Goodroe's classroom. I think it is such a sweet touch to hang up a little sign to let the children know as they arrive – it's a birthday today!
This is my homemade version for a birthday last week.
Mrs. Goodroe also puts out a wonderful display at the spot where the birthday child sits. Such a celebration! I'd love to hear your ideas for birthdays! Is there anything special you do to mark the day?
how special a day! amazing ideas to celebrate.
It always amazes me how the children love the ritual of it! Every child gets the same fanfare and they know it by heart! As I type that it occurs to me – it is truly a class tradition!
Just saw your wonderful ideas and I do some of the same things. I also have a Birthday Dog. It’s actually one of those stuffed animal dogs that you push his paw and he sings a song about how special you are. I can’t remember the tune right now but it really doesn’t matter. It’s not an actual birthday song and the kids don’t care. They just like that on their birthday he is sitting at their place when they arrive and they get to hear him sing to them. They are somewhat embaressed but they want it and ask always for him! I think he is one of the things they remember about kindergarten.
What a sweet gesture! I love that he is sitting in their spot. And there is something about stuffed animals that children are drawn too! I going to try something like this next year. It would be one of the big memories of kindergarten. Thank you so much for sharing. I’d love to see a photo!
What do you do for children whose birthday’s are during summer holidays? Do you have a big “un birthday” day at the end of the year?
I talk to the parents and select a date. Some parents want to do the half year mark but most just wait till the last 6 weeks of school. I give each child their own day to celebrate their birthday. All three of my children have summer birthdays and always felt ripped off by a shared day with other summer birthdays.
Sally, what kind of birthday story do you read? A public school variation of the rainbow bridge story? Or something entirely different?
I have made a cake from a biscuit tin and polyfiller and decorated it with glitter, sequins and candles that comes out every birthday and we sing happy birthday then they get to blow the candles out. They get so excited.
What a great idea! I love it!