Host A Memorable Virtual Birthday Party For Your Child With Loved Ones Worldwide

A Bollywood movie, Chintu Ka Birthday, beautifully illustrated how parents will go to any lengths to celebrate their children's birthdays. After all, birthday celebrations are a huge deal for kids!

But not all parents share the same level of enthusiasm. Take my friend Suneha, for instance. She has a 10-year-old daughter who couldn’t celebrate her birthday with friends this year. Her husband suggested hosting an online party but Suneha thought it would be too much of a hassle. Life had already become a whirlwind with both of them working from home, managing household chores, keeping their daughter entertained, ordering groceries, and still finding time for Brownie, the family dog. So, instead of an elaborate celebration, Suneha simply baked a cake and the family had a quiet party. However, her daughter still feels the absence of her friends and is holding onto that little grudge. Suneha assures her that they will throw a big party when things settle down.

But here’s the thing—birthdays are too special to be missed, no matter where you are or what’s happening around you. And with friends, family, and cousins scattered across the world, why not take the celebrations online? Hosting a virtual birthday bash allows your child to have their friends join in, no matter the distance. Virtual parties are a fun and easy way to ensure your little one still gets to cut the cake surrounded by loved ones—just like a traditional birthday, only better with everyone from around the globe there to celebrate!

Planning the party

Before you plan your child's virtual birthday party, check if you and your child's friends have stable internet connections. Also, check your phone and laptop speakers. Your child's birthday party may not be the top priority of other parents (sorry!). So, do call the parents to ask if their child can attend the virtual party and if they would be free as well. After all, the adults may have to be around to take care of the technical glitches.

Now go ahead and plan the party with these tips:

• Where to host: First, decide on the platform (the party is online, remember?). You have many options to choose from, Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, JioMeet, FaceTime, and Google Duo, to name a few.
• Invite them in: Prepare the guest list and send out cool e-invites with details, such as the cake-cutting time and video call links.
• Decide on the decor: The cake-cutting area needs to look festive. Hanging a Happy Birthday banner and some balloons should do the trick. If you are hosting a themed party, stick to a color scheme. And let the birthday child wear a special hat or crown for those birthday vibes.
• Bake a cake: What's a birthday party without a cake? Order a yummy cake or bake one at home. And spread the happiness by making arrangements for some cake and snacks to be delivered to the homes of your child's friends.
• Play some music: Children love a dance party, even if it's a virtual one. They are sure to jig to their favorite tunes, so play some peppy numbers.
• Plan party games: Online group games are becoming a huge hit at virtual birthday parties. Once you select a game, ensure that the little invitees have downloaded the game app and have the required logins to play.

Online games for kids

1. Jackbox Games

2. Temple Run

3. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

4. Uno Friends

5. Fortnite

6. Words With Friends 2

7. Hill Climb Racing

8. Facebook Games

Along with the online games, you can include these games and activities that are old-school favorites:

• Name, Place, Animal, Thing: A child chooses an alphabet and says a name, place, animal, and thing, starting with that letter. They then suggest the next letter for others to take it forward.
• Dumb Charades: Kids will have a great time acting out movie titles and guessing them. Prepare yourself for some ear-splitting cheers!
• Truth or Dare: This creative and exciting game is best suited to preteens or teenagers. When a child chooses Truth, their friends will ask a question that they have to answer truthfully. If they choose Dare, they'll be asked to do something silly, such as touching the nose with the tongue or going without blinking for a minute. The idea is to raise the fun quotient.
• Story time: You can start the game by having the birthday child say a word or two. For example, woods and Red Riding Hood. Their friends can then weave a story around it.
• Magic show: If a magician is available, check if he's ready to livestream the show. If he agrees to a remote performance, share the video call links with your child's friends.
• Memory game: Virtual or not, you are sure to give your room or the cake-cutting area a makeover with balloons and other decorations. Once your child is ready to connect with their friends through a video call, move the camera towards the room for 5 to 10 seconds, then move it away. Now start the memory game. If your child's friend can correctly remember the number of balloons and their colors, they win the game and get a virtual toffee!

All dressed up and nowhere to go? Think again!

Children love cartoon characters (e.g., Chhota Bheem and Dora) and book characters (e.g., Cinderella and Harry Potter). Such characters always make the best costume inspirations for children. But as it's too much work to go on a costume-hunting mission now, how about turning to apps that allow you to add filters and effects to video calls? For example, your child's cousin can call them from another city on Google Duo, dressed as an astronaut or a crocodile or whatever they fancy!

Even if there's no birthday coming up, you can use these ideas to help your child bond with their friends on Friendship Day (2nd August). And did we mention the benefits of a virtual party? You won't have noisy kids running helter-skelter, and you don't have to clean up after the party either! And, of course, a virtual party is cost-effective. Get bold and give this virtual party a try!